Preparing for potential disasters is crucial no matter where you call home. Families can enhance their safety and home resilience by using these free and low-cost ways to strengthen their homes against a variety of perils. From earthquakes and extreme heat to floods, hail, hurricanes, tornados, and wildfires, these top mitigation strategies are accessible on the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) website FLASH.org.
The website includes a user-friendly feature called the “Prepare for Disasters” module on the homepage. Users can input their addresses to discover potential disasters that may impact their homes. The results offer resources for planning and recovery and include a home-strengthening category. This category categorizes each mitigation activity by the type of peril it addresses, its cost, and its impact rating, providing users with a personalized and highly organized experience.
Mitigation Strategies
From understanding and implementing building codes to securing your property against multiple perils, FLASH.org provides strategies to ensure families can bounce back swiftly from any unexpected event. These tactics include everything from securing furniture and appliances to installing automatic gas shut-off valves, FEMA-certified safe rooms, anchoring fuel tanks, obtaining flood and home insurance policies, and much more.
Top Earthquake-Resilient Retrofits and Upgrades
Top Flood-Resilient Home Retrofits and Upgrades
Top Hurricane-Resilient Home Retrofits and Upgrades
Top Tornado-Resilient Home Upgrades
Top Wildfire-Resilient Home Upgrades
Top Winter Storm-Resilient Home Upgrades
Free or Low-Cost Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare for Any Peril
- Make a Family Disaster Plan: Establish a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones during emergencies.
- Build a Disaster Supply Kit: Equip your family with essential supplies to endure and recover from disasters.
- Get an Insurance Checkup: Review your insurance policies for adequate coverage for potential risks.
- Create an Insurance Home Inventory: Document your possessions to streamline the claims process after a disaster.