Hello All! Spring has almost sprung, and if you’re along the Gulf Coast like we are, then you know we’ve been blessed with a mostly mild winter, with more warm weather to come — but this is only part of the reason we suggest dedicating a portion of the next two months to mitigation measures that can help lessen impacts from hurricane season, and if you’re in western United States, drought & wildfire. (Info Note: What is Mitigation?)
Below is a brief list describing why March & April are prime mitigation months:
- Weather – We know we already mentioned this one, but it truly is an important aspect to consider. For most areas exposed to summertime disaster seasons, temperatures during March & April create comfortable conditions to make improvements to your home that can significantly reduce impacts from hazards such as hurricanes and wildfire – increasing the safety of you and your loved ones while lessening potential damage and loss.
- It’s the Right Time – Ever heard of the “disaster cycle”? (see image below) In brief, it’s the order in which businesses and people work to reduce impacts from disasters (Mitigation & Preparation), then respond during a disaster (Response), then take steps to recover after a disaster has occurred (Recovery). With hurricane and wildfire season roughly falling between May and November, the months of March and April are best to perform mitigation measures (such as making protective adjustments to your home), and the months closer to the start of the season (May, June) are best used for preparations (such as stocking up on canned goods, etc.)
- Beat the Heat, but also! Beat the Pre-Disaster “Rush” – Working toward protective mitigation measures now, prevents experiencing pre-disaster panic & anxiety once the season is upon (or worse, once a disaster is approaching). Rather than rushing to the hardware store for plywood prior to a hurricane, or worrying about water damage from clogged gutters or brush surrounding your home that you may not have cut back enough to ward off wildfire – mitigating during the months of March and April allows you the peace of mind, and perhaps equally/more important, the time to focus on more immediate preparations needed during the season, such as making sure you have provisions to weather a storm or planning for a proper evacuation.
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So! What are some mitigation measures you can take over the next couple of months to help protect your home? We’ve provided links below as guides to mitigate impacts from summer season hazards. Check ’em out! And, keep up with these and similar tips by following our Facebook page, and joining our disaster.guide “Home Prepare & Repair” Facebook group.
HURRICANE MITIGATION:
- “Homeowners Handbooks to Prepare for Coastal Hazards,” by StormSmart, Gulf of Mexico — Highly recommended by the disaster.guide team! The landing page offers an explanation of the guides, as well as links to state-specific guides. Each guide features step-by-step home improvement/mitigation instructions with illustrations.
- “Storm and Hurricane Mitigation Guide for Homeowners,” by ClimateCheck — Following a general introduction at the top of the webpage, this site offers specific instructions on mitigation measures for hurricane-related impacts (wind, water, etc.) – scroll down past the intro for specific mitigation guides.
- “9 affordable ways to prep your home for hurricane season,” by USA Today — We like this list a lot, not only because it presents affordable/attainable ways to protect your home, but also because it lists a few important mitigation measures not covered in other guides.
- “10 ways to prepare your home for hurricane season,” by CBS News — A less in-depth guide than those listed above, however, we consider it to be a comprehensive and valuable checklist to view, and then review after you’ve begun the process of performing protective mitigation measures for your home.
WILDFIRE MITIGATION:
- “Wildfire Risks in the US,” by ClimateCheck — Highly recommended by the disaster.guide team! Key feature: Scroll down for a list of the top ten at-risk states for wildfire, which offers links to explanations of state-specific local hazards, as well as mitigation recommendations and links to resources available in each state.
- “How to protect your home from wildfire,” by FireRescue1 — Another TOP PICK by the disaster.guide team. Inspired by the brave men and women who fight fires themselves, this instructional guide offers the “must do” mitigation measures for protecting your home and property from wildfire.
- “Protect Your Property from Wildfires,” by FEMA — Offers a detailed, comprehensive checklist of wildfire mitigation strategies to protect your property, both inside and out.
- “Wildfire Defense To Help Your Home,” by Farmers Insurance — A checklist that includes some important measures not mentioned in guides above, plus – its standard bullet-point checklist-style makes it perfect for reviewing the progress you’ve made toward protecting your home.
DROUGHT MITIGATION:
- “Drought,” by Ready.gov — We consider this guide to “have it all,” so-to-speak. It features checklists on how to mitigate for drought, with instructions on how to achieve the drought mitigation checklist – and! at the top of the page, you can also choose the button marked “During a Drought,” for tips on how to handle drought conditions when they occur.
- “Homeowner’s Guide to Drought Risks,” by ClimateCheck — Another TOP PICK – Similar to ClimateCheck’s publication on wildfire mitigation (see above), this guide offers links to state-specific drought risks, as well as links to local resources to help reduce drought impacts.
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Did you like our coverage of disaster mitigation? Then like our Facebook page for more blog posts. Have a suggestion for our next entry? Contact Us! We’d love to hear your ideas and your feedback. Sincerely, The disaster.guide Team.
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“Lagniappe”!
…You can also support our continuing efforts to expand our mission by donating here, or by visiting our Supply Shop to purchase a “Build-A-Kit” preparedness bundle. Thank You!
