Protect the House - What to Do When Disaster Strikes

Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards - the weather is a bigger story than the recent US election or even who's dating who in Hollywood.

From flooding to having no power, there's plenty of people around the planet that are dealing with the lack of essentials - running water, electricity, heat, shelter, food - due to the recent effects of Mother Nature's wrath on the planet.

For those of us in urban areas that may face a power outage or lack of running water for a period of time due to a storm, here's some tips to help keep the homestead protected from further damage until everything is back to normal.
Although we do get warnings about a storm's path, when those unpredictable loss of electricity and lack of running water happens, its important to consider the following suggestions from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

1. Know where your home's electrical panel, gas and water valves are located - there may be need to shut them off. If your electrical panel uses fuses, make sure you have spare fuses (and know where you stored them.)

2. Have a flashlight with spare batteries for every member of the household in case of a loss of electricity. Pick a central, easily accessible area to store flashlights, batteries, candles and matches as well as an emergency kit.

3. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation to protect them from the cold during loss of heat and move valuables from places that could be flooded or affected by cold, ie. basement, to high shelves or upper floors to protect them.

4. If you have to leave your home unoccupied for possibly more than 24 hours due to a storm, turn off power to the house, switch off and unplug appliances, turn down the thermostat and drain taps of water. Make sure to lock all windows and doors (including garage door).

5. Make sure someone knows that you have remained in your home or have left your home - family, close friends and emergency services if needed. Make sure you have photo identification with you when you leave, and consider taking valuable documents with you or insure they're stored in a waterproof, fireproof safe or at a bank's safety deposit box.