Home Improvement: Disaster Preparation Projects

Home improvement projects that everybody needs to consider are the ones that will allow the house to function safely after a disaster strikes. Disaster preparation should be made today for unexpected events that come in all shapes and sizes. As an example, if a truck ever hits your house, you will experience earthquake conditions inside. Getting the house ready with disaster preparation today is a wise use of home improvement funds.

~ An inexpensive disaster preparation home improvement project can be to properly secure all tall furniture in the house.

Start with the areas that children are sleeping and playing in. All tall furniture should be connected to the wall with an 'L' bracket so that the children are safe if they fall. 'L' brackets are small metal brackets that are very inexpensive to buy at the hardware store. Children can help with this home improvement project for their space. Drill a tiny pilot hole into the wall before letting the children use a screwdriver to finish the project.

~ A cheap disaster preparation home improvement project can be to install cupboard door latches.

Kitchen cupboards cause injuries after an event if they have not gone through any disaster preparation beforehand. During an emergency, all cupboard doors without latches can fall open to dump heavy cans or pans, dishes, and cleaning chemicals onto people standing in the area. New door latches are very inexpensive at a hardware store and install with just a screwdriver. Instruct the children how to open a cupboard with caution after an event.

~ A disaster preparation home improvement can be to install simple bathtub grip bars.

Install Senior Citizen grab-bars in the bathtub no matter what age your family might be. Grab-bars are a necessary luxury for broken legs, slippery children, and during events that cause the house to shake. Grab-bars are installed with heavy screws that are driven into a wall support stud. You can see the inside of walls to know where to put the grip bars with a stud finder that is available from the hardware store for about 15.00.

~ A simple disaster preparation home improvement project can be painting the bottom step for safety.

Stairways in the house should have the bottom step painted white. Each year, many people are injured when they are in a hurry on the stairs and forget where the bottom step is located. This simple emergency preparation chore can save upset people from broken bones caused from a fall down the stairs. The color white is easy to see even when the staircase is dark or moving around in an earthquake. An easy to see bottom step also judges water depth with ease in a flooded house.

~ A disaster preparation home improvement project can be done by adding safety film to windows.

Beds that are located near windows can become safety hazards if an event breaks the glass. There is a home improvement product on the market called solar/safety film that goes over the glass in the window. This film adds insulation to your rooms with the added benefit that it helps to keep broken glass away from beds near a window. To install this product, simply cut to fit and stick it onto the glass.

Disaster preparation starts by planning ahead with simple home improvement projects. Making small upgrades today can help to keep your family safe and happy tomorrow.