The weather can be unpredictable at times, and regardless of where you lay down your roots, there will be the potential threat of extreme weather, be it earthquakes, blizzards, flooding, or anything in between. It can be scary to think about, but you can feel much better when you see a storm on the horizon if you plan and prepare your home for the worst. Below are some tips for preparing your house, valuables, and family for extreme weather so you can give your homestead the best chance of success.
Be Proactive With Updates And Repairs
Many preppers and homeowners say that the best way to handle extreme weather is to prepare in advance and anticipate it before it happens. You need to ensure that your home is in tip-top shape and that no vulnerabilities can make an extreme storm even worse for your home and your family.
Several home improvement projects can ensure your safety and comfort during extreme weather, like sealing or replacing your doors and windows if you’re expecting extreme cold or hot temperatures. Seal the windows so your heater and air conditioner aren’t creating unnecessary heat or cold air that’s leaking out. Otherwise, both systems could break down when you need them most.
[Editor’s note: It can’t hurt to have other handy repair items around, like heavy-duty tarps, plywood, nails, screws, etc. just in case a storm damages your home.]
Remember that the outside elements can also leak into your home if your windows and doors aren’t properly sealed. While you’re securing your home against extreme temps, take this time to have a contractor check the insulation in your walls and ensure it’s good enough to keep your home warmer or cooler for longer.
Don’t hesitate to add extra features to your home that can help in the case of an emergency, like a backup generator that can keep your lights on and the refrigerator running in the case of an outage. If your home is subject to flooding, invest in a sump pump to relocate the water away from your property.
[Editor’s note: And be sure you can power that sump pump with a generator or solar or whatever works for you!]
Prepare For Specific Threats
It’s essential that you’re aware of any specific threats that can impact your neck of the woods so you can put the proper protections in place. If your home is in an area prone to flooding and heavy rains, you can install floodwalls out of concrete to keep the water at bay. However, you should also beware of the threat of mud. The bacteria found in mud can be dangerous to humans and livestock and it could take the place of fertile soil, which can be particularly bad if you’re a homesteader who needs good earth to grow your food. You can lessen the possibility of excess mud by laying down mulch to create a barrier or installing drainage to funnel the water away so it doesn’t create an issue.
If your home is in an area where cold weather and the potential for blizzards are an annual threat, then you should take steps to ensure that your house will continue to function. To avoid harm to your plumbing when the temperatures fall to near zero and below, protect your pipes by insulating them so they don’t freeze, and turn off your outdoor faucets. Before the snow hits, trim tree limbs that loom over your home because if they get covered in heavy snow or ice, then they’re likely to break, which could cause damage to what lies underneath.
You may not feel like you can do much if you live in the Midwest or other areas prone to tornadoes, but you can take steps to mitigate potential damage here, too. This is another case where you should trim your trees to avoid flying debris, but that’s just the start. If you often experience high winds, make it a point to bring in patio furniture, the BBQ grill, and yard equipment at a moment’s notice when a storm starts brewing. When it’s safe, head up to the roof, replace shingles, and fix any weak points. While up there, check your gutters and ensure they’re fastened tight.
[Editor’s note: Although preparedness, in general, is pretty much the same since we all need food, water, shelter, and so on, knowing the major risks where you live is crucial, too. That is, if you live near an earthquake fault line, take actions now to mitigate the most likely risks. Same goes for tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms, and so on. I keep a page on my website with details for specific disasters if you’d like to know more.]
Protect What Matters Most
While keeping the exterior of your home secure and safe from the elements is paramount, there may be specific areas of the homestead that are also important, like your garden. As a homesteader, you can protect your garden against extreme weather like excessive rain by planting in raised beds, digging a pond to collect the water, and ensuring that your garden is loaded with organic matter so the water drains easier.
Protect your garden against extreme summer heat by shielding your most heat-sensitive crops with shade cloth and mulch your garden regularly to retain moisture during droughts. You can also grow many plants year-round and avoid winter damage by constructing a greenhouse for protection.
[Editor’s note: I’d imagine that the garden will be about the last thing on my mind if I’m dodging a tornado as I live in the Midwest, but will probably be top of the list after the storm passes if, Heaven-forbid, it’s a SHTF scenario.]
You likely also have some items of value in your home that you want to protect during extreme weather, so create a plan in advance. For instance, if you have family heirlooms that mean a great deal to you, keep them in secure boxes and wrap each one individually so it doesn’t get scratched. Precious metals should be kept in dry areas with little exposure to air and the elements. If there are items you don’t want to take any chance of losing, consider placing them in a secure storage center offsite.
If a storm does come around, keep yourself and valuables away from windows. You may even want to proactively keep valuables in the basement if you’re at risk of tornadoes or in an upstairs bedroom if flooding is a concern. Keep your precious items in a waterproof safe when water is a threat.
You can do a lot to protect your home and your family from the extreme weather that can pop up at a moment’s notice. Consider these tips and be proactive, and you can weather the storm.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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