Healthy Living

4 Effective Ways To Secure Your Home Against Natural Disasters


Image Credit

Unfortunately, natural disasters are unavoidable and have become part of living in almost every part of the world. You don’t have to look far to see a structure succumb to flooding in one part of the world or a home engulfed in flames in another part of the world. The natural disaster your properties are vulnerable to depends on its location. However, regardless of where you live, you can do a few things to make your structure more resilient. Here are some practical ways to secure your home against natural disasters. 

 Fortify your doors and windows

Cracks in your doors and windows can make it easy for water damage to occur when bad weather hits. Such cracks also become part of your structure’s weak points when strong winds, tornados, and hurricanes come knocking. Inspecting your property thoroughly and checking for cracks and voids is important. Regarding your doors and windows, if you live in a place prone to hurricanes, you can install hurricane windows and doors built to offer greater resistance. Also, check for cracks in your concrete, as they can lead to excess moisture saturation. 

Use fire-resistant building materials

Fire-related disasters can happen due to the effect of a natural disaster. So, no matter where you live, it’s always best to use fire-resistant materials in your building project. Of course, this is easier to do if you’re considering building a new home or making plans for renovations. However, you can always inspect your home and find out which sections you can change and replace with fire-resistant building materials. This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about spending too much money replacing old building materials with fire-resistant alternatives. Plus, even with just some sections of your structure being fire-resistant, you can significantly slow down how fast fire spreads and the amount of damage it does. 

Remove damaged trees

Strong winds can whirl damaged trees onto your building, destroy your roof, or cause extensive damage to your structure. Therefore, take the time to remove any dead trees near or around your property. Also, take time to cut down hanging branches, regardless of how small or harmless they look. Earthquakes can also knock down trees on your building. So, ensure that tree branches do not come within 10 to 20 feet of your home’s entry points. 

Schedule a home audit

Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if your home is at risk of damage during a natural disaster if you have untrained eyes. If you’re unsure that your structure is secure enough, contact experts in your location and schedule a home audit with them. These experts will evaluate your home, identify the impending risks, and offer suggestions on the changes or improvements you need to make. 

Speaking of experts, it’s also wise to consult or seek advice before you start a building project in any location. Find out if your preferred location is prone to natural disasters and which ones are the most common in that area. 

Karla Urwitz
Follow Me
Latest posts by Karla Urwitz (see all)