National Preparedness Month

9/18/2013 (Permalink)

September is National preparedness month. During this time, most of us are enjoying Labor Day, drafting our Fantasy Football teams, and enjoying the crisp (or maybe not so crisp) fall weather. We are likely not thinking about what would happen if a disaster were to strike in our home. Would you and your family be prepared if you were to have your air conditioning line leak into the floor? As fire season approaches, are you taking extra caution when using stoves, fireplaces, etc.? Most of us are generally cautious in our actions and try to avoid reckless behavior, however, accidents do happen and let me tell you folks, and we have seen it all… Dogs that turn on stoves, boisterous teens who get in a fight and hit a main water line, overflowing sewage lines… we could go on… But what does it look like to have a good safety plan in place? Is it expensive? Who does it involve? What is the plan of action? If you are reading this and scratching your head, never fear, SERVPRO is here and we are ready to answer these pressing questions!

First off you should make a game plan for each type of emergency- Weather related (flood and tornado), fire, and water damage. Work with your family and neighbors to help everyone understand where to go and what to do in case of any of these types of emergencies. Your family can download Family Emergency Plan templates at www.ready.gov/make-a-plan and you can keep it on the fridge!

Second, make sure you have up to date contact information. Do you have accurate records for family, friends and loved ones? Do you know the number to your local fire department, police district, or local SERVPRO? Do you have a hard drive for your computer in a safe place? Is there a fire proof safe in your house that your family members and neighbors might need to be aware of?

Check your policy- Make sure you annually review your insurance policy so that if something does happen, you know that your insurance company will be helping in the fight to get you up and running.

Have the right tools readily available. Does your home and car have a fire extinguisher in it? If not, it might not be a bad idea to keep those handy and even have more than one in the home if you have a lot of square footage. Stock up on items that you could use in the case of a power outage. Keep batteries and flashlights in designated spots throughout your home with mini first aid kits.

Last, but certainly not least- Know your home or property. Do you know where the main water shut off is? Do you know how to flip the breaker or how to turn off your electricity? It would definitely be a good idea to tag these shut offs. SERVPRO does Emergency Ready Plans where we can come to your home and or place of business and tag these items and more for you so that anyone in your family or business can stop a leak before it does too much damage.

Remember your safety this month and every month and contact your local SERVPRO if you have any emergency service needs!