Tips to Get Your Family Prepared for Severe Weather | SERVPRO® of Buffalo/Tonawanda

4/19/2019 (Permalink)

If a storm does cause damage to your home or business, don’t hesitate to call your friends at SERVPRO® of Buffalo/ Tonawanda.

There are times when we can be caught by surprise when severe weather strikes even though there are warning systems in place.

Fortunately, when Mother Nature manages to catch us off-guard, there are steps you can take and safety tips to follow that will ensure your family is prepared for various severe weather occurrences.

Establishing a Family Severe Weather Plan

One of the best ways to stay safe during dangerous weather situations is to have an established family emergency plan ready.

It is important to discuss and practice your family emergency plan if your family does have one in place. Also, be sure to discuss and review it at the beginning of various weather seasons so everyone knows exactly what to do.

If you’ve not yet put together a family emergency plan, take a look at some things to take into consideration when creating one:

1. How Are You Receiving Emergency Alerts?

We are fortunate to have technology available to us where it is easy to receive emergency alerts and warnings on our smartphones that are equipped with a weather app or Google for alerts and warnings to quickly receive emergency alerts, allowing you precious time to react in severe weather situations.

But cell phones need a signal and power, and herein lies the problem. Storms can wreak havoc with cell towers, and cell phone batteries will eventually die and with no power you will not be able to charge them. Warnings and alerts are also still broadcast over radio and TV.

2. What Are Your Storm Shelter Options?

In areas where tornadoes are common, you’ll want to be in the lowest part of your home, preferably a basement if you have one. If that is not possible, find an interior room on the lowest level out of the way from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.

Tornadoes aren’t the circumstance that call for sheltering. You can learn more about other situations that call for shelters by visiting ready.gov.

3. What Are Your Evacuation Routes?

Make a map that has multiple routes mapped out that will serve as an evacuation route, keeping in mind that hurricanes, flooding and fires can force you from your home in a hurry. Why multiple routes? That would be just in case one is impassible.

Also check for places to stay with your pets along the way for your furry family members that will be evacuating with you.

4. How Will Everyone Stay in Touch?

During storms, cell towers can sustain damage, rendering them useless, so it is not the best idea to rely solely on cell phones to keep in touch with your family. In some circumstances, cell phones could be lost or left behind, and you will be unable to charge the batteries when there is no power to recharge them.

You will need an emergency communication plan in place for your family, as well as a safe meeting place for your family to meet if separated.

If a storm does cause damage to your home or business, don’t hesitate to call your friends at SERVPRO® of Buffalo/ Tonawanda to get the cleanup and restoration process started.