Page 6 - April Digital 2020

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19 Small, Everyday Things
Have important documents by your bed
You Can Do Now to Prepare
Save printed copies of your most important documents (home deed, license, birth certificate, homeowners insurance, passports, etc.) in a waterproof and (if possible) fireproof container next to your bed. (In a pinch, a freezer bag can work.) If you have pets, make sure their important information is included, or they may be turned away from wherever you stay.
If you are in an area that often has evacuation events such
as floods or hurricanes and have extra time to gather belongings, it’s not a bad idea to have an old suitcase in an easily accessible spot. You want to be able to throw important info and other essentials into it and wheel it out the door at a moment’s notice.
for a Natural Disaster
Spending a little extra time on disaster prep now can make a big difference in an emergency. By Samantha Lande, Real Simple
Take a video and written log of your whole house
Keep an old suitcase
In case of disaster, you’ll have a record for insurance purposes after a full-house assessment. Send those videos to your email account for safe storage: This will come in handy when you’re trying to deal with the aftermath of an emergency.
Scope out danger
While you are looking around your house, make sure flammable cleaning supplies aren’t near a heat source (which can be a fire hazard) and that artwork or mirrors aren’t hanging directly above your bed in case of an earthquake.
Are your appliances and electronics safe? While you should unplug electrical devices during a powerful storm, it’s ideal to also purchase a surge protector, which prevents damage to your devices in case the power goes out. Electronics (and important documents) are susceptible to water damage if they are low to the ground, so move them up to a higher level if you live in an area where flooding is common.
Store it with your important documents. If your family gets separated and your phone dies, it’s good to have a hard copy photo to show first responders.
Make sure to close all the bedroom doors in your house
at night. According to the Firefighter Safety Research Institute, it’ll keep you better protected if a fire breaks out in your house and give you extra time to escape.
In an emergency, you won’t want to be looking around for shoes: Put them under your bed for a quick evacuation. tash a flashlight in your nightstand
Keep the batteries unopened in the same drawer or the batteries upside down (yes, the wrong way) in the flashlight so you can preserve their power until you really need it.
Never store water on the floor of your garage
tend to your electronics
That floor can leach toxic chemicals and absorb water: Always elevate bottled water off the ground.
Print a family photo
If you know an emergency is coming (i.e., a storm is predicted) and it’s one you can evacuate early for, plan ahead and keep a full tank of gas in your car. You’ll avoid the three- hour lines at the pump and get to safety faster.
Have a smaller emergency supply kit stored in your car at all times
This mini emergency preparedness kit will be helpful not only if your car breaks down but also if you need to drive a ways to reach safety in an emergency.
A ready-to-use phone means you are ready to call 911 if a fire or other emergency occurs. It also helps to have a portable phone charger ready to go in case the power goes out for an extended period of time.
It’s a good idea to store the number for poison control (1- 800-222-1222) in your phone in case of an emergency: You may not have the presence of mind in the moment to look it up.
—continued on page 7
Sleep with your bedroom door closed
Always keep a charged phone near your bed
Store closed-toe shoes under your bed
Have a full tank of gas
Keep poison control in your contacts
Shenandoah Homeowners Association Page 6 www.shawebwatch.com