A Dream HomeAlive FEMA’s Project Impact Encourages Homeowners To Incorporate Prevention Measures In Spring Maintenance Checks (NAPS)—For many Ameri Doors and stairs to ensure cans, their homes represent the they are secure investment of a lifetime. Every Project Impact, a nationwide year, however, disasters pose a serious threat to that investment. But by conducting annual pre- ventative maintenance, homeowners can protect the value of their home andthesafety of their families. Incorporating preventative maintenance as a part of an annual routine can help consumers protect their investment against damage from a variety of sources, including potential hurri- canes, flooding, wildfires, tornadoes and earthquakes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities encourages homeowners to take preventative actions as part of their spring-cleaning. “There is no time like the present for taking preventative measures. There are easy projects that people can do today to prevent damage from disasters that may strike in months or years to come,” said Cynthia Ramsay, national public affairs manager initiative aimed at getting Ameri- cans to think about damage pre- vention before disasters strike, suggests using yearly maintenance checks as a wayto evaluate your home’s disaster resistance. Based on the disaster risk you face, home improvement projects that can prevent disaster damage should be conducted. Potential prevention measures can include: Installing storm shutters on windows Installing anchors, clips and straps to secure your home and roof e Anchoring heavy equip- ment, such as water heaters and bookcases Elevating the main breaker or fuse box Elevating heating, ventilating and cooling equipment Storing combustible or flammable materials appropriately “People make a big financial and emotional investment when for FEMA's Project Impact. Fannie Mae, the nation’s largest provider of funds for home buying a home, and they should take the necessary steps to prevent damage to their investment,” said Ramsay. “Taking preventa- Impact corporate partner, suggests conducting regular maintenance checkson the following: Mechanical systems (heating, air conditioning, plumbing) your home and family are safe season after season.” By spending a few hours once or twice a year, homeowners can mortgages and a national Project Major structural elements (roofing, gutters, downspouts) Exterior siding Cement(sidewalks, steps) Woodor other materials The flashing around doors, windows, chimney androof Doors and windowsto ensure they are properly caulked tive measures while doing regular maintenance can help ensure that identify minor problems—which are easier and less expensive to fix—before they turn into major repair projects. For more information about Project Impact or preventing damage, call (202) 646-4117, e-mail project.impact@fema.gov or visit www.fema.gov/impact.
