By Aarti Kalyani @ Shutterstock.com
Watching the devastation of the California wildfires, and the havoc they have brought to so many families is heart breaking. With firefighters having only limited success in battling the blazes, they seem at times to be an unstoppable force. But there are things people can do to better prepare for wildfires. CBS News reports:
While humans can’t really control as much as we’d like to believe when it comes to disasters, we do have the ability to control where and how we build. For decades, most wildfire education and enforcement campaigns have focused on creating so-called defensible space where landscaping vegetation is carefully selected and located on the property, as well as routinely maintained.
This is not enough, however. Officials in California – as in other fire-prone states – need to help homeowners, local governments and builders to understand there are also specific, science-based steps that can be taken to make structures themselves less vulnerable to fire.
Researchers recommend what is known as a “coupled approach” to home and building survival. This means the development and maintenance of an effective defensible space, as well as the careful selection of construction materials and correct installation to ensure that, for example, there are not gaps in siding or roofing that would allow embers to penetrate.
So creating a defensible space and using the best building methods available could help limit the damage a wildfire could have on your home and property. But make no mistake, if a wildfire is headed in your direction you should get out, fast. Have a plan on where you and your family will evacuate to, and make sure the supplies you need to get there are already in your car.
Originally posted on Yoursurvivalguy.com.
