Building & Property – Emergency Preparedness Tips 

Whether you own the building you are in or are a lessee/renter, it is vitally important to ensure the building and your property are prepared for potential emergencies such as fire (including wildfire), flooding, severe weather, or other natural disasters. Consider taking the following emergency preparedness steps to help keep you and your property safe:  

General Preparedness: 
-Have an emergency preparedness plan specifically addressing your building concerns and protecting property outside and in. 

-Safely secure personal items and equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, and miscellaneous equipment to avoid theft or damage. 

-Conduct proactive walks around the building to look for and address any existing damage, such as loose siding, missing roofing, exposed electrical systems, low-hanging tree limbs, etc. Consider anything that could potentially cause damage to the building or injury to occupants. 

-Secure loose objects such as trash cans, basketball hoops, trampolines, playsets, etc. to avoid flying objects in high-wind situations. 

-Ensure you have a safe location to which you can evacuate, such as a tornado shelter, basement, or other interior room away from windows. Have a secondary address location as a backup. 

-Have an emergency kit prepared.  

 
Wildfire Preparedness: 

-Create at least a 30-foot perimeter or “safety zone” around the building to reduce vegetation that could catch fire and spread to the building. 

-In wildfire prone areas, invest in fire resistance measures such as metal roofing, building sprinklers or exterior gel coating.  

-Develop an evacuation plan, knowing your routes, and having a meeting point. Practice drills should be conducted regularly. 

-Adhere to safety professionals warnings to evacuate. Do not wait till it is too late to evacuate. Buildings and property can be replaced, your life cannot.