As part of LoCAR's continuing effort to inform the general public of real estate issues, the following article was submitted to the Morning Journal, The Chronicle-Telegram and LorainCounty.com:
Preparing and keeping a fully stocked home emergency preparedness kit could be the key to your family’s safety if disaster strikes.
Natural disasters can’t be prevented, but you can take charge of how you respond.
Preparing a home emergency preparedness kit, you hope never to use, may seem like a waste of time and money. But when disasters happen that are beyond your control, you can take charge of how you respond. According to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) survey, more than half of all U.S. households have some sort of disaster preparation in place. If yours isn’t one of them, here are some suggestions as to what you need to do.
First, make sure important papers are in order:
If a flood destroys your home, you could spend weeks or even months just trying to re-create the essential documents you’ll need to get back on track. That’s why it’s critical to have backups of important papers, including the deed to your house, proof of insurance, medical records, passports, social security cards, and a list of personal contacts. Keep one copy at home in a portable case and another offsite in a safe place. And while you’re at it, use the opportunity to check whether your insurance is up to date.
Tailor a preparedness kit to your personal needs:
Humanitarian organizations and government aid agencies offer guidelines for creating an emergency preparedness kit. But along with the basics like food and water, it’s important to have what you need for your particular situation. Make sure you have escape ladders in case of a fire. And you’ll want extra blankets to survive a winter power outage.
Think about what you need for the safety of your house, too. Knowing where to find the main electrical and water shutoffs—and having the right wrench to turn them—can make the difference between a house that weathers the storm and one that experiences catastrophic flooding or fire.
A basic emergency preparedness kit:
FEMA recommends you keep a “grab and go” bag with these items in case you need to evacuate:
- Water: One gallon, per person, per day, for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation; double in the summer. Bottled water is best, but you can also store tap water in food-grade containers or two-liter soda bottles that have been sanitized. Factor in your pet’s water needs, too.
- Food: At least a three-day supply of non-perishables and a can opener. Pack protein, fruit, and vegetables, but make sure they’re in a form you actually like—it’s bad enough not to have access to fresh food without also having to subsist on nothing but canned tuna. Include treats like cereal bars, trail mix, etc. Store food in pest-proof plastic or metal tubs and keep it in a cool, dry place.
- Flashlights and extra batteries: FEMA does not recommend candles because there are many house fires caused by candles left unattended.
- First-aid supplies: Sterile gloves, adhesive bandages and sterile dressings, soap or other cleanser, antibiotic towelettes and ointment, burn ointment, eye wash, thermometer, scissors, tweezers, petroleum jelly, aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, and stomach analgesics such as Tums, Pepto-Bismol, and a laxative.
- Sanitation and hygiene supplies: Moist towelettes, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, and plastic ties. You might also want travel-size shampoo, toothpaste/toothbrush, and deodorant.
- Radio or TV: Keep a portable, battery- or crank-operated radio or television and extra batteries to remain connected in case the power goes out, as well as an extra cell phone charger.
- Plastic sheeting, duct tape, and dust masks: In case you need to seal your home or shelter from airborne contaminants.
- Extra items: A whistle to signal for help, a favorite toy or other comfort items for kids.
Update your kit as your needs change, and replace food and water approaching its expiration date. Pick a specific time each year to check.
Remember, the next time you’re in the market to buy or sell your home, contact a REALTOR® member of the Lorain County Association of REALTORS®. A REALTOR®'s knowledge about your local housing market is invaluable.
Using a professional REALTOR® is an important factor in your investment decision for there are so many nuances to the process. Your REALTOR® can help guide you through the buying and/or selling steps to achieve your goal.
The Lorain County Association of REALTORS® is one of 1,200+ local boards and associations of REALTORS® nationwide that comprise the National Association of REALTORS®. The National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than one million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Ohio REALTORS®, with more than 36,000 members, is the largest professional trade association in Ohio. Leading with expertise, professionalism and an entrepreneurial spirit, REALTORS in Ohio are committed to their clients and communities.
REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate sales agents are REALTORS®. All REALTORS® are members of NAR along with their State and Local Associations.
