August 2000
Protect Your Home From Fire and Flood
Fire season has barely begun and firefighters have already engaged
hundreds of fires across the West, in what may become one of the worst fire
seasons in history. And with flood season around the corner, you may
want to take note of some tips to keep your home safe from Mother Nature.
Fires cause millions of dollars in property
damage annually, and millions more to fight, monitor and prevent. To
protect homes from wildfires, Administrator Carrye Brown of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges the creation of "defensible
perimeters" by clearing flammable debris well away from structures and
outbuildings. FEMA recommends taking the following precautions:
- Establish firebreaks around the perimeter
of structures, power poles and property.
- Cut back flammable weeds and brush and
remove tree branches to a height of 15 feet.
- Stack firewood away from your home.
- Store combustible materials only in
approved containers, and well away from the house.
- Keep roofs, chimneys and gutters clean.
- Keep a non-flammable screen over the flue
opening of chimneys or stovepipes.
- Use fire-resistant materials when
retrofitting or renovating structures.
- Install smoke detectors on every floor,
and near sleeping areas.
- Have fire tools (shovel, rake, water
bucket and a ladder that reach the roof) handy.
- Plan and rehearse family evacuation plans.
Since flood season comes right on the heels
of fire season, you may want to start planning ahead. Tips for
reducing vulnerability to flood damage range from elevating or relocating
vulnerable appliances, water heaters and furnaces, to installing backflow
valves on sewer lines and anchoring in-yard fuel tanks. Learn how you
can help control surface water.
For more information on how to protect
yourself and your property from natural disasters, visit www.fema.gov.
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