How to Handle 5 Home Emergency Situations

Are you prepared to handle emergencies in your home? Know these 5 things to save money, time, and maybe even your life!

As a homeowner, you get to enjoy all the great things about your home; it’s a place to relax, entertain, and spend quality time with family. 

But what about when something goes wrong? 

Do you know what needs to be done in case of an emergency or other urgent situation in your home?

Here are five essentials that every homeowner and family member must know, act on, and commit to memory. That way, if disaster strikes, you’re prepared.

1. Locate the water main shut-off valve

If a pipe bursts or a washing machine starts to leak, you don’t want to waste time finding the main water shut-off valve. This valve can turn off all the water to your home with a simple twist of a knob.

Most homes have this valve in the basement on the “street side” near the water meter. It can be kind of hidden, so make a sign or put up a Post-It note so it’s noticeable to others. Some local hardware stores around town have FREE bright yellow hang tags courtesy of Louisville Water that you can attach to the main water valve for easy identification in case of emergency.

You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in water damage the sooner you shut off this main valve.

2. Operate the main electrical panel

If your appliances suddenly stop working, do you know what happened and what needs to be done? You’ve probably tripped your circuit breaker by overloading it with too much use (usually appliances, even a hair dryer or iron) at once. That’s why you need to know where your home’s central breaker panel is located so you can turn the power back on.

The panel should have individual breakers labeled for each room or appliance so you can easily find the correct one. Learn how to turn off and turn on circuit breakers for when you’ve tripped one or need to turn off electricity for a certain appliance. Remember to always contact a professional for any electrical work that you are unsure about!

3. Know how to use fire extinguishers

Imagine this scenario — your flaming dessert sets ablaze your kitchen curtains instead of the Bananas Foster! You quickly locate the nearest fire extinguisher but are too flustered to figure out how to use it. That’s why you and your family members should be familiar with how to operate a home fire extinguisher. An extinguisher should be visibly located in the kitchen, basement and garage of your home.  If you don’t have an extinguisher, be sure to purchase one when you get those yellow hang tags at the hardware store.

4. Have an escape plan

No one ever thinks a fire will happen in their home, but you should play it safe and have a solid plan in place in case the unimaginable happens.

If you live in a house, make sure everyone knows the quickest and safest way out, especially from each bedroom. Add fire escape ladders to your hardware store list if you have a two-story home. If you live in a high-rise apartment or condo building, know where the emergency exits are located, and any other vital information the Homeowners’ Association recommends.

Practice crawling low beneath the smoke and checking doors for heat before opening them. Replace smoke alarm batteries every six months (when you change your clocks for daylight savings time). Remember to stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch fire.

Review and practice this plan with the entire family and be sure to agree on a meeting spot where you can gather when you’ve escaped.

5. Have a stocked emergency toolbox and contact phone numbers

Strong storms that knockout power are not uncommon for the Louisville area. In fact, the power on our street has gone out for 6+ hours twice this year! That’s why it’s important to have a stocked toolbox  in an easily accessed location that all family members can find.

Fill your kit with flashlights, batteries, wireless cell phone chargers, battery-operated candles, etc. If you have a gasoline generator, be sure you know how to use it before a storm strikes, and that goes with any natural gas heating device you may have too.

Also, have a list printed for family so that they can easily contact the fire department, ambulance, police, plumber, electrician, and power company in an emergency.

These are the top 5 things every homeowner and family member should know about. It’s important to know how you’d handle these and other emergencies before they happen.  I hope this information is helpful to you so you can start planning today.  And, as always, reach out to me if you have any questions at all or need recommendations!