Extreme Weather Is Everywhere Now—How to Prepare Your Home

Nor’easters, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and whatever this year’s super El Niño may bring to your corner of the world—is your home disaster-proof?

No matter where you live, chances are climate preparation is worth considering, says Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy and sustainability expert who has studied U.S. climate resilience under a grant from NASA. She was part of a team whose research shows that extreme heat and rainfall have already intensified in many parts of the U.S., and some of the next severe weather events are going to come in places that haven’t had such an event to date.

Location, location, locationLiving somewhere that won’t leave you stranded in a crisis—walking distance to a food store, pharmacy or ER—is smart. Bonus points for an address higher on a hill, where flood risk is mitigated. Avoiding property that abuts forestland can lower the risk of wildfires. For those staying put, drains in your driveway are a good option, and trimming back trees can keep branches from swinging wildly or falling on your house.

Powering onBackup generators or rooftop solar plus battery storage is essential for keeping the lights, hot water and refrigeration going regardless of what’s happening with the grid.

Playing defenseFor homes with basements, automated sump pumps are essential. Remember to store items down there on high shelves, and consider mold-protecting wall coverings. A whole-house surge protector can keep your electronics and appliances safe in case of sudden electrical spikes in the grid. Finally, HEPA-filter air purifiers that combine carbon absorption and ionizer technology combat everything from wildfire smoke to Covid.

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