As weather patterns across Canada become more unpredictable, it is essential to be prepared for severe storms and other natural disasters. If you live on a farm or in a rural community, extreme climate events can cause major damage to your home and property, as well as to your crops and livestock—jeopardizing your livelihood as well as the safety of you and your family. Severe wind, floods, and wildfires—these are just some of the natural disasters that can pose serious risks and destroy years of hard work in minutes or hours.
Although there is no way to stop Mother Nature from doing her thing, there are precautions you can take to help minimize damage and keep your family and property safe and secure during severe weather events. The disaster restoration experts at ServiceMaster Restore offer the following valuable tips to help you be prepared.
Weather Preparedness and Rural Living
One of the most daunting aspects of living and working in rural areas is dealing with the fact that severe weather conditions can strike suddenly and wreak havoc on farms and homes in a short period of time. This is why it is crucial to be prepared, to have a plan, and to keep informed and in communication at all times.
Know the weather forecast for your area. Be aware of what extreme weather may be expected in your area and when it is forecast to occur. Use the national weather forecast service at https://weather.gc.ca/ to get seasonal, daily, and hourly forecasts for any location across Canada.
Be Prepared. When severe weather is approaching, be prepared by taking steps beforehand to protect your home and property.
- Clean out rain gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage during storms.
- Trim trees and shrubs around your home to prevent damage from falling limbs.
- Secure or bring inside any loose outside items such as furniture, grills, and toys that could become projectiles in high winds.
- If flooding is expected, take steps to protect your home or business from water damage.
Have a plan. Whether facing flash floods, severe wind and thunderstorms, or winter storms, having a plan in place is essential to help minimize damage and ensure the well-being of occupants and animals. Make a plan for where you and your family will go if you need to evacuate your home, and make sure everyone knows the plan. If you live on a farm, know where your animals will be sheltered and how you will care for them during the weather event.
From pre-planning evacuation routes to securing windows, stocking emergency kits, and inspecting the property, taking proactive steps can make a significant difference.
Building an Emergency Kit
Here are some tips for building an emergency kit: Start with the basics: water, food, first-aid supplies, and a flashlight. Customize your kit based on your specific needs. Consider adding prescription medications, important documents and contact information, extra batteries, a generator, and pet supplies.
Stay informed. During a severe weather event, consult your local news or the national online weather service. Have a basic ‘Weatheradio’ receiver to receive national weather audio broadcasts and be alerted to severe weather warnings for events such as severe wind, thunderstorms or ice storms, even if power is lost. For more information on ‘Weatheradio’ resources visit:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weatheradio.html
Document damages. If severe weather should affect your home or farm property, document any damages with photos as soon as it is safely possible to do so after the event to help support your insurance claim. It is best to consult with your insurance company beforehand to clarify your insurance coverage regarding severe weather damages.
If your rural home or farm property should be impacted by severe weather, remember that ServiceMaster Restore is committed to helping get families back on their feet as soon as possible after a natural disaster or weather emergency.
With the knowledge and expertise gained from 70+ years of experience in post-disaster and weather damage clean-up services, we are ready and able to help you every step of the way to get your life back to normal as quickly as possible. Contact your nearest ServiceMaster Restore location today and find out how we can help you recover from a natural disaster emergency.