Expert Reveals Which Michigan Counties are the Most Prepared for Natural Disasters and How You Can Protect your Home

Photo by Ralph W. lambrecht

Article courtesy of A1 Garage 

• Lake County is the least prepared for natural disasters in Michigan, according to data based on factors including housing, healthcare access, education, communication, and poverty.
• The most prepared county in the state is Dickinson County.
• An expert has given advice on simple steps you can take to prepare your home for natural disasters and emergencies.

Data has revealed which counties in Michigan are the least prepared for natural disasters, with Lake County ranking first, and experts have revealed the simple steps you can take to protect your home.

Garage door service providers at A1 Garage analyzed data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on community resilience scores for each county in Michigan, based on factors such as housing, healthcare access, education, communication, and poverty, to find those that are the most and least prepared for natural disasters.

FEMA gives each county a resilience score out of 100, with a lower score indicating that the county has a lower potential to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from disasters.

The ten Michigan counties least prepared for natural disasters

Tommy Mello, founder and CEO of A1 Garage, has given expert tips on how to protect your home before an emergency occurs:

“While some factors that contribute to FEMA’s scores are out of your control, such as healthcare access and poverty, taking steps to protect your home will ensure you are as prepared as possible in the case of unexpected emergencies, whether your county’s resilience score is low or high.

“To prepare your home for any type of natural disaster or severe weather, there are small, practical steps you can take long before an emergency occurs. Simple actions can go a long way in reducing the risk of damage from things like storms, floods, wildfires, heat waves, and earthquakes.

“Basic maintenance and reinforcement inside the home is one of the most important measures. Take the time to secure heavy furniture and appliances across all areas of your home, including things like bookcases and televisions, so they are less likely to tip or fall. Avoid placing heavy items on high shelves where they could fall, and keep hallways and stairwells clear so they remain safe exit routes in an emergency.

“Sealing cracks around doors, windows, and roofs, and keeping on top of routine tasks like clearing gutters, can also help protect your home from things like wind, rain, and debris.

“The garage is another important area to pay attention to. Securing large items like water heaters and shelving units can help prevent damage or injury during emergencies like earthquakes and storms. Keep hazardous materials, such as fuel or chemicals, properly stored and elevated off the ground level, and make sure the garage door is well-maintained to help it better withstand harsh weather.

“The outside of your home matters too, and yard maintenance is a critical step. Trimming trees, removing debris, and keeping flammable materials away from buildings can lower the risk of damage and danger when faced with an emergency.

“Outside of preparing your home itself, knowing how to shut off the gas, water, and electricity, keeping a small amount of basic emergency supplies like canned food and bottled water, and ensuring your home insurance covers you for risks in your local area, are all steps that can further strengthen resilience. Simple jobs like trimming trees and sealing windows are often put off, and on their own they may seem unimportant; however, when combined, all of these low-cost steps can make your home more resilient against multiple types of disasters.”

Source:

FEMA Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool

The 50 Michigan counties least prepared for natural disasters