In Colorado we know the summer months can bring both fires and floods across the state, state officials recently reminded us. As a homeowner, there are a number of things you can keep in mind and proactively do to help reduce potential future damages, as well as keep your family safe!
In Colorado we know the summer months can bring both fires and floods across the state, state officials recently reminded us. As a homeowner, there are a number of things you can keep in mind and proactively do to help reduce potential future damages, as well as keep your family safe!
My fire and flood prevention tips:
1. Make a plan! This is number one. Your plan should include everything from a meeting place and evacuation routes for those living in your home to an emergency supply kit. Ready.gov provides excellent information on everything you should consider in the event of an emergency. Click through to make sure you have everything covered! > https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
2. Create a defensible space! This means keeping the immediate area around your home free of natural debris! This can reduce the chances of a fire spreading to your home, or spreading a fire to neighboring homes. The National Fire Protection Association has a great checklist for ways to build and maintain a defensible space around your home! https://www.nfpa.org/
3. Know your flood risk! Are you in an area that’s at a high risk for floods? Check out FEMA’s interactive map to check your home and the surrounding areas! > https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search
4. Review your insurance! In the case that a disaster can’t be avoided, you will want to make sure you’re properly insured, and flood damage specifically is not typically covered by homeowners insurance. It’s best to be asking any questions you may have now!
5. Prepare your valuables! This could mean storing digital copies of important documents. Or creating a homeowners list of your valuables in case your property is damaged. A list of things to grab (time permitting) from your home in the case of an emergency is another great list to prepare and keep in your emergency supply kit! Know what’s irreplaceable and what can be replaced with proper documentation.
Taking these preventative steps now can provide you with the comfort of knowing you’ve done everything in your power to keep your home and family safe. There are a ton of great resources and tools out there on these topics if you have additional questions or would like some guidance, the ones I linked to above are a great place to start!
