Twelve ways to make your home safer in an emergency.

1. 1

   Doors that actually lock

   
   • Solid core doors with a deadbolt
   • Three-inch screws in the strike plate
   • A door brace for the back door
2. 2

   Light outside

   
   • Motion lights at every entry
   • Solar ones keep working in an outage
   • Dark corners are the problem, not the yard
3. 3

   Windows and glass

   
   • Pin locks on ground floor sliders
   • Security film on the glass by the door
   • Keep a pre-cut plywood sheet if storms are your hazard
4. 4

   A clear edge to the property

   
   • Fences and gates that close and latch
   • Trim bushes below window height
   • Thorny plants under windows do quiet work
5. 5

   Backup power, done right

   
   • A generator runs outside, twenty feet from the house
   • Fuel stored sealed, away from living space
   • A power station or solar for phones and lights
6. 6

   Water you already have

   
   • One gallon per person per day, two weeks if you can
   • Rain barrels for flushing and washing
   • Know where the main shutoff is
7. 7

   Supplies you rotate

   
   • Food you actually eat, bought a little extra at a time
   • First aid, medications, hygiene
   • Store what you use, use what you store
8. 8

   A plan everyone can say

   
   • Two exits from every room
   • Where to meet, who to call
   • Practice it once a year, make it short
9. 9

   Information that does not need wifi

   
   • A battery or crank radio
   • Local alerts turned on, on every phone
   • One out-of-area contact for check-ins
10. 10

    Documents and valuables secured

    
    • A fireproof box or a bank box
    • Copies in the cloud and in the go-bag
    • Do not post what you own
11. 11

    A property that is kept up

    
    • Fix the fence, the roof leak, the broken latch
    • Clear brush and gutters if fire is your hazard
    • Neglect reads as empty
12. 12

    Neighbors who know you

    
    • Trade phone numbers with three houses
    • Know who has medical needs or lives alone
    • A street that talks is the best alarm there is

Light, locks, water, supplies, and neighbors who know your name.