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Storm preparation protects more than the roof and windows. Heavy rain, strong wind and power loss can affect doors, drains, plumbing and the everyday supplies your family depends on. A home safety check completed before the forecast turns serious gives you time to fix small problems without rushing. Work through these practical tasks early, and include your children where it makes sense so everyone knows what to expect.
Inspect Vulnerable Exterior Entry Points
Walk around your home and check every place where wind or water could enter. Look for loose weatherstripping around doors, cracked window seals, damaged screens and gaps near utility lines. Test exterior doors to confirm that their locks and hinges hold securely. A detailed home protection checklist can help you spot seasonal maintenance jobs that are easy to overlook. Regular exterior maintenance also helps limit weather-related damage, particularly when protecting a home from the elements before severe conditions arrive.
Clear gutters and downspouts so rainwater can move away from the house. Downspout extensions should release water several feet from the foundation. Bring patio furniture, toys and lightweight planters indoors before high winds arrive. While outside, trim dead branches that could fall onto the roof, driveway or power lines.
Protect Lower Drains from Sudden Backups
Basement floor drains, low showers and ground-level toilets can become trouble spots when stormwater overwhelms local drainage systems. Check these fixtures for slow drainage, bubbling sounds or unpleasant odors. Those signs may point to a partial blockage that needs attention before heavy rain begins.
Never open a backed-up drain or use chemical cleaner during active flooding. Stop using sinks, toilets and appliances that release water until the cause is clear. If wastewater starts rising or several fixtures back up at once, treat it as a plumbing emergency and contact a qualified professional. Keep children and pets away from affected areas because contaminated water can carry harmful germs. For homes with recurring surface-water problems, this home flooding guide explains several practical protective measures.
Assemble an Emergency Kit for the Kids
Children need many of the same emergency supplies as adults, plus a few familiar items that make an unexpected night without power less stressful. Pack the kit in a waterproof tote that an adult can reach quickly. Review clothing sizes, medications and expiration dates every six months.
Useful items include:
- Drinking water and shelf-stable snacks
- Flashlights with spare batteries
- A first-aid kit and necessary medications
- A change of clothes for each child
- Diapers, wipes or formula when needed
- Copies of emergency contacts
- Books, cards and quiet activities
- A comfort item such as a small blanket
Let older children choose one activity for the kit. Explain that these supplies stay packed for storm days, then show everyone where the tote is stored. Avoid candles, which create a fire risk when rooms are dark and busy.
Create a Rapid Power Outage Plan
Decide what your family will do during the first 15 minutes of an outage. Assign one adult to gather flashlights and check weather alerts while another accounts for family members and pets. Children should know to stay in a familiar room and avoid dark stairs until an adult arrives.
Charge phones and portable power banks before severe weather. Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed during an outage, and unplug sensitive electronics if power begins flickering. Never use outdoor cooking or fuel-burning equipment inside the home, garage or enclosed porch. If someone relies on powered medical equipment, arrange a backup power source and an alternate safe location well before the storm. Write essential phone numbers on paper too, since a dead phone can make saved contacts inaccessible.
Place your emergency tote, flashlights and waterproof document folder together before the next storm alert. When every family member knows that one location, you won’t have to search separate rooms while the lights are out and the rain is getting heavier.
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