Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness For Apartment Dwellers In Indianapolis
Living in an apartment, you implement general safety precautions daily, like securing your door when you leave. But you might not give as much attention to larger-scale risks like natural disasters. Storms, fires, and more may occur with hardly any warning and cause a chaotic situation. While apartment buildings are constructed to withstand environmental forces, you still need to protect yourself. Use this guide to discover more about emergency preparedness for apartment dwellers in Indianapolis and gain confidence in your ability to handle any crisis.
Prepare Yourself For Any Situation With An Apartment Emergency Kit
If you need to shelter in place or evacuate rapidly, having an apartment emergency kit in your Indianapolis unit will make any urgent event a little easier. Determine a space in your apartment to stow a go-bag and additional emergency supplies like the following:
- Flashlights
- Spare batteries
- Weather radio
- First aid kit and essential medications
- Power bank or wireless charger
- Water and non-perishable, no-cook food for three days
- Supportive shoes and additional clothes
- Children's supplies
- Spare blankets
- Photocopies of critical documents in a waterproof bag
How To Be Prepared For An Apartment Fire In Indianapolis
With so many Residents in one building, apartment fires can become extremely deadly. Being ready increases your probability of avoiding harm.
Your property maintenance staff should confirm that smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are operational in each unit. Do not disable these. Abide by community fire rules and don’t use open flames inside. Avoid keeping belongings in hallways that might trip people during an evacuation. Design an evacuation plan for your household.
If a small fire breaks out in your apartment, follow basic guidelines for extinguishing it with a fire extinguisher or water. When dealing with, utilize baking soda, the extinguisher, or salt.
If a fire gets big, evacuate right away. Depart using the stairs and the closest exit and move away from the building before dialing 911. Never prop open doors; they will permit drafts that intesify the fire. Do not go back in to retrieve belongings or others.
How To Stay Protected In Your Apartment During A Dangerous Storm
The Midwest may see numerous tornadoes every year. Strong winds and severe thunderstorms can also be dangerous. You may have learned in school to seek shelter in a basement, but what should you do during a tornado in an apartment in Indianapolis?
The safest spots for apartment ocupants are
- The lowest floor of an underground parking garage
- The first floor of your building, and far from windows
- A neighbor’s first-floor apartment
- Interior hallways or stairwells without windows
- A closet or interior room of your apartment
- Under a heavy table
- Inside the bathtub with a thick blanket for protection
Wear a construction hat, bike helmet, or pillow on your head. Avoid standing next to windows or around large objects that could topple onto you.
If your building experiences significant damage from a storm, evacuate as carefully as possible. As you depart, be cautious of gas leaks and damaged power lines. Walk or drive to a safe place.
How To Stay Protected In Your Apartment During Winter Weather
Winter storms can turn a lovely snow-covered day into a treacherous situation in a hurry. Watch weather forecasts daily and be prepared for harsh weather before it comes. Don’t panic, but collect essential items before a severe weather hits and make a plan for keeping warm in your apartment. Let water drip from your faucets to help prevent pipes from freezing.
Dial your emergency maintenance hotline promptly if your furnace dies or you experience a burst pipe during winter weather. If your power and heat are lost during an ice or snow storm, follow these recommendations:
- Stay inside
- Put on layers of warm clothes and cover yourself in blankets
- Monitor sensitive individuals for frostbite or hypothermia
Avoid using fuel-consuming appliances inside your apartment to keep yourself warm. They emit hazardous gases that collect inside.
Living With A Power Outage At Your Apartment In Indianapolis
We all encounter a power outage on occasion. Most of the time, your local utility company will reconnect your power within a few hours. Even so, a major natural disaster may leave you without power for several days or possibly weeks.
Your emergency supplies can help you navigate a power outage. However, conditions can get risky if you lack heat or AC during extreme temperatures. If this happens, at-risk individuals should relocate to somewhere with power.
Adhere To These Food Safety And Cooking Recommendations
Beware of unsafe food. When losing power, resist opening your refrigerator and freezer. Generally, food keeps in an unopened refrigerator for 4 hours and a freezer for up to 2 days after a power failure. Use a cooler with ice if possible to maintain essential food throughout the initial day of an outage.
Follow these recommendations if you leave home during a power outage at your apartment in Indianapolis:
- Turn off any appliances that might have been running
- Have neighbors inform you when power is back on
- Watch for downed power lines as you exit and contact the power company to report them
What To Do If Your Apartment Floods In Indianapolis
If you reside close to a flood zone or river, you may experience a flood after heavy rain or if a dam is breached. Watch for news alerts and follow any orders for evacuation. If you have to evacuate, follow these steps:
- Unplug all dry electrical devices.
- Quickly pack your bare necessities or get your emergency go-bag.
- Move items you want to save to elevated areas.
- Move to a safer location out of the flood zone.
- Don’t drive through flooded areas or step into flowing water.
In a dire situation during heavy flooding, make every effort to retreat to the highest floor of your building or the roof.
How To React To An Earthquake In Your Apartment
While the Midwest isn’t a hotspot for earthquakes, we experience a little rattle from time to time! It’s a good idea to know what to do if you experience an earthquake in your apartment in Indianapolis, just to be safe.
First, stow heavy or large belongings on lower shelves. Don’t hang anything weighty over couches or beds. Fasten tall items like bookcases to walls.
When you detect the initial rumbles of an earthquake, go to the floor and make your way to a door frame, below a solid furnishing, or against an interior wall. Stay clear of light fixtures, windows, exterior doors, or anything at risk of toppling over. Protect your head with one hand and grab onto something secure with the other. If you’re able to grab a pillow, place it above your head.
Once it appears the trembling has stopped, check yourself and roomates for injuries. Pay attention to the local news for guidance and brace yourself for aftershocks. Check your immediate surroundings for threats like fire, downed electrical lines, or gas leaks. Put out fires and disable the power or gas if you you are able to do so without risk. If you see building damage, evacuate as carefully and rapidly as possible.
Additional Emergency Preparedness Suggestions For Apartment Residents In Indianapolis
An emergency can arise at any time. A few more suggestions can help you manage the unexpected and stay protected:
- Collaborate with neighbors. Become familiar with others in your building so you have an idea who else might be around if disaster strikes. Discuss what supplies, safe shelter areas, or skills you can share in urgent situations.
- Always carry renters’ insurance.
- Never use an elevator to exit the building during a dangerous situation.
- Have a secure location to shelter pets if you must evacuate to an emergency location.
- If a disaster renders your building uninhabitable, await communication from property employees before re-entering.
- Utilize a portable radio or mobile phone to discover local resources if you have to evacuate.
Your Comfort And Safety Matter At Penrose on Mass Apartments
We can’t control the weather, but we can provide you an outstanding apartment lifestyle in Indianapolis! Penrose on Mass Apartments is known for our roomy apartments, sought-after amenities, great location, and responsive staff. Arrange a tour today and talk to one of our leasing specialists about making Penrose on Mass your new home.