An Emergency Kit for Your Home Or Apartment

When we think of the dangers and inconveniences that can beset us during an emergency, we tend to think of how they will affect us directly – will we have food to eat, water to drink, will there be electricity, etc. – we generally do not think of how our house will fare until it has been damaged.  General maintenance before an emergency and repairs afterwards will need certain tools and equipment.  Therefore, it might be a good idea to make up an emergency kit for your home.

Preventive Maintenance

You should take some time periodically to inspect your home.  You should think of slight damage to it in the same way you would think of a cut or scrape on yourself.  If this is taken care of early, it has less of a chance of developing into a larger problem.  One of the first things you should check is the condition of your foundation.  Any cracks should be repaired immediately, especially if you live in an area where earthquakes occur.

Broken windows should be replaced and damaged siding should be repaired or replaced as well.  Anything loose on your home can be ripped off during high winds, causing more damage to the structure and creating a flying hazard as well.  Likewise, make sure your roof is in good condition; missing or broken shingles can be removed by the wind and water damage to your home is likely.

Tools To Make Repairs After The Disaster

If there has been a disaster or emergency in your area, and you are able to remain in your home, you should check it carefully for damage.  High winds can break windows and tear siding and shingles from the house.   While you are waiting for things to return to normal, you can create a temporary repair for broken windows with plastic sheeting.  Simply cut the plastic so that it overlaps the window and staple it in place.  A staple gun will make the job much easier.

Damage to your roof will take some time to fix, but you will be able to keep the rain out if you have a large tarp stored away for just such an emergency.  Using a tarp on a leaky roof will allow you to remain in your home, rather than having to seek shelter elsewhere.

You should have a hammer, screwdriver, nails, and screws on hand, too, to manage minor damage to your home.  It might also help to have a handsaw in your home tool kit, in case you need to saw lumber for repairs.  Keeping a few lengths of lumber in a safe, dry spot can also help you to keep your house habitable after a disaster.  Other tools that might be used would be a crowbar, shovel, and rope. A great emergency kit that offers a lot of resourceful tools is the Deluxe Survival Backpack Kit. This kit offers flashlights, matches and 2 person tents in case going home after an emergency is prolonged.