Home Preparedness

Winter Edition (FEMA E-brief, December 11, 2014)

FEMA and I would like to inform you about preparing your home for the upcoming winter season.  Just as you would prepare an emergency winter kit, your home can also use a winter makeover. Properly preparing your home for cold temperatures can keep you safe and warm, and lower your energy costs. Here are a few tips to follow as the mercury plunges:

·       Run ceiling fans in reverse to help circulate warm air that gathers near the ceiling;

·       Replace your furnace filter every two months;

·       Make sure gutters and downspouts are clean and that water drains at least six feet from your home’s foundation;

·       Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate sources to heat their home; and

·       Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of your roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow or ice.

Get in the energy saving spirit by conducting a home energy assessment. See how much energy your home consumes and evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. Then, check out “12 Days of Energy Savings” from the U.S. Department of Energy to learn how to stay warm while saving money this winter.

Click on any of the 'highlighted and underlined' phrases above for more information.