Natural disasters can be extremely worrying for homeowners. Not only do you worried about your loved ones, you may be afraid of damage to your property or its contents. If you live in an area where there are often natural disasters, here are some ways you can protect your home and yourself.
Check what the risks are in your area
When you move into a new house, you usually get an inspection report which will highlight risks such as natural disasters, but you should also do your own research too.
Check whether there is a risk in your area such as:
- Bushfires
- Flooding
- Earthquakes
- Tornadoes
- Storms
Knowing the risks will help you decide what courses of action you might need to take.
Make sure you have home cover
If you do live in an area prone to natural disasters, then the right kind of insurance cover is essential. You should look for a specialist insurance company through Central Coast insurance brokers, making sure that your policy includes specific cover for these kind of events. Many people make the mistake of only taking out general home or contents cover, which may not include natural disasters.
Protect your home and make it safe
If you know what the risks are in your area, you can look at ways to upgrade your home so you can deal with them.
Live in an area with storms? You may want to install shutters so your windows are protected. If there’s also a lot of flooding, you should pay close attention to waterproofing your home as much as possible and perhaps invest in better drainage to minimise the damage.
In areas with earthquakes, you should focus on securing anything that can come loose or is heavy to avoid injuries. For example, car ports and porches on the outside of your home should be checked to ensure they are structurally sound. If you have heavy furniture inside, tether it to the wall.
Put a drill in place
It helps to be prepared for a natural disaster and what you’d do in situations where you may need to stay at home for a long period, or evacuate quickly. For example, you may need to ensure you have supplies at home, or have a bag packed for a quick evacuation. Make sure all the family know what to do too.
Natural disasters are scary, so make sure your home is well prepared if you are in an at-risk area.
