Prepare Your Home for Disasters Prepare your home Using Fire Extinguisher Shutting Off Your Gas Shutting Off Water Shutting Off Electricity Perform a home hazard hunt Tips when looking for a new home Prepare your house, manufactured home or apartment for: FIRES Check smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. If you must use a portable space heater, do NOT use near flammable objects such as curtains or furniture FLOODS Make sure the electric panel/fuse box is elevated above previous flood levels. Make sure the furnace, water heater, washer, dryer and other items in the basement are located off the floor and elevated above previous flood levels. TORNADOS Go to a tornado safe room, if you have one, or to a room at the lowest level of your home, preferably in the center of the home (such as a bathroom or a closet). If you live in a mobile home park, be prepared to leave your home and go to a sturdy, well built building. HURRICANES Have enough hurricane shutters or pre-cut plywood on hand to cover all windows and doors. Manufactured (mobile) homes, especially in areas where high winds occur, should be strapped or tied down to a foundation with cables or chains. EARTHQUAKES Bolt tall furniture like bookcases and china cabinets to wall studs. Strap water heaters to wall studs. Install strong latches on cupboards. Have everyone in your home practice how to DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON. Remember to... Obtain hazard specific homeowners insurance to cover your contents and structure or renters insurance to cover your contents. Maintain a battery operated radio and a NOAA Weather Radio. Prepare a family disaster supplies kit and keep it current and handy. Develop a family evacuation plan and practice it once a year. Pay attention to all emergency warnings — follow directions and evacuate your residence when advised to do so. Return to top Using a Fire Extinguisher Purchase an A-B-C rated fire extinguisher and teach all responsible family members how to use it. However, the Red Cross strongly recommends that you visit your local fire department to practice using a fire extinguisher properly. You need to practice to ensure you will remember how to respond when you are forced to react quickly. Also, please remember that most household fire extinguishers are designed to put out very small fires only. Attempting to put out large fires with a household extinguisher can be dangerous. An experienced fire professional will be able to explain the safest, most effective way to use your extinguisher. Remember, fire extinguishers are for small fires only. When using one, stand back 10 feet from the fire, keep your back to an exit and remember the PASS Sequence: Pull the pin out Aim the extinguisher Squeeze or press the handle Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire Return to top Do NOT turn off natural gas unless you suspect a real emergency, you smell leaking gas, or local officials advise that you need to do so. You will need a professional to restore natural gas service. After a major disaster, it can take days or weeks for a professional to respond. Shutting Off Your Gas If you need to have your gas shut off, call your gas company to do it, if possible. However, in an emergency when you need the gas shut off immediately, take these steps: Locate the shutoff valve on the riser pipe (the pipe running through the ground or foundation wall to your meter). To turn the valve, you will need a crescent or pipe wrench, or a special wrench available from your local gas company. When the valve head is parallel to the riser pipe, it is in the "on" position. Turn the valve head crosswise to the pipe and it will be in the "off" position. There are also shutoff valves on the lines feeding individual gas appliances. Once the gas is off, leave it off. Call the nearest gas company office when you are ready for the gas to be turned back on. A qualified technician will check your system, turn on your service and relight the pilot for you. Shutting Off Your Natural Gas Your gas company injects an odorant into your gas before it is distributed, so it can be detected. The odorant is so highly concentrated that even the smallest amounts of natural gas can be detected. The odorant gives off a foul smell, like rotten eggs. Any odor of natural gas inside your home may indicate a leak. Follow these steps if you detect a leak: Do open windows and doors. Do evacuate all persons from the building. Do call your local gas company from a neighbor's phone or a phone far away from the building. Don't use the telephone (including cell phones and other portable communications devices with a battery). These can spark and create an ignition source. Don't light matches or create any other source of ignition. Don't turn lights off or on, or operate any electrical switches (either off or on). This could create a source of ignition. If there is a strong gas odor in your home, or you can see or hear a break, follow the instructions above. Meanwhile, turn off the gas valve located at the gas meter with a wrench or other suitable tool. If the leaking gas ignites, do not attempt to put out the flames. Get to safety, call the fire department and then call your local gas company. Return to top Shutting off water Earthquakes or severe freezing weather can interrupt water supplies. It’s important to turn off the water quickly to avoid flooding or possible contamination of your water system. Locate the main water valve, often near the wall in a basement or garage. Label it for quick identification. If you need to turn the water off, turn the valve clockwise until it stops. Return to top Shutting off electricity If the power goes out: Check your fuse or breaker box for blown fuses or tripped circuits. If they're okay, check to see if your neighbors are without power. Call your power company immediately to report the outage. Please call only once so other customers can get through. Turn off all electrical equipment, including your water heater, electric furnace or heaters, stove, washer and dryer, stereo and TV, to help prevent overloading the system when power is restored. (Major appliances can be turned off at the breaker box). Do, however, turn on a porch light and one inside light so you and repair crews will know when service is restored. Listen to the radio (battery-powered) for updates on major storm outages. You can also call your power company for information on when power will be restored. If your neighbor's power comes back on but yours does not, call your power company again. If your lights are very dim or very bright once power is restored, turn off the power at the breaker or fuse box and call your power company. Return to top Perform a Home Hazard Hunt In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard. Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. Fasten shelves securely. Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves. Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds. Brace overhead light fixtures. Secure water heater. Strap to wall studs. Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations. Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away from heat sources. Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans. Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents. Return to top Looking for a Home? Take the Opportunity to Make Your Home Safe for You and Your Family! Think and Plan for Safety Check outside and around the house, manufactured (mobile) home or apartment. Is it away from a river/creek or other water source that may flood? What fire department and ambulance service is available and how do you contact them in an emergency? Is it near a fire hydrant? Are home entryways, parking areas and area streets well lit? Are the bushes and trees trimmed and away from roof, chimney, gutters and entryways? Are hallways and stairwells equipped with emergency lighting? Are play areas well-lit and free from hazards? If a pool is present, does it have a fence with a locked gate? Check the inside of your house, manufactured (mobile) home or apartment. Are there smoke alarms installed on each level of the home and are they working? Are there fire extinguishers available and are they fully charged? (Your local fire department can tell you where to get them charged.) Are electrical outlets adequate and working? Do not overload outlets! Are the locks on windows and doors in working order? Are there at least two (2) ways to exit the residence? Are the chimney and gutters cleaned regularly? Click here for a pdf version of this information. Return to top