How Keller homeowners can prepare for natural disasters

If emergency officials in your community issued a mandatory evacuation order to get out of the path of a wildfire, tornado, hurricane or another natural disaster, would you know what to take with you, the evacuation route you would take and where you would go until it was safe to return to your Keller home?

In short, do you have a personal evacuation plan in place?

If you answered “yes,” you’re like 49% of the 1,795 respondents Mercury Insurance recently surveyed for its emergency preparedness quiz. However, if the question was rephrased to inquire about “having an evacuation plan and practicing it at least once a year,” the results show only 23% meet this criteria.

The survey also revealed that 39% of homeowners were unsure if they have enough coverage to rebuild if their home is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, and 34% don’t have a home inventory they could provide to their insurance company to help get these items replaced.

There is some good news, however, as 88% of respondents said they have an in-home emergency kit stocked with essential items they will need if disaster strikes. If you don’t have a kit, here is a list of the items you may want to include in your kit:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person), non-perishable food items and pet food, if applicable;
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio (and extra batteries);
• A flashlight;
• A first aid kit;
• A whistle to signal for help;
• A can opener;
• Blankets;
• Tools to turn off utilities;
• $200 in cash in small bills, as power may be out, making ATMs, debit and credit cards unusable;
• Fully charged battery packs so you can recharge your cell phone; and
• Prescriptions for you and your pets.

The bottom line is that extreme weather events are anticipated to increase, and you can never be too cautious or over-prepared to protect against Mother Nature. Trying for a wait-and-see approach is the worst possible choice because you have no time to prepare. Since the goal is not to panic and to react as second nature, you should do all of the important work prior to actually enduring the evacuation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whether it's selling your home or finding a new one, we have designed this site so that you can quickly and easily locate the information you are looking for. The Grove Team's client-centered approach results in the best possible outcome for you. Please contact us now to begin the process of achieving your dreams in homeownership. Call 817-337-0000 for Keller Home's for sale in Keller ISD.