In the aftermath of the tornadoes that hit the Dallas area recently, we are thinking of more ways to be prepared on the homestead for any type of disaster that could come. We have the usual recommended emergency items, but we want to be prepared for patching up the house if we need to in a hurry.
It is hard to plan for every contingency, but we want to be as prepared as we can be. I just find it is so easy to get complacent and think something will not happen to me. A few months ago, my mother lost her home in a fire and now I have friends that have been affected by the Dallas area tornadoes. Seeing pictures from the aftermath of both hit me harder than just seeing general pictures from people I didn’t know on the news.
When we found out that the fire at my mother’s house was started in the attic, we made sure to do a thorough inspection of our attic to check for any fire hazards. We still need to get some additional fire extinguishers for the home. I really try to be so careful about anything that could spark a fire around the homestead. Her situation just added to my diligence.
We plan to get plenty of tarps to cover the roof in the event of leaks or in case the inside of the house becomes exposed to outside elements. We will make sure we have plenty of rope to tie them down and be familiar with good lashing points for the tarps.
We also plan on pre-cutting plywood to cover any windows that might get broken and numbering the windows and wood accordingly. Since our house is brick we plan on securing the plywood by putting a 2×4 on the inside of the house covering the window frame and using a long bolt to bolt the two pieces together. If you double nut it on the inside it will prevent someone from loosening the bolt from the outside and gaining easy access.
We are also preparing to, if possible, stay on the homestead while we repair/rebuild/move possessions because in the aftermath of any natural disaster looters are always a problem.
I am sure there is so much more to think about, but these are a few things on our preparation list. We are always striving to be the most prepared that we can be on the homestead.
