HomeServe Survey: Get Ready for the Season Ahead - Wildfires, Hurricanes and Flooding … Oh My!
NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Think you're prepared for a major weather event? If you said yes, you're probably wrong. In a recent HomeServe survey, respondents expressed a high degree of confidence in their preparedness for extreme weather events, including summer storms, yet most came up short when asked about specific preparations.
Americans generally believe they are well-prepared for storm season, with an average preparedness self-assessment score of four out of five. Yet when probed about actual actions taken, most came up woefully short.
Share
Americans think they're ready for storm season, but most are unprepared.
The first finding of the HomeServe survey is that Americans generally believe they are well-prepared for storm season, with an average preparedness self-assessment score of four out of five. Yet when probed about actual actions taken, most came up woefully short even though more than 90% said they've lived through an extreme weather event before.
On the positive side, 72% of respondents said they receive local emergency alerts, a good start. However, less than half of respondents said they had key components that should be included in any emergency preparedness kit like bottled water or nonperishable food and almost 15% reported having no emergency supplies on hand at all. Less than half (49%) said they know where their local emergency shelter is and only 42% said they have a fully informed emergency evacuation plan.
Summer is predicted to be filled with extreme weather.
The findings in HomeServe's emergency preparedness survey are especially concerning as experts predict an extra stormy summer season ahead. An above-average number of named storms is expected; wildfire risk is even higher than usual due to hotter than average temperatures; drought is predicted for much of the Great Plains and parts of the West; and increased thunderstorms and tropical activity, with the potential for derechos, and even monsoons in the West are predicted.
Prepare now to keep your home and family safe.
HomeServe offers these helpful tips to prepare your home and family for extreme weather events this summer and beyond.
Create an Emergency Plan: Identify safe shelter areas, establish communication plans, back up important documents, learn utility shutoffs, and plan evacuation routes.
Assemble an Emergency Kit: Gather essential supplies for people and pets, including water, food, medications, flashlights, and backup power sources.
Review Insurance Coverage: Document belongings and ensure your policy covers rebuilding costs and weather-related damages like floods or wildfires.
Secure Your Home: Trim trees, secure outdoor items, inspect roofs and gutters, and have tools ready for emergency repairs.
Stay Informed: Monitor trusted weather updates, invest in a NOAA radio, and sign up for local emergency alerts.
Prepare for Power Outages: Stock portable chargers, consider a generator, and keep refrigerators closed to preserve food.
Immediately Before a Weather Event: Charge devices, test emergency equipment, fill bathtubs with water, and refuel vehicles and generators.
By taking these important steps, homeowners can be truly confident they are prepared to keep themselves and their families safe and reduce property damage risks in the face of the challenges and uncertainties that come from extreme weather events this summer and beyond.
To learn more, visit these helpful links from HomeServe:
About HomeServe
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
2 hours ago
- Fast Company
Hurricane Erick tracker: Live maps and real-time tools show the storm's projected path toward Mexico
With the 2025 hurricane season underway in the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Erick is picking up speed as it heads toward southern Mexico, strengthening to a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. Erick is currently located in the eastern Pacific Ocean about 105 miles south of Puerto Ángel. NOAA's National Hurricane Center forecast that Erick would rapidly intensify, strengthen throughout Wednesday, and reach 'major hurricane strength' Wednesday night or early Thursday as it approaches the coast of southern Mexico. The storm is expected to bring damaging winds and 'life-threatening flash floods' with 8 to 16 inches of rain (20 inches maximum) across the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero that could lead to mudslides. It could also bring 2 to 4 inches (6 inches maximum) across Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco and Mexico City—and Guatemala. Erick is expected to move inland or be near the coast on Thursday, prompting a hurricane warning from Acapulco to Puerto Angel and a hurricane watch for west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana. The storm will produce heavy rainfall across portions of Central America and southwest Mexico through this week, and a dangerous storm surge is expected to produce coastal flooding. How to track Hurricane Erick's path in real time Erick, the fifth named storm for the current Eastern Pacific hurricane season, is currently traveling northeast with sustained winds of about 85 mph, a maximum of 100 mph, with higher gusts and hurricane-force winds extending 15 miles out from its center. It is expected to turn northwest later on Wednesday.
4 hours ago
Life-threatening heat wave in the Midwest and Northeast to kick off official start of summer
Heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer -- and it's heading to the most densely populated part of America for a prolonged period. A heat wave forecast to envelop the Midwest and the Northeast with triple-digit weather is expected to arrive on the heels of the first official day of summer. But before the sizzle, the country's midsection and much of the East Coast will have to endure at least a couple of days of severe weather. Over the next two days, more than 120 million people are under the threat for severe storms from the Midwest to the East Coast. The risk for severe weather -- which could produce damaging wind, tornadoes, large hail and possible flash flooding -- is at a level 3 out of 5 on Wednesday from Michigan to Missouri, including the cities of Indianapolis and Louisville. Meanwhile, the risk of severe weather for the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Nashville and Texarkana is at a level 2 out of 5 on Wednesday. Storms are expected to reach Chicago around the lunch hour on Wednesday and move into Indianapolis, Detroit and Cincinnati later in the afternoon. Nashville and Texarkana are expected to see severe weather Wednesday evening and and overnight. On Thursday, severe weather is expected to move to the East Coast from North Carolina to Vermont and include Washington, D.C., and New York City. Out West, extreme heat warnings are in place for Thursday and Friday from Phoenix to Las Vegas, where temperatures could soar to 115 over the region. The hot weather in the West is also expected to elevate the risk of fire danger from Nevada to Colorado. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for Wednesday afternoon and into the evening for northwest Colorado and northeast Utah, where 35 mph gusts and single-digit humidity could allow fire to spark and spread rapidly. By week's end, daily high temperature records could fall in parts of the West, where places like Denver could top 100 degrees. Bracing for the season's first heat wave Starting on Sunday, the hot weather will invade the Midwest and parts of the Southeast. The heat index is forecast to make it feel like more than 100 degrees in Chicago, Louisville and Nashville. By Monday, record-breaking daily high temperatures are expected to be widespread across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with highs from the mid-90s to the low-100s. High humidity will make conditions more stifling for tens of millions of people. The heat index, a measure of what the temperature feels like, is expected to rise to the low to mid-100s in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C., on Monday and extend into next week. During the heat wave, nighttime temperatures are expected to only drop into the 70s, meaning that without adequate air conditioning this heat wave will be extremely dangerous for many Americans. The dangerous heat in the Northeast is not expected to subside until late next week, when clouds and rain will move into the region.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
NOAA Predicts Active Hurricane Season, How Does Social Media Fit In
Brad Reinhart, Senior Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center, works on tracking ... More Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 season. (Photo by) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and ends on November 30. Current projections suggest that there could be 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes, with four of these potentially reaching major hurricane status. Any of those storms making landfall could be serious events. Social media has proven helpful in the past in disseminating critical safety information while serving as a communication link following a storm. Yet, it presents new challenges for authorities, including the spread of misinformation. In May, NOAA introduced a "Hurricane Preparedness Week Social Media Plan" that shared vital information via Facebook and X, including tips on what to do before, during, and immediately after a storm. Still, experts suggest that NOAA and other agencies could further utilize social media during hurricane season. "The most effective way is for emergency management agencies to include social media platforms as part of a multiple crisis communication dissemination strategy," explained Dr. Claire Connolly Knox, professor within the School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida. "These platforms should not be the only communication outlet; however, they cannot be left out of the communication strategy," she added while noting that no single social media network is enough to get the message out. Nor should it replace legacy media. "Crisis communication needs to incorporate individual preferences based on previous experiences with information sources, whether that is print, television, radio, social media, etc.," said Knox. "It is essential that the local office of emergency management staff know their community preferences for communication." As more Americans turn to social media for news and information, NOAA and other agencies must be proactive about what they share on the platforms to stay ahead of baseless reports, rumors, and speculation. "Social media can fulfill numerous functions during natural disasters, such as hurricanes," suggested Dr. Amber Silver, assistant professor in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany. "The most obvious of these would be the sharing of official watches, warnings, and advisories with the public," said Silver. "Citizens often use social media to share information about storm conditions and local impacts, which can be used by public officials (e.g., emergency managers, first responders) to assess areas of higher impact vs. lower impact." This information can facilitate operational decision-making, thereby allowing officials to better position personnel, equipment, and supplies in response to rapidly changing conditions. From the end-user's perspective, official and unofficial information shared online has been shown to affect decision-making regarding protective actions, including the actions taken and when they are taken, said Silver. Already, local, state, and federal emergency management agencies turn to the platforms to gain a better sense of what is happening on the ground. Such information can enable officials to better understand local impacts and community needs, which in turn can facilitate their operational decision-making during disasters. However, the multiple agencies need to ensure they're on the same page, including what they collect from social media and what they disseminate. "In crisis communication, the best practice is to speak with one voice. Public information officers from multiple departments or jurisdictions work together before, during, and after a disaster to provide consistent, comprehensible, and specific information through multiple communication mediums," said Knox. Moreover, too much reliance on social media during breaking news events can open the door for misinformation to be accepted as factual, especially if officials inadvertently base their reports on false information. "A unique component of social media platforms is the ability for anyone to create content. During times of a disaster, some of this information is incorrect or false, warned Knox. "Rumor control can become a full-time job during an activation in the emergency operations center or joint information center. This is another reason why it is important for local governments to educate and engage with the public during blue sky days, so the agency's social media account becomes a trusted, reliable source of information during a disaster." Misinformation is likely to move faster than a category five storm, but this may also be why official agencies need to monitor what is being posted. "Like many tools, social media is constantly evolving," added Silver, who acknowledged it is not without its issues. "The sheer volume and rapidity of information diffusion during a large-scale disaster is a known challenge, especially when that information includes misinformation and disinformation. With that being said, however, social media can be used to share information from official sources more quickly and efficiently than traditional channels." There is no denying that hurricane season can cause anxiety, especially for those who now live in regions that have been hard hit in recent years. However, turning to social media before a storm can further bring a negative impact on one's mental health. "Overexposure to media, especially during hurricane season, can significantly impact our mental health, even for those of us who are not directly affected," warned Dr. Reggie Ferreira, director of the Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy and professor in the School of Social Work at Tulane University. The continuous updates about hurricanes, flooding, and destruction can heighten one's anxiety and create a pervasive sense of dread or helplessness. "Over time, we may also experience compassion fatigue, where exposure to repeated distressing stories leads to emotional numbness or a reduced ability to empathize," said Ferreira. "There's also the risk of secondary trauma exposure; individuals might develop trauma-like symptoms such as nightmares or heightened alertness just from viewing graphic content." Additionally, the sheer volume of real-time updates can become overwhelming, making it more challenging to distinguish credible, helpful information from sensationalized or misleading posts. Ferreira cautioned that the use of AI-generated images on social media can exacerbate the issue even further. "Many people end up 'doomscrolling' late into the night, which disrupts sleep and can further exacerbate our mood and anxiety disorders," said Ferreira. "It's a cycle that can quietly take a toll on our emotional well-being."
