Protect Your Home From Fire and Flood

Advisory Report - 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.