While many of us deal with the effects of last week’s winter storm, we’ve put together a list to help make sure all of us are more prepared in the future. While home disasters can be upsetting, tackling them without panic helps to ensure effective action. Here are 6 common home emergencies and the steps you should take first to tackle these disasters head-on.
1. Burst Pipe
- Stop the flow by shutting off the main water valve.
- Turn on the lowest faucet in the house. This lets any water held in pipes above the leak to allow the water to drain out of the faucet instead of through the leaking pipe.
- Begin cleanup immediately. The longer things stay wet, the more likely you’ll have permanent damage. Delay can even lead to mold problems inside walls, which can cost thousands to eradicate. Clean up visibly affected areas as soon as possible.
- Call a plumber as soon as you can amidst tackling the above.
2. Flood
- Make sure you are dry before you turn off electrical power.
- Take precautions. Any water in contact with electricity might be deadly. Stay out of all water until you’ve turned off the power to your home.
- Protect yourself. Whether the water is from flash flooding or grey water (water that oozes from your septic system), it can harbor dangerous bacteria. Protect cuts and wear plastic gloves.
3. Kitchen Fire
- React fast. If it’s a grease fire, turn off the burner or unplug the toaster and smother the flames by dousing them with baking soda or putting the lid on the pan.
- If it’s an oven fire, DO NOT open the door and give the fire air. Leave the oven door closed and turn off the heat to the oven. The fire will eventually smother itself.
- Don’t use water to put out a grease fire. It can splash the burning grease and cause burns.
- Never carry a burning pan outside. It can easily ignite something else and cause a much larger fire.
- Get to know your fire extinguisher. Household fire extinguishers have 10 seconds of discharge, so take a minute now to read the label. Check the expiration date and the pressure gauge to be sure the extinguisher will work when you need it.
3. Power outage
- Keep a flashlight loaded with good batteries in a handy drawer.
- Prepare for surges - Turn off and unplug all electrical equipment, including your tools, appliances and electronics, and turn your thermostat down in cool weather, up in warmer months, to prevent damage from surges when the power returns. (You can turn off large appliances from the breaker box.)
- Leave one light on so you’ll know when the power is restored.
- Don’t turn everything back on at once, when power is restored, as it can create internal power surges. First restore the thermostat setting on the heating or cooling system and then turn on your larger appliances. Give the electrical system a few minutes to stabilize before plugging in your remaining appliances and electronics.
- If your lights are noticeably dimmer or brighter after the power is restored, turn off all the power at the breaker or fuse box and call your electric utility.
4. Electrical Storms
- Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from power surges. Lightning strikes can burn out circuit boards in appliances, computers, AC units, etc. doing thousands of dollars in damage in less than a second. If you hear thunder, power surges are possible, even if you don’t see any lightning.
- Call the fire department immediately if your home is hit. Lightning strikes can cause small fires inside walls that smolder for hours even if you don’t see flames.
- Play it safe. Lightning may strike nearby electrical lines and travel to your home. Avoid contact with electrical appliances and landlines.
It’s true that lightning strikes can travel through metal plumbing pipes. Avoid sitting on the toilet and don’t shower or bathe during electrical storms.
5. Carbon Monoxide Alert
- Check for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning which resemble those of the flu. If the alarm sounds and anyone is experiencing headaches, dizziness, fatigue or vomiting, get everyone out of the house and call 911.
- Don’t use generators, charcoal grills or propane camping stoves indoors.
- Never ignore the alarm. Don’t assume all is well if no one feels ill. Open your doors and windows to thoroughly ventilate the house. Turn off all potential sources of CO—your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, etc. Have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to make sure they’re operating correctly and that there’s nothing blocking the vents that let fumes out of the house.
- Make sure your CO detectors are in working order.
As with any emergency, avoid an “every man for himself” mentality. The value you and your neighbors provide to each other can be immeasurable. As we have seen, it can be difficult to drive anywhere for supplies, and you’ll conserve resources by pooling them. We hope that you don’t have to handle these unexpected, and often scary events, but if you do, you shouldn’t have to face them alone. Together we can do MORE for each other and our community.
