Your Guide to Sheltering from Extreme Weather

by Pierre C. Rumpf 01/29/2024

Sometimes when severe weather happens, the safest thing to do is remain indoors. However, for certain weather events with strong winds like tornadoes and hurricanes, there are some parts of your home that are safer than others. Here is a basic guide for how to shelter in your home to stay safe from extreme weather:

Where to Shelter In Your House

  • Basement - The basement is usually the safest place to shelter from extreme weather. If your home has a basement, make sure it's stocked with emergency supplies.
  • Bathroom - Bathrooms can be effective places to shelter as long as they don't share any walls with the outside of the home. A good shelter should be as far inside the house as possible and have no windows.
  • Hallway - An interior hallway can make a good shelter, provided you're able to close off access from the outside. This would mean closing all of the doors to put as many barriers between you and the weather as possible.

What About Apartments or Mobile Homes?

In an apartment building, the safest place to shelter is on the ground floor. If you live on an upper floor, head downstairs to a common area or neighbor's home to shelter. If your apartment building has a laundry room or utility room without windows, these are also options for sheltering from extreme weather.

Mobile homes are extremely vulnerable to strong winds and other extreme weather. Experts recommend leaving your mobile home to shelter in a sturdy building to lower your risk. It's crucial to prepare for an emergency so you can find shelter before the worst of the storm arrives.

Sheltering Supplies

Wherever you shelter in your home, you should have basic emergency supplies prepared. The American Red Cross recommends keeping a minimum of 3 days worth of water and non-perishable food items for each member of the household. Some other things to include in your kit:

  • Flashlight
  • Battery Powered Radio
  • First Aid Kit
  • Copies of personal documents
  • Pet supplies

If extreme weather forces you to shelter in your home, it's important to be prepared. Keep these tips in mind when formulating your own household emergency plan.

About the Author
Author

Pierre C. Rumpf

Broker Profile: Pierre comes from a diverse background. His adolescent and early adult years found him working for his father, a renowned structural engineer, and his brother, an architectural designer and general contractor. His knowledge of construction design (architectural & structural) and practices is significant. He coupled his construction background with his considerable sales experience, by becoming licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts in 1986.

Pierre is also a licensed Attorney in the Commonwealth, who formerly worked for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office as a litigator in the Victim & Witness Assistance Division of the Family & Community Crimes Bureau, litigating cases involving victims of violent crime, and since then has had his own legal practice.

For decades, Pierre has excelled in helping buyers of real estate find that condo, single-family, multi-family, lot of lands, or commercial property they desire to buy, or by effectively marketing his clients’ properties to sell their property for the most amount of money possible. His professional background embodies the ideal combination of construction, sales, negotiating, and contract drafting, which is essential to actualizing his clients’ goals and/or dreams. He does all of this with attention to detail, integrity, and success.

Since 1995, PCR Realty has helped buyers and sellers make their transactions as successful as possible. Using a consultative approach, PCR Realty approaches each experience as a unique opportunity for its clients. As a full-service real estate brokerage firm, PCR Realty provides leading-edge services for buyers & sellers.

When it comes to successfully navigating today’s complex real estate market, you need to work with someone who has the experience and commitment to see it done right. PCR Realty excels at matching buyers to sellers. From state-of-the-art marketing to an experienced broker, PCR Realty works diligently to far exceed your expectations. PCR Realty invites you to learn more.