Standard Casualty Company Blog
Preparing your Mobile Home for Spring and Summer Severe Weather
As the spring and summer storm season approaches, we all need to take steps to prepare our mobile homes (and traditional site-built homes as well) for thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. Aside from basic mobile home safety measures, we'll also discuss some things to keep in mind for your family and pets.
If your home was built prior to 1994, the home and tie-downs were designed for winds up to about 90 mph (Category 1 hurricane). Those built after 1994 are designed to hold, with tie-downs, in winds up to 110 mph (Category 2/3 hurricane). This upgrade in mobile home manufacturing was due to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) imposed stronger building codes due to the punishing force that Hurricane Andrew unleashed on mobile homes. Check your mobile home's data plate for date of manufacture as well as the strength of winds that the home is built to withstand.
The anchoring systems are vital in keeping the structures from flipping over or being blown off supports during disasters such as tornadoes or hurricanes. Anchor the mobile home with over-the-top, or frame, ties. Get frequent inspections as anchors, straps and tie-downs can become corroded or loose over time and have them replaced when necessary. Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to hurricane-force winds and require special precautions.
The cost of replacing anchors is far below the cost of replacing your mobile home and most states have certification programs for mobile home installers who will have experience in inspecting and replacing these anchors.
When a storm threatens, do what you can to secure your mobile home, and then evacuate. If you have time before you leave, shut off propane tanks, leave them outside and anchor them down. Frequently during spring storm season and especially during hurricane season, clear porches, patios and yards of all objects that could become projectiles in high winds. Keep your landscaping trimmed and clear of dead tree branches as well.
Hurricanes
We all know that hurricanes are destructive forces of nature and according to www.weather.com the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially opens on June 1st and continues through November 30th. While we are now some time away from it's official opening, it is NEVER too early to heed some basic safety precautions for our mobile home owners.
Frequently throughout the hurricane season: map safe routes inland and keep an up-to-date list of official shelters. Since most shelters do not allow pets, be sure to make emergency plans for pets too! Also, keep family members apprised of any evacuation plans you make. Since storms tend to knock out power, always keep an appropriate amount of cash on hand as credit cards may not always be accepted at grocery and convenient stores.
During a hurricane, ordinary objects inside your home can become a hazard. Anything that can move, fall or break may cause damage. Inspect your home at least once a year and address potential hazards, by securing bookshelves to the wall and anchoring water tanks.
When the hurricane is threatening, Close and lock shutters and secure other items before leaving. Turn off and disconnect water, gas, electricity and sewer lines. Go door to door to make sure everyone's out.
Tornados
Identify shelter options by locating the nearest building of solid construction for possible use in the event of a tornado. Consider whether the shelter provides 24-hour public access and is less than ten minutes travel time from your mobile home or mobile home park.
Know where the nearest emergency warning siren is located and whether or not you can hear it at your home. Although most cities maintain an outdoor siren warning system, homes and businesses are encouraged to acquire a tone-activated Weather-Alert Radio with a battery backup. Weather-Alert radios provide the most constant and reliable source of information on severe storms broadcast directly from the National Weather Service Forecast Office. These alerts are specifically tailored to your location so you'll know you're getting the most accurate weather for your area. Weather-alert radios are available at most electronics retail stores and staff there can help you program it for your locale. A battery-powered AM/FM radio should also be maintained for emergency information.
Above all, no matter the type of storm you're facing, always develop evacuation/shelter plans for your family based upon the various amounts of warning time that might be available.
Additional Resources
Check out the following link from the National Weather Service for more information on hurricane preparedness and post-storm warnings:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/pdfs/hurricane-safety_flyer.pdf
FEMA has published an informative brochure called Against the Wind. To order a free copy of Against the Wind, call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-480-2520. To view online, visit www.fema.gov and type in the search field: FEMA publication Against the Wind.
For more information on disaster preparedness, visit www.ready.gov, www.fema.gov or www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.
Mobile Home Fire Safety
Fires are no more prevalent inside mobile homes than in traditional one- or two-family homes. However, safety inside you mobile home is oftentimes overlooked until tragedy strikes. Most occupants fear storms such as tornadoes or hurricanes, but mobile home owners should be equipped to deal with a fire. Stay ahead of the fire safety curve with up-to-date fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and a well-planned escape route that is practiced often.
Cooking Inside and Outside Your Mobile Home
While cooking in the kitchen, always stay in the kitchen. Keep pot handles turned away from the room to prevent a curious child from pulling it down, causing injury to the child and possibly starting a fire. Before cooking, roll up your sleeves and use oven mitts while avoiding loose-fitting clothes. You should also keep flammable items such as paper/plastic bags and dishtowels as far from heat sources as possible.
If a fire starts while you're in the kitchen it could be relatively easy to put out, but if permitted to burn unchecked could overwhelm your entire kitchen in just minutes. Most fires are easy to put out when caught right away; make sure you don't panic and know to put a lid on small pan fires or dump baking soda on a grease fire, as these will deprive the fire of much-needed oxygen. If the fire is unmanageable, immediately get everyone to safety and call 911 from a neighbor's house. DO NOT GO BACK INSIDE THE MOBILE HOME FOR ANY REASON!
The same rule applies to grilling and barbequing outside your mobile home: Never leave your heat source unattended. Ensure your grill is at least ten feet away from other objects such as your mobile home, your pets, and especially your children! Plants and shrubs should be avoided as well since the mulch beds that they lie in are very flammable.
Cigarette Smoking and Your Mobile Home
It usually goes without saying, but never smoke a cigarette while in bed. If you feel even remotely tired, don't even smoke in that big, comfy recliner. Try to smoke outside your mobile home when possible and use "fire-safe" cigarettes. Use large, deep ashtrays that are placed on sturdy surfaces like a table. When finished smoking, don't just stamp out the butt, but douse it with water to ensure it's completely out before dumping them in the trash.
General Fire Safety
You should install smoke alarms at every entrance to every bedroom in your mobile home. Mobile homes manufactured recently have smoke detectors built-in. For the best protection, install ionization-type and photoelectric-type detectors throughout the mobile home. Some models are dual-purpose and will be labeled accordingly on the packaging. Test monthly to ensure proper operation and replace batteries when indicated or once a year.
Purchase fire extinguishers for your mobile home and ensure they are up-to-date and fully charged. If you're unsure, buy a new extinguisher. Check out the labels on the extinguishers, some are made for general use and some are specifically for grease-fires. Different types of fires may require special extinguishing agents, so check the labels for the perfect fit for your household needs. Know WHEN and HOW to use a fire extinguisher to avoid further harm.
Since the grass-mowing season is now upon us, take the time to ensure you have proper gasoline storage receptacles for your mowers and weed eaters. Milk jugs and anti-freeze containers are NOT approved for gasoline storage and in many states violate laws when used. Many times these containers are not airtight and gas fumes themselves are actually more flammable that the liquid in the container.
Electrical system failure and heating system fires are the top causes of fires in mobile homes. Do not use multiple extension cords or power strips in one outlet. This can cause a dangerous overload of current and start a fire. Make sure that towels or curtains are not dangerously close to heating or ignition sources in your mobile home.
Teach every family member to "Stop, Drop, Roll and Cool" if clothes catch fire by dropping immediately to the ground, crossing hands over your chest and rolling over and over or back and forth to put out the flames. You may also cover your face to protect your face and lungs. Cool the burned area with cool water and seek medical attention for serious burns.
Getting Out Of Your Mobile Home
In the unfortunate event that a fire starts and becomes uncontrollable in your mobile home, get everyone out and call 911 from a neighbor's house. This becomes a very easy task if you have a practiced escape plan. You should develop an escape plan and practice it often with both adults and children alike. Find two exits out of every room and pick a meeting place outside. Remember, a well-practiced escape plan could mean the difference between getting out alive and not as a fire tends to spread quickly throughout a mobile home's contents.
If you have a fire in your mobile home: once you get out, STAY OUT! Do not go back inside for any reason!
Call or visit your local fire department for other very valuable tips and checklists for fire prevention. You can also visit a myriad of very reliable websites online. Several websites contributed to the writing of this article:
www.keizerfire.com
www.usfa.dhs.gov
www.homesafetycouncil.org
www.nfpa.org