Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness For Apartment Dwellers In Sylvania

Residing in an apartment, you implement basic safety precautions daily, like securing your door when you leave. But you may not give as much thought to larger-scale threats like natural disasters. Storms, fires, and more may strike with minimal warning and result in widespread devastation. While apartment buildings are constructed to stand up to environmental forces, you still must take steps to ensure your safety. Consult this guide to find out more about emergency preparedness for apartment dwellers in Sylvania and feel even safer where you live. 

Prepare Yourself For Any Crisis With An Apartment Emergency Kit

In the event you need to shelter in place or evacuate rapidly, having a well-prepared apartment emergency kit in your Sylvania home will make any emergency more manageable. Determine an area in your apartment to keep a go-bag and additional emergency supplies including: 

• Flashlights

• Additional batteries 

• Weather radio 

• First aid kit and medicine 

• Wireless phone charger or power bank 

• Three days of water and non-perishable food

• Durable shoes and extra clothes 

• Child necessities

• Pet food and supplies 

• Spare blankets

• Copies of essential documents in a plastic bag 

How To Be Ready For An Apartment Fire In Sylvania

With numerous Residents in the same structure, apartment fires can be especially hazardous. Taking precautions increases your odds of coming out unscathed. 

Your community maintenance team should ensure that fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are functional in all units. Do not disconnect or tamper with these. Abide by community fire regulations and abstain from using open flames inside. Avoid storing things in hallways that could trip people during an evacuation. Have an evacuation plan for everyone in your apartment.

If a minor fire occurs in your apartment, comply with standard guidelines for putting it out with a fire extinguisher or water. When dealing with, use baking soda, the extinguisher, or salt. 

If a fire spreads, evacuate at once. Take the stairs and the nearest exit and distance yourself from the building before calling 911. Never prop open doors; they will bring in drafts that accelerate the fire. Avoid going back in to collect possessions or other Residents. 

How To Shelter In Your Apartment During A Dangerous Storm

The Midwest often gets a great many tornadoes annually. Severe thunderstorms and strong winds can also threaten lives. You likely learned at a young age to seek shelter in a basement, but what can you do during a tornado in an apartment in Sylvania?

The best spots for apartment Residents are

• The sub-level of an underground parking garage

• The lowest floor of your building, and away from windows

• A neighbor’s bottom-floor apartment 

• Interior hallways or stairwells without windows 

• A closet or interior room of your apartment 

• Underneath a heavy table

• Within the bathtub with a heavy blanket to help protect you 

Wear a construction hat, bicycle helmet, or pillow on your head. Avoid standing by windows or around hefty objects that might fall on top of you.

If your building experiences severe damage from a storm, evacuate as carefully as you can. As you exit, be alert for gas leaks and toppled power lines. Walk or drive to a safe location. 

Staying Safe In Your Apartment During Winter Storms

Winter storms can turn a lovely snow-covered day into a hazardous situation in a hurry. Watch weather forecasts daily and be prepared for harsh weather before it comes. Don’t stress yourself out, but stock up on essential items before a severe weather strikes and have a plan for staying warm in your apartment. Allow water to drip from your faucets to minimize the risk of frozen pipes. 

Contact your emergency maintenance number promptly if your furnace dies or you have a burst pipe during cold weather. If you lose power and heat during a snow or ice storm, follow these recommendations:

• Stay inside

• Wear layers of warm clothing and bundle up in blankets

• Monitor sensitive individuals for hypothermia or frostbite

Avoid using fuel-consuming appliances within your apartment to stay warm. They release hazardous gases that build up inside.

Dealing With A Power Outage At Your Apartment In Sylvania

We all encounter a power outage occasionally. Under most circumstances, your local utility company will bring back power within two or three hours. Even so, a large enough natural disaster can leave you without electricity for several days or even weeks.

Your emergency kit can help you survive a power outage. But, the situation can become risky if you lack AC or heat during extreme temperatures. If this happens, frail individuals should move to somewhere with power.

Abide By These Food Safety And Cooking Guidelines

be cautious about food that has gone bad. When losing power, avoid opening your fridge and freezer. Generally, food stays safe in a closed refrigerator for 4 hours and a freezer for 1-2 days after a power failure. If you can locate a cooler with ice, utilize it to preserve essential food throughout the first day of a blackout.

Here’s what you can do if you depart during a power failure at your apartment in Sylvania:

• Shut off anything that might have been operating

• Encourage neighbors to let you know when power is back on 

• Watch for downed utility lines as you exit and notify the utility company to report them

What To Do If Your Apartment Floods In Sylvania

If you reside close to a river or flood zone, you could experience a flood after heavy rain or if a dam fails. Watch for news updates and follow any orders for evacuation. If you must evacuate, follow these steps:

1. Unplug all dry electrical devices.
2. Swiftly collect your bare necessities or get your emergency go-bag.
3. Move essentials and precious items to elevated spots.
4. Evacuate to a secure location on higher ground.
5. Don’t drive across flooded roads or wade into floodwaters.

In an extreme emergency during heavy flooding, do all you can to retreat to the highest floor of your building or the rooftop.

How To React To An Earthquake In Your Apartment 

While the Midwest isn’t a hotspot for earthquakes, we experience a little shake now and then! It doesn’t hurt to know what to do if you experience an earthquake in your apartment in Sylvania, just in case.

To make your unit more equipped to handle an earthquake, place large or heavy possessions on bottom shelves. Refrain from hanging anything heavy over your bed or seating. Anchor tall pieces like bookshelves to walls.

If you feel the initial tremors of an earthquake, drop to the ground and crawl to a door frame, below a strong piece of furniture, or against an interior wall. Stay away from windows, exterior doors, light fixtures, or anything at risk of crashing down. Cover your head with one hand and clutch onto anything stable with the other. If you can snag a pillow, place it above your head.

Once you feel the rattling has ended, check yourself and others for injuries. Listen to local media for information and ready yourself for aftershocks. Survey your immediate surroundings for threats like toppled power lines, fires, or gas leaks. Smother fires and disable the gas and power if you you are able to do so safely. If you see building damage, evacuate your building as safely and quickly as possible.

Other Emergency Preparedness Recommendations For Apartment Residents In Sylvania

An emergency can arise at any moment. A few extra recommendations can help you deal with the unforeseen and stay protected:

• Rely on neighbors. Get acquainted with other Residents in your building so you know who might be on site if disaster strikes. Talk about what supplies, protected shelter spots, or expertise you can use in emergencies. 

• Make sure you carry renters’ insurance. 

• Never use an elevator for evacuation during a crisis.

• Know of a safe spot to shelter pets if you have to evacuate to a temporary shelter. 

• If a natural disaster makes your building unlivable, don’t come back until you are sent a notice from property management. 

• Utilize a handheld radio or mobile phone to locate local resources if you need to evacuate. 

Your Comfort And Safety Are A Priority At SOMO Flats

We can’t control the weather, but we can offer you an incredible apartment experience in Sylvania! SOMO Flats is noted for our spacious floor plans, popular amenities, terrific location, and responsive team. Schedule a tour today and talk with one of our leasing agents about making SOMO your next home.