You never know when disaster will strike at home. So, it’s best to be prepared. That way, you won’t panic when something goes wrong. You’ll be ready to react and recover.
How can you get prepared for different types of household emergencies? Read ahead to find out how.
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Housefires
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 346,800 home structure fires per year. Those home structure fires resulted in an average of 2,620 civilian deaths and 11,070 civilian injuries.
Being prepared for a housefire could be lifesaving. How can you prepare?
- Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home to warn you of a fire. Every month, test the alarms to make sure they work. Every year, replace the batteries.
- Have fire extinguishers on every single floor. Keep them in rooms that are at higher risk of fire (living rooms with fireplaces, kitchens, etc.).
- Have a container of baking soda or salt nearby the stove. These ingredients can smother grease fires.
- Establish an escape plan. Consider the best exit routes based on the location of the fire.
Burst Pipes
In the winter, the weather can get so cold that your pipes freeze. These frozen pipes aren’t just a problem because they cut off your access to running water. These frozen pipes can sometimes burst and send gallons of water spilling into your home.
How can you prepare for burst pipes?
- Insulate your exposed water pipes. This should prevent them from freezing.
- Keep your home’s indoor temperature moderate, especially when the weather outside is freezing.
- Have the contact information for a reliable plumbing company saved in your phone. You can call them to thaw frozen pipes — and if disaster strikes, repair burst pipes.
- Learn where your home’s water shut-off valve is located. If a pipe bursts, you can rush over to the valve and shut it off to quickly block your property’s access to water. This should reduce the amount of water damage a burst pipe can cause.
Power Outages
In some cases, a power outage can be a simple inconvenience — you’re left without access to your electronics for an hour or two, which is a pain. In other cases, a power outage is a disaster. For instance, you could lose your primary source of heat in the middle of winter.
The first thing that you should do to prepare for a power outage is to build an emergency disaster kit. Your kit should include the following items:
- Drinking water
- Non-perishable food
- Can openers
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Candles
- Matches
- A portable radio
- First aid supplies
- Blankets
- Warm accessories (mittens, hats, scarves)
- Packages of hand warmers
Another thing that you can do to prepare for a power outage is to add a backup power source to your sump pump. So, if your home’s power goes out during a heavy rainstorm, you don’t have to worry about your sump pump failing and your basement flooding as a consequence.
You should also consider getting a whole-house surge protector installed. Why? When the power goes back on, there could be a sudden power surge. A power surge can permanently damage electronic implements in your home, from your kitchen appliances to your wall outlets.
Emergency Expenses
You’ll want to be ready to foot the bill for small household emergencies like failing appliances, clogged pipes and broken windows. You can’t afford to ignore these emergency expenses until your next payday. You’ll have to cover them right away.
So, how can you prepare for emergency expenses? The best way to prepare for them is to build a substantial emergency fund. With an emergency fund, you can withdraw the necessary savings to cover an urgent household repair or replacement immediately.
Prepare yourself for the possibility that you won’t have enough in your emergency fund. In that case, you’ll have to turn to an alternative payment method, like a direct deposit loan, to help you cover the urgent expense as soon as possible. One of the benefits of direct deposit loans is that you can access credit when you need it most — like when you don’t have enough savings available.
Other credit tools like credit cards and personal line of credit loans can also be useful backup plans when you don’t have enough savings to cover an urgent expense.
When it comes to household emergencies, you don’t want to leave yourself unprepared. Take these precautions! Then, you’ll be ready for the worst.