Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness For Apartment Dwellers In Indianapolis
Living in an apartment, you take simple safety precautions every day, like locking up when you go out. But you probably don’t give as much thought to major threats like natural disasters. Storms, fires, and more may happen with little warning and lead to devastation. While apartments are constructed to endure natural forces, you still have to take steps to ensure your safety. Follow this guide to learn more about emergency preparedness for apartment dwellers in Indianapolis and gain confidence in your ability to navigate any crisis.
Prepare Yourself For Any Situation With An Apartment Emergency Kit
Whether you need to shelter where you are or evacuate quickly, having a well-stocked apartment emergency kit in your Indianapolis unit will make any situation easier to manage. Find an area in your apartment to keep a go-bag and other emergency supplies like the following:
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Weather radio
- First aid kit and essential medications
- Power bank or wireless phone charger
- Water and shelf-stabe, ready-to-eat food for three days
- Sturdy shoes and spare clothes
- Children’s essentials
- Additional blankets
- Duplicates of important documents in a plastic bag
How To Be Ready For An Apartment Fire In Indianapolis
With so many Residents in one structure, apartment fires can be particularly deadly. Taking precautions increases your chances of survival.
Your property maintenance professionals should confirm that smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are functional in all apartments. Do not disable these. Abide by community fire rules and don’t use open flames indoors. Avoid keeping belongings in hallways that could be in the way during an evacuation. Have an escape plan for your household.
If a less intense fire occurs in your apartment, adhere to recommended guidelines for putting it out with water or a fire extinguisher. Use the extinguisher, salt, or baking soda on grease fires.
If a fire spreads, evacuate right away. Depart using the stairs and the closest exit and move away from the building before calling 911. Never prop open doors; they can permit drafts that accelerate the fire. Do not go back inside to collect things or others.
How To Take Cover In Your Apartment During A Dangerous Storm
The Midwest may see dozens of tornadoes each year. Strong winds and severe thunderstorms can also be dangerous. You may have learned at an early age to take cover in a cellar, but what should you do during a tornado in an apartment in Indianapolis?
The most secure spots for apartment Residents are
- The bottom floor of an underground parking garage
- The lowest floor of your building, and away from windows
- A bottom-floor neighbor’s apartment
- Interior stairwells or halls without windows
- An interior room or closet of your apartment
- Underneath a heavy table
- In the bathtub with a thick blanket to help protect you
Wear a bicycle helmet, construction hat, or pillow on your head. Avoid standing by windows or beside large objects that could fall on top of you.
If your building suffers severe damage from a storm, evacuate as cautiously as you can. As you exit, be cautious of gas leaks and damaged power lines. Drive or walk to a safe place.
Staying Safe In Your Apartment During Winter Storms
Winter storms can rapidly turn a an enchanting winter scene into a treacherous situation. Watch weather forecasts daily and be ready for extreme weather before it strikes. Don’t stress yourself out, but gather necessities before a severe weather arrives and have a strategy for keepin comfortable in your apartment. Keep water dripping from your faucets to help prevent pipes from freezing.
Call your emergency maintenance number promptly if your furnace dies or you have a burst pipe during cold weather. If you lose heat and power during an ice or snow storm, adhere to these recommendations:
- Stay inside
- Wear layers of warm clothes and cover yourself in blankets
- Monitor vulnerable individuals for frostbite or hypothermia
Never use fuel-burning appliances within your apartment to keep yourself warm. They release toxic gases that build up inside.
Living With A Power Outage At Your Apartment In Indianapolis
Everyone experiences a power outage on occasion. Most of the time, your local utility company will reconnect your power within a few hours. With that being said, a major natural disaster can leave you without electricity for many days or possibly weeks.
Your emergency kit can help you get through a power outage. But, circumstances can get hazardous if you don’t have air conditioning or heat during extreme temperatures. In this scenario, at-risk individuals should relocate to a location with power.
Abide By These Cooking And Food Safety Guidelines
be cautious about food that has gone bad. When your power is out, avoid opening your fridge and freezer. Typically, food remains safe in an unopened refrigerator for up to 4 hours and a freezer for 1-2 days after losing power. If you can find a cooler with ice, use it to preserve essential food over the first 24 hours of a blackout.
Here’s what you can do if you leave home during a blackout at your apartment in Indianapolis:
- Switch off any devices that may have been operating
- Ask neighbors to notify you when power comes back
- Be alert to downed power lines as you leave and call the utility company to report any
What To Do If Your Apartment Floods In Indianapolis
If you reside close to a river or flood zone, you may encounter flooding after heavy rainfall or if a dam is breached. Watch the news for updates and take note of evacuation orders. If an evacuation is necessary, follow these steps:
- Disconnect all dry electrical devices.
- Rapidly gather your bare necessities or retrieve your emergency go-bag.
- Move essentials and precious items to higher locations.
- Evacuate to a safer location on higher ground.
- Avoid driving across flooded roads or step into floodwaters.
In a worst-case scenario during flash flooding, do everything necessary to get up to the highest floor of your building or the rooftop.
How To React To An Earthquake In Your Apartment
Although the Midwest isn’t a hotspot for earthquakes, we experience a little rattle on occasion! It’s a good idea to know what to do if you experience an earthquake in your apartment in Indianapolis, as a precaution.
First, place large or heavy items on bottom shelves. Avoid hanging anything weighty over beds or sitting areas. Anchor tall items like bookcases to walls.
If you notice the initial rattles of an earthquake, drop to your knees and move to a door frame, below a solid table, or beside an interior wall. Avoid windows, exterior doors, light fixtures, or anything at risk of crashing down. Protect your head with one hand and clutch onto something secure with the other. If it’s possible to reach a pillow, place it over your head.
Whenever you feel the trembling has ended, check yourself and roomates for injuries. Tune in to the local news for guidance and ready yourself for aftershocks. Survey your nearby surroundings for dangers like gas leaks, fires, or toppled electrical lines. Extinguish fires and turn off the gas and power if you it’s possible to do so without risk. If there is visible building damage, evacuate as cautiously and swiftly as possible.
Extra Emergency Preparedness Recommendations For Apartment Residents In Indianapolis
Disaster can occur at any second. A few more suggestions can help you manage the unforeseen and stay protected:
- Connect with neighbors. Get to know those in your building so you’re aware who might be on site if disaster strikes. Talk about what supplies, protected shelter areas, or skills you can share in urgent situations.
- Make sure you have renters’ insurance.
- Avoid using an elevator to evacuate during a crisis.
- Have a secure location to bring pets if you must evacuate to an emergency location.
- If an emergency renders your building unlivable, wait for communication from property employees before returning.
- Utilize a portable radio or cell phone to find local resources if you need to evacuate.
Your Safety And Comfort Come First At The Edge Apartments
We have no control over the weather, but we can offer you an incredible apartment lifestyle in Indianapolis! The Edge Apartments is recognized for our spacious floor plans, sought-after amenities, terrific location, and friendly staff. Take a tour today and talk to one of our leasing specialists about making The Edge your next home.