Natural disasters are an unfortunate reality of our world, but it doesn’t mean we are helpless to defend ourselves from them. Instead, you can take precautions.

Protecting your home from natural disasters will take time, money, and effort—and some methods are more effective than others—but it’s worth it in the end. Here are some of our top tips:

Reinforce Your Doors and Windows

One of the best ways to protect your home during a natural disaster is to reinforce your windows and doors. They’re one of the first things that can give way against heavy winds or break in an earthquake, but if you reinforce them, you can reduce their risk of damage.

These are the points of entry into your home, so if they give way, the extreme wind and rain of a hurricane or tornado will have a much easier time devastating your property. You can temporarily brace your windows and doors with plywood, but the better option is to install reinforced doors and windows that can withstand extreme conditions.

Regularly Inspect Your Exterior

Natural disasters come in many forms, and you must take the necessary steps to protect yourself from everything that they can bring. Whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, or extreme rain and wind, take care of your home to minimize the effects of these intense weather events.

It’s important that you do the following to keep your home safe:

• Regularly check your home for cracks and holes
• Clean out the gutters
• Clear the brush from your yard
• Keep your yard clear of toys and unsecured furniture
• Remove any dead trees

There are many ways natural disasters can damage your roof, but by taking these precautions, you are potentially saving your home from this damage. Clearing your yard and cutting down dead trees will stop the wind from picking up these items and hurling them at your home. Similarly, clearing your gutters can stop rainwater from pooling and caving in your roof.

Create an Emergency Plan

What’s a home without the people who make it so? Prepare for the worst, which means creating an emergency plan so you and your family will know how to reach safety. Sometimes, all the preparations you’ve made won’t be enough. You must step back and recognize when you’re in a situation like this and follow your emergency plan. 

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For example, if you’re in the path of a wildfire, there’s not much you can do other than gather your family and your go bags and head towards your designated safe zone. An emergency plan is the last line of defense against natural disasters, and while you may not want to leave your home, it will often be your best choice.

These are some of the best ways to protect your home from natural disasters, but to reiterate the last point, your home is more than a building you own. Take the necessary precautions to protect your family from natural disasters and extreme weather. Remember, even in the worst-case scenario, if the weather damages your home, it will be okay—you can build a new one as long as you have your family with you.