Home Emergency Preparedness Guide

Overview: Do you know what to do?

Emergency 1: Wild animal invasion

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Nighttime visitor

Raccoons can chew up a lot of stuff fast.

Photo: Sede Press/Photodisc/Getty Images

A squirrel or raccoon in the house may not seem like an emergency, but those critters can do a lot of damage quickly. If all else fails, you may have to call in a wildlife removal service or your town’s animal control officer.

What to do first: Isolate the varmint by closing the doors to all the other rooms in the house. Then open a window. Leave the room and shut the door. The animal will eventually find its way out the window.

What not to do: Don't try to chase the invader out. It'll just panic and hide. If it crawls into a hidden spot and poops, has babies or dies...that's a smelly set of different problems.

The worst thing to do: Don't let your dog or cat help with the eviction. That could result in an expensive trip to the vet or a gory mess.

Emergency 2: Burst pipe

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Burst pipe

Turn off the water at the main valve quickly. Water damage can be expensive.

A gushing plumbing leak can dump several gallons per minute into your home. You have to act fast to stop the stream—and that's just the beginning.

Stop the flow: Shutting off the main water valve is an obvious move. But there may still be a few gallons of water held in pipes above the leak. Turn on the lowest faucet in the house, which will let the water harmlessly drain out of the faucet instead of through the leaking pipe.

Don't delay cleanup: The longer things stay wet, the more likely you'll have permanent damage. Delay can even lead to mold problems inside walls, which can cost thousands to eradicate. So before you run off to buy plumbing parts, clean up the mess. Pronto.

Emergency 3: Flooded basement

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Keep dry

Keep dry until you turn off electrical power.

Photo: Michael Blann/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Your first impulse will be to wade in and rescue your stuff. But that water might be dangerous, so put on your boots and take these precautions.

Don't get fried: Any water in contact with electricity might be deadly. Even a shallow puddle could be electrified by a cord on the floor. Stay out of the water until you've turned off the power to your basement. If you can't reach the circuit breaker box, call an electrician or your utility to cut the power to your home.

Don't get sick: If the flooding is due to flash floods or your belongings are leaching toxins, the floodwaters may contain toxic chemicals and will almost certainly breed dangerous bacteria. Protect cuts and open sores from floodwaters and wear plastic gloves when handling your possessions.

Emergency 4: Kitchen fire

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Grease fire

A grease fire that spreads to nearby curtains is a common cause of kitchen fires.

More than any other emergency, fire makes people panic and do dumb things. But armed with a few basic rules, you'll reduce the panic and respond effectively.

React fast: If it's a toaster fire, unplug the cord and use an ABC (dry chemical) fire extinguisher or pour baking soda into the toaster (and then get a new toaster). If it's a stove-top fire, turn off the burner and smother the flames by dousing them with baking soda or putting the lid on the pan.

Or do nothing: If it's an oven fire, the most dangerous thing you can do is open the door. Just leave the oven door closed and turn off the heat to the oven. The fire will eventually smother itself.

Bad move: Don't use water to put out a grease fire. It can splash the burning grease and cause burns.

Worse move: Never carry a burning pan outside. It can cause a full-scale house fire if flaming grease spills and ignites something else.

Emergency 5: Bat in the house

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Bat trouble

Open a window or door; the bat wants out.

Photo: Digital Zoo/Digital Vision/Getty Images

In most people, bats cause a visceral reaction (like screaming and covering your head). But keep in mind that a bat doesn't want to tangle with you (or your hair) any more than you want to tangle with it.

Plan A: Open a window and get out of the way. There's a good chance the bat will leave on its own.

Plan B: If the bat lands before it can exit, look for it in places it can hang, such as behind drapes or upholstered furniture. When you find the bat, throw a thick towel over it and carry it outside (just to warn you, the bat will complain loudly, but don't drop it!). Shake out the towel so the bat can fly away.

Worst move: Don't approach a bat with bare hands. Bats can carry rabies. Wear thick gloves to avoid bites.

Emergency 6: Power outage

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Emergency flashlight

Always keep a flashlight loaded with good batteries in a handy drawer.

Surprisingly enough, the worst trouble caused by power outages often occurs when the problem is resolved and the power comes back on.

Prepare for surges: Turn off and unplug all electrical equipment, including your tools, appliances and electronics, and turn your heating thermostat down (or cooling thermostat up) to prevent damage from surges when the power returns. (Major appliances can be turned off at the breaker box.) Leave one light on so you'll know when the power is restored.

What not to do: Once the power is restored, don't turn everything back on at once, which can create internal power surges. First restore the thermostat setting on the heating or cooling system and turn on your larger appliances. Give the electrical system a few minutes to stabilize before plugging in your remaining appliances and electronics.

Watch for more trouble: If your lights are noticeably dimmer or brighter after the power is restored, turn off all the power at the breaker or fuse box and call your electric utility.

Emergency 7: Electrical storm

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Electrical storm

Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from power surges.

Lightning strikes can burn out circuit boards in appliances, computers and telephones, doing thousands of dollars in damage in less than a second. If you hear thunder, power surges are possible, even if you don't see any lightning.

Protect your gadgets: Unplug computers and phone lines, and unplug corded telephones and sensitive electronics to prevent damage from power surges.

Don't wait for flames: If your home gets hit, call the fire department immediately. Lightning strikes can cause small fires inside walls that smolder for hours before you notice anything.

Play it safe: Lightning may strike nearby electrical and phone lines and travel to your home. Avoid contact with electrical appliances and telephones (landlines).

Wacky but true: Lightning strikes can travel through metal plumbing pipes. Avoid sitting on the toilet and don’t shower or bathe during electrical storms.

Emergency 8: Tornado or high winds

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Twister in action

Take cover!

Photo: Don Farrall/Photodisc Red/Getty Images.

Straight-line winds cause as much damage as tornadoes, but they're more unpredictable. So when a storm with high winds approaches your area, don't wait for the sirens to sound before you take action.

Take cover: Move to a protected interior room on the lowest floor of the house, as far as possible from exterior walls and windows. Use pillows, cushions, blankets or mattresses to protect yourself from flying debris.

Ignore the myths: Don't open windows to “equalize the pressure” no matter what your grandparents told you. This can cause even greater damage. And the southwest corner of the basement may not be the safest spot to hunker down, especially if it's near an outside wall or window.

Emergency 9: Carbon monoxide alert

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Take it seriously and make sure you have working CO detectors in your home.

Check for symptoms: The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble those of the flu. If the alarm sounds and anyone is experiencing headaches, dizziness, fatigue or vomiting, get everyone out of the house and call 911.

Never ignore the alarm: Don't assume all is well if no one feels ill. Open your doors and windows to thoroughly ventilate the house. Turn off all potential sources of CO—your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater, and any vehicle or small engine. Have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to make sure they're operating correctly and that there's nothing blocking the vents that let fumes out of the house.

Emergency 10: Leaking roof

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Big roof leak

Don't climb on your roof to stop leaks until after the storm. Wet roofs can be slippery.

High winds that tear off shingles or send broken tree branches through your roof are usually accompanied by rain, so you have to act fast to minimize water damage.

Quick fix: For damage larger than a shingle or two, the fastest bandage is a plastic tarp. Secure a tarp over the damaged area with 2x4s or lath nailed to the roof. If possible, secure the tarp over the roof ridge; it's difficult to make the tarp waterproof at the upper end.

Don't kill yourself: Trying to patch a slippery, wet roof during a storm is dangerous. Add in high winds or lightning and the situation is deadly. So think twice before you head up there.

Emergency 11: After a hurricane

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Hurricane weather

The period after is as dangerous as the storm itself.

Photo: Emma Lee/Life File/Photographers Choice/Getty Images

High winds and storm surges cause a lot of property damage during a hurricane. But more people die in the aftermath of a hurricane than during the storm itself—primarily from carbon monoxide poisoning and electrocution.

Act wisely: Don't use generators, charcoal grills or propane camping stoves indoors. And don't clear debris from your home and yard without surveying the area carefully. Downed or damaged power lines can send electrical currents through tree branches and metal fences.

What not to do: Avoid an “every man for himself” mentality. Once officials have signaled the “all clear,” survey the damage to your home and reach out to your neighbors. It will be difficult to drive anywhere for supplies (if stores are even open), and you'll conserve resources by pooling them. Assess your neighbors' stocks of food, water and other resources. Eating meals collectively will reduce the amount of food that spoils (use fresh foods first) and will conserve cooking fuel.

Emergency 12: Dead furnace

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Furnace trouble

Check the simple things before calling for service help.

As the temperature drops inside your house, your first worry may be the budget-busting cost of an after-hours service call. But there are things you can troubleshoot before you pick up the phone.

Check the simple stuff first:

• Is the filter filthy? A clogged filter can cause the furnace to shut down.
• Is it getting power? There's a switch (just like a standard light switch) near the furnace. Make sure it's on. Check the circuit breaker or fuse box, too. A natural gas furnace won't work without power either—the thermostat, fan motor and gas valve all need electricity to operate.
• Is the gas valve on? The handle should be parallel to the gas pipe.
• Is the exhaust pipe clear? Sometimes heavy snow can cover up the exhaust vent to the outside.
• Does the thermostat need to be reset? Turn it down, then turn it back up.

Prepare for the worst: If the inside temperature continues to fall, take action to prevent burst pipes. Turn off the main water valve and drain the pipes by turning on the faucets to let out the remaining water. Use a plunger to drive water out of the toilets and drain traps.

Emergency Tips From Our Field Editors

Backup water supply
If your water supply shuts down, remember that your water heater holds enough drinking and cooking water to last several days. Let the water cool for a few hours before you open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
—Tim Hossfeld, St. Charles, MO

Emergency drain
If your basement is flooding, remove the basement toilet to create an instant, high-capacity floor drain. That will also let in nasty sewer gases, so don’t leave the drain unplugged any longer than necessary.
—Jeramy Rath, Parker, CO

Bucket flush
You don't have to live without a toilet just because the water supply is off. If you have a pool or other water source, you can flush with a bucket. Pour about 3 gallons into the bowl (not the tank) to get a fine flush.
—Dan Noar, Santa Rosa, CA

Don't get locked in
Garage door openers lock up when the power goes off. Make sure everyone in your home knows about the cord that releases the door from the opener. That way, they can lift the door open and get the car out in an emergency.
—Mark Hinton, Clarion, IA