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How to Prepare Your Apartment for Emergency Situations

All of us love the idea of living in a perfect residency. But is it really possible? Unfortunate events happen, people barge in apartments, and catastrophic disasters like floods and tornadoes happen more regularly than you might imagine. Planning for these crises is critical; because we all believe, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Online surveys suggest that people, more often than not, are not cautious for these emergencies.

As an apartment tenant or owner, you must be prepared in all cases for any emergency situation that may occur. You must plan carefully and know what to expect. Apartment-dwellers should have an arrangement for each possibility; from natural disasters to severe weather. In case you don’t know how to begin on your emergency prep, you can follow the guidelines mentioned below to prepare better for apartment emergencies.

How to Prepare Your Apartment for Emergency Situations

Tornado Safety for Apartments

Though Tornados are unpredictable, their peak season usually lives from late winter till midsummer. A few terms you should be mindful of are: tornado watch and tornado warning. A ‘tornado watch’ implies that a tornado is probably in your area. A ‘tornado warning’ implies a tornado has already been described in the region.

If ever you get a tornado warning, don’t take risks. Apartment tenants should avoid using windows and set out toward the lowest floor of the building, a stairwell, a small in the center of the building (like a restroom or storage room), or a central windowless passage. Once set up, bow and cover the back of your head with your hands. Most tornado deaths happen because of falling or flying rubble. So, you must secure yourself with thick cushioning like covers or a sleeping cushion.

Hurricane Safety for Apartments

Natural catastrophes like high winds and storm surges are genuinely real risks to areas that are amenable to hurricanes. This being the reason, if your apartment situates in an evacuation zone, and you get an order to evacuate, it is in your greatest advantage to comply with it instead of waiting for the storm out. A ‘hurricane watch’ implies that a storm prediction has been made to touch base within 36 hours. A ‘hurricane warning’ comes out within 24 hours of a storm.

When you face a situation of getting stuck in an apartment amid a hurricane, stay back in a small central room like a washroom, store room or windowless passage on the lowest level of your apartment. Keep your survival kit with you and tune into the radio for news.

Apartment Flooding Safety

Usually, there are two sorts of flooding that tenants have to worry about. To start with, natural floods, which become a problem for you if your apartment is located near dams or in a flood zone. If ever you are ordered to empty your apartment in case of a flood, unplug all electrical devices that are dry, shift essentials to an upper floor, and make sure to never stroll through moving water or crash into already flooded areas.

The second case of flooding that tenants are usually worried about is when an internal apartment flooding occurs due to plumbing problems. In case your apartment flooded, inform your landlord and apartment management instantly. If the issue is a faucet or toilet, look for the shutoff valve by the floor and turn it over the other side to stop the stream of water. If the flooding is caused by a blasted pipe or other pipe issues, clear off all your valuable belongings and electrical gadgets. Wait for the apartment maintenance to reach your place.

To avert flooding because of frozen pipes in winter, keep your thermostat over 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Note the insulation around your pipes, and let your fixtures dribble to keep water streaming.

Have you prepared your apartment following any of the tips mentioned above? As the winters are approaching, taking note of your apartment maintenance and learning on safety tips will serve as a good idea.

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