Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness For Apartment Dwellers In Fishers
When you live in an apartment, you follow general safety precautions daily, like locking up when you leave. But you might not give as much consideration to larger-scale hazards like natural disasters. Fires, tornadoes, and more may strike with little warning and lead to devastation. While apartments are made to endure natural elements, you still need to take steps to ensure your safety. Use this guide to learn more about emergency preparedness for apartment dwellers in Fishers and be ready for any urgent situation.
Be Prepared For Any Situation With An Apartment Emergency Kit
Whether you need to shelter where you are or evacuate quickly, having an apartment emergency kit in your Fishers abode will make any urgent event more manageable. Find a space in your apartment to keep a go-bag and additional emergency supplies like these:
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Weather radio
- Medicine and first aid kit
- Power bank or wireless phone charger
- Three days of water and non-perishable food
- Sturdy shoes and additional clothes
- Children's supplies
- Spare blankets
- Duplicates of important documents in a sealed, waterproof bag
How To Be Prepared For An Apartment Fire In Fishers
With numerous Residents in the same building, apartment fires can be extremely hazardous. Being ready enhances your probability of survival.
Your community maintenance professionals should ensure that fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are operational in all units. Do not disable these. Adhere to community fire guidelines and don’t use open flames indoors. Avoid storing items in hallways that might trip people during an evacuation. Establish an escape plan for everyone in your apartment.
If a less intense fire breaks out in your apartment, adhere to recommended guidelines for extinguishing it with water or a fire extinguisher. Use the extinguisher, baking soda, or salt on grease fires.
If a fire spreads, evacuate right away. Take the stairs and the closest exit and move away from the building before dialing 911. Never prop open doors; they can let in drafts that intesify the fire. Do not go back inside to collect things or people.
How To Shelter In Your Apartment During A Strong Storm
The Midwest may see dozens of tornadoes each year. Fierce thunderstorms and high winds can also be life-threatening. You may have learned at an early age to shelter in a cellar, but what do you do during a tornado in an apartment in Fishers?
The best spots for apartment dwellers are
- The lowest floor of an underground parking garage
- The lowest floor of your building, and away from windows
- A bottom-floor neighbor’s apartment
- Interior stairwells or halls without windows
- An interior room or closet of your apartment
- Under a heavy table
- Within the bathtub with a thick blanket to help protect you
Wear a hard hat, bicycle helmet, or pillow on your head. Don’t stand next to windows or around large objects that could topple onto you.
If your building suffers serious damage from a storm, evacuate as safely as possible. As you exit, be cautious of damaged power lines and gas leaks. Walk or drive to a safe place.
How To Stay Safe In Your Apartment During Winter Weather
Winter weather can turn a lovely snow-covered day into a treacherous situation in a hurry. Monitor weather forecasts throughout the season and be prepared for inclement weather before it hits. Don’t panic, but gather essential items before a winter storm hits and have a strategy for keeping warm in your apartment. Allow water to drip from your faucets to minimize the risk of frozen pipes.
Contact your emergency maintenance hotline right away if your furnace fails or you have a burst pipe during cold weather. If you lose power and heat during an ice or snow storm, adhere to these tips:
- Stay inside
- Wear layers of warm clothes and cover yourself in blankets
- Monitor vulnerable individuals for hypothermia or frostbite
Avoid using fuel-consuming appliances inside your apartment to keep warm. They emit dangerous gases that accumulate inside.
Living With A Power Outage At Your Apartment In Fishers
Everybody experiences a power outage on occasion. Under most circumstances, your local power company will reconnect your power within a few hours. With that being said, a large enough natural disaster can leave you with no power for many days or possibly weeks.
Your emergency supplies can help you survive a power outage. However, conditions can get risky if you are without heat or air conditioning during harsh temperatures. In this case, frail individuals should move to a location with power.
Abide By These Cooking And Food Safety Recommendations
Beware of unsafe food. When your power is out, don’t open your refrigerator and freezer. Typically, food remains safe in a shut refrigerator for around 4 hours and a freezer for 1-2 days after losing power. Use a cooler and ice if you can to maintain essential food during the first 24 hours of an outage.
Utilize these recommendations if you depart during a power failure at your apartment in Fishers:
- Switch off any appliances that may have been running
- Have neighbors inform you when power is restored
- Watch for downed electrical lines as you exit and contact the utility company to report them
What To Do If Your Apartment Floods In Fishers
If you live near a river or flood zone, you may experience a flood after heavy rain or if a dam is breached. Watch for news updates and follow evacuation orders. If you need to evacuate, follow these steps:
- Disconnect all electrical appliances that are still dry.
- Quickly pack necessary items or grab an emergency go-bag.
- Move essentials and precious items to elevated spots.
- Proceed to a secure location on higher ground.
- Avoid driving through flooded areas or walk into flowing water.
In an extreme emergency during flash flooding, make every effort to make your way to the top story of your building or the rooftop.
What To Do If There’s An Earthquake In Your Apartment
Even though the Midwest isn’t well known for earthquakes, we get a bit of rattling on occasion! It’s smart to learn what to do if you experience an earthquake in your apartment in Fishers, just in case.
To make your unit more equipped to handle an earthquake, stow larger and heavier belongings on the lowest shelves. Refrain from hanging anything weighty over beds or sitting areas. Secure tall pieces like bookcases to walls.
When you feel the initial tremors of an earthquake, drop to the ground and crawl to a door frame, beside an interior wall or under a sturdy furnishing. Avoid windows, light fixtures, exterior doors, or anything at risk of crashing down. Cover your head with one hand and hold onto something stable with the other. If you’re able to grab a pillow, get it over your head.
When you feel the quake has ended, assess yourself and others for injuries. Tune in to local news outlets for information and brace yourself for aftershocks. Survey your nearby surroundings for risks like gas leaks, fires, or downed power lines. Extinguish fires and shut down the power or gas if you you can do so safely. If you see damage to your building, evacuate your building as safely and quickly as possible.
Additional Emergency Preparedness Tips For Apartment Residents In Fishers
Disaster can occur at any second. A few additional tips can help you handle the unforeseen and remain safe:
- Connect with neighbors. Get to know other Residents in your building so you have an idea who else might be home if a crisis unfolds. Talk about what supplies, secure shelter locations, or expertise you can use in emergencies.
- Make sure you carry renters’ insurance.
- Do not use an elevator to exit the building during a dangerous situation.
- Know of a secure location to shelter pets if you must evacuate to a temporary shelter.
- If a natural disaster leaves your building unsafe, wait for communication from property management before coming back.
- Utilize a battery-powered radio or mobile phone to discover local resources if you must evacuate.
Your Safety And Comfort Matter At The Hamilton Luxury Apartment Homes
We can’t control the weather, but we can give you an exceptional apartment living experience in Fishers! The Hamilton Luxury Apartment Homes is recognized for our sought-after amenities, great location, spacious floor plans, and helpful staff. Take a tour today and talk to one of our leasing specialists about making The Hamilton your future home.