How to Stay Prepared for Storms at Home

Storm preparedness is important to keeping your family safe in the event of a disaster

As major weather events have rocked the Greater Seattle area, many homeowners are evaluating their emergency plans and finding ways to keep their families safe in the case of an emergency. Storm preparedness will bring you peace of mind and improve your response when a storm approaches. Discover how creating a plan, making a disaster kit, and installing a backup generator will help you prepare for storms in Kirkland and the surrounding areas.

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Create A Plan

Learn about what disasters are common in your area and what your community’s warning signals are, such as weather warnings on your phone or broadcast disruptions. Look up which radio stations will provide information in the event of an emergency, and contact your workplace, your children’s school/daycare, and any other relevant locations to learn about their disaster plans. When you have collected all of this information, host a family meeting to create a plan of action. If you have children, explain the different types of natural disasters, why having a plan is important, and how to call 911 in the case of an emergency. Show adults and teenagers where they can turn off the water, gas, and other switches at the main electrical panel. Go over the best escape routes in each room of your home, and decide on two places to meet outside of your home if you are separated. Then, go over the plan every six months to make sure it stays fresh on everyone's mind.

Make A Disaster Kit

After a natural disaster, vital services such as water, gas, electricity, sewage treatment, communications, and transportation routes may be unusable for days or even longer. Prepare your family for the worst with a complete and easily-accessible disaster preparedness kit. At a minimum, you should be self-sufficient for 72 hours, but ideally, your supplies should comfortably support you for seven days. One of the most important things to include is water. Save one gallon per person per day to prevent dehydration. Food is another necessity—have non-perishables with nutritional value, such as canned food, packaged food, snack foods, and baby food for infants or the elderly. Also, make sure to pack a non-electric can opener, cooking utensils, and plastic plates and utensils for cooking and eating. If you have a furry friend, don’t forget to include pet food as well! Other important items should include sturdy shoes to protect your feet, prescriptions, a battery-operated radio, important documents in a waterproof container (like medical records or social security cards), flashlights, batteries, and hygiene items.

Install A Backup Generator

Get a little extra peace of mind by installing a home backup generator to power key devices. Whether your generator automatically turns on after the power goes out or if you have to power it up manually, it will help in dangerous situations by giving you electricity until the power returns. Some important devices might include lights so that your family can see hazardous debris, the refrigerator to keep food and medications cool, sump pumps to prevent flooding, HVAC systems to keep you warm or cool, and an internet connection so you can monitor the storm.

Need help with your storm preparedness plan? Bob’s is dedicated to helping our local community stay safe in the event of a disaster event! Whether you need a backup generator installed, an air purifier for wildfires, or an HVAC system to keep you comfortable, we are here to meet your needs! Call us at 800-840-3346 or contact us online to learn more about our current services, products, and promotions.