Home ownership comes with many responsibilities. One of the most important responsibilities is to know your home's defenses against emergencies. Disaster can strike at any time but being prepared with a few DIY skills will help you to be able to handle whatever situation may arise.
1. Being able to shut off water to your whole house
There are individual shut-off valves below sinks and behind toilets, but knowing where the main shut off valve to your whole home is important as well. This valve will be located where the water supply enters your home. It may be on an outside wall or in an underground utility box. Locate that valve and turn the knob or lever clockwise (right-y, tight-y) and you'll cut of the water supply to the whole house.
2. Fire Extinguishers
Every home needs at least one fire extinguisher, and most should have at least two or three. The number of fire extinguishers that you should have in your home depends on a couple of things: the size of your home and if your home is a multi-level home or not. A typical extinguisher has about only eight seconds worth of fire-fighting power, so remember this acronym: PASS.
P = Pull the pin.
A= Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames.
S= Squeeze the trigger.
S= Sweep from side to side.
Having multiple fire extinguishers in your home will add to your safety.
3. Label Circuit Breakers
Most electrical work is best left to a professional, but labeling breakers is safe and easy to do. First you must locate your breaker box. Usually they are located on the wall of a utility space like the garage or laundry room. The main switch will turn off power to the whole house (in case of an emergency like a flood or fire) and other switches that control sections of the house. If the switches aren't already marked, you can turn them off and on, one by one and determine which switch controls which part of the house. Write the description directly onto the metal plate since labels tend to fall off or fade.
4. Stopping an overflowing toilet
This common issue can cause not only a big mess but damage as well. If you see a bowl filling take the top off of the tank and grab the float (the black rubber ball at the end of a lever.) This action closes the valve that lets the clean water into the bowl, buying you time to locate and turn off the toilet's water source and use a plunger to clear the drain.
5. Take a home inventory for insurance purposes.
Homeowner's insurance is an important part of being prepared for disaster. Save copies of receipts for all renovations, upgrades and major purchases like appliances. Use a spreadsheet to record the make, model and serial number of each big ticket item. Once a year, shoot a video of each room, narrating its contents as you go and highlighting anything that is new.
6. Build your own emergency supply kit
To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
Flashlight
First aid kit
Extra batteries
Whistle to signal for help
Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Manual can opener for food
Local maps
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Knowing your home's defenses against emergencies is a must for all homeowners. Disaster can strike at any time but the above preparation will help you to be able to handle those situations as they arise.
