If you are living in western parts of the world then you should always be ready for the unexpected weather such as hurricanes and storms. Most times this sort of bad weather can be very dangerous for not only your home but also for your family. No money in the world would be enough if something happened to somebody very close to you, so it's best to get the right procedures in place before something does happen. But do not just rely on the shutters for your protection during a storm, you will have to have a great plan in place, so sit your family down and talk them through step by step procedures and a task each person should perform during terrible weather.
There are now shutters you can obtain that look and feel exactly like your normal blind or shutter but work in a totally different way. They are stronger and more durable if you were to experience a storm, these sorts of shutters are built to withstand high impact so that nothing flying around will find its way to your front room. So if you are experiencing very bad whether one day, the best thing to do would be to get the whole family into the house and close your shutters and just wait until the storm is over. If you have a look around afterwards you may notice that all your neighbours will have smashed windows with bits sticking out of them. The new model of shutters are not also great to protect your home in terrible weathers, but they also have the ability to stop the house or flat from getting too hot in the summer by not restricting the breeze like some traditional blinds would do, they work in a way to trap the incoming breeze and spread it out through the room, you can even get oscillating blinds or shutters which will give you an even better experience.
If you are thinking to grab yourself some shutters and are worrying about what a pain it would be to fit then you can relax, because shutters and blinds are now easier than ever to fit they come with a full range of instructions that include step by step guides to fitting blinds. If you are still having trouble most companies these days would also offer an additional service of free fitting, you should shop around to find the deal that best suits your needs. So whatever sort of protection you are looking for you should always ask 3 questions, firstly are the shutters storm proof, do they have customizable options and are they easy to fit.
Make your residence as burglar proof as possible by installing a burglar alarm system and using exterior lighting or even an exterior floodlight system activated by intrusion-detection devices. Other safe-guards include deadbolt locks on doors, key locks, iron grilles or heavy screens for ground-floor windows, and care in securing both upper story windows accessible by trees, low roofs, balconies, etc., and unusual doors such as sliding glass, French, etc.
Members of the household should be instructed not to admit strangers without proper identification. A peephole or small window aperture in a door where visitors can be observed prior to entry is recommended. Never leave the garage door unlocked. Consider having a watchdog inside or outside your house, or both.
Give careful consideration to a request to be photographed or interviewed in your home. Be selective in what you permit to be photographed and what you say in any interview. If local police protection is available and protection appears needed, request a patrol through your neighborhood as frequently as possible. Where police patrols are infrequent or nonexistent, employ a private security patrol, perhaps in cooperation with neighbors.
Arrange for your children to be escorted to and from school. Instruct school authorities that under no circumstances are they to be picked up by persons other than family members or specifically authorized people.
Do not permit unaccompanied children to use taxis and public transportation.
Have a security or background check of all household help.
Do not discuss sensitive information, such as detailed travel plans for business dealings, within the hearing of servants. Instruct servants and members of the household about their security responsibilities. Emphasize that they are to admit no one without positive identification, to refuse information to strangers inquiring about your activities or whereabouts, and to accept no packages or other items unless they are certain of the source.
Maintain a current list of emergency telephone numbers, and ensure that it is easily available at all times.
Recognize that your telephone will possibly be tapped. Be most discreet on the telephone in discussing information concerning travel.
Do not hand out business or home telephone numbers indiscriminately.
Be alert to persons disguised as public utility crew members, road repair workers, etc., who might station themselves near your house to observe your activities. (In one case, a kidnaper disguised as a fruit peddler set up a fruit stand near the victim's house.) Report such incidents to the police for investigation.
Locate a neighbor's or public telephone near your home and advise your household workers and family of its location for emergency use. Maintain friendly relationships with your neighbors.
Avoid crowds and civil disturbances. Stay away from areas in which you have no business.
Do not become involved in disputes with local citizens. If others initiate troublesome incidents, leave the scene as quickly as possible and report the matter to the appropriate authorities.
At an appropriate time, discuss with your family what you want them to do in case you are kidnapped. Have your family affairs (i.e., insurance policies, vital documents, etc.) in order. Keep your passports, visas, medical and shot records current and in a secure place.
Make all necessary emergency financial arrangements for dependents and designate an individual or office to contact in the event these plans must be implemented.
Both Musa Aykac & Lar are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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