Are you prepared to protect your loved ones when crisis strikes? In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to secure your home and ensure the safety of your family.
From natural disasters to home invasions, this article will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips on how to fortify your living space.
Different Ways to Secure Your Home
In a survival event, whether it’s a natural disaster or a major, long-term event, you have to make sure your home is secure for a variety of reasons and in many different ways.
Not only does having a secure home protect you on a daily basis, but in a disaster, people often turn desperate.
They can raid your home for supplies that you worked hard to accumulate – or they can break in for even more sinister reasons.
You never want to put yourself or your family at risk because you failed to take proper home security precautions.
Some people only focus on self defense measures, and while that’s a good step in case someone breaches your security, you don’t want to have to deal with this type of threat.
A community watch program is also good, but it’s no match for stealth criminals who know exactly how to maneuver around them.
Physical Home Security Measures
Let’s talk about the most important home security you can have – physical barriers against entry in all ways. While digital security is nice, it’s not going to save you in a grid-down situation.
Taking time to prevent intruders from being able to access your home easily is something all homeowners should do, but it’s even more vital in a survival situation when people are prone to looting and stealing – whether or not they need the items.
Start by going around your home and making note of every entry point. This includes major ones such as your doors and windows to those you might not consider, like your garage door or even a doggie door.
If you have the funds, make some major improvements like switching out doors made with weak materials like wood to solid, steel or metal doors. You don’t want anyone being able to kick in your door with ease.
Second, check out the locks you have in place. You want deadbolts and a sturdy frame that secures your residence even more. You can use longer screws to make the door harder to breach, too.
Next, check out your windows. You can upgrade these so that they’re shatterproof or more resilient to breakage. There’s even window security film you can install that helps prevent breakage, and thieves will often move along if something is too difficult.
A garage is a vulnerable entry point at your residence. If it’s damaged and doesn’t close right, get that fixed as soon as possible. Don’t just use the digital lock – have a manual one that you use, too.
Secure Your Home with Other Security Deterrents
There are extra devices you can buy to add more security to this entry point, but make sure that the door leading into your home from the garage is one of the strongest physical security systems you have in place.
You also want to consider the perimeter of your property. Having a strong gate or fence that’s tall and not easy to climb is going to serve as a first defense for your security. When a criminal has options, they’re going to choose the home that doesn’t have this type of protection.
The material you choose will determine how strong of a deterrent it is. Don’t go with wood or chain link fences. Metal is best, and the design itself can be unwelcoming to trespassers.
Inside your home, you want to have a separate safe room to provide an internal form of home security. That way, if someone does breach the home, you and your loved ones will have a backup space to stay safe.
Active Grid-Based Digital Security
As long as the grid is stable, then having a digital security system in place is a smart idea. You ideally want a comprehensive security system – one that serves you in many ways, not just one.
Sometimes, just seeing security cameras will make someone leave and choose to go elsewhere for their bad behavior. Not only is it a deterrent, but it can alert you to intruders and record any criminal activities that can be used for justice later.
The digital security options you have are vast. There are some that record from batteries, some that are electric, ones that are solar powered – and even some that are fake, but look real enough to keep people away.
There are security systems where you record and monitor activity yourself and those where you can sign up with a service that monitors the safety of your property for you. You can push a button to call for an alarm as well.
Other Digital Security Deterrents
There are some security systems that run 24/7 and others that are motion-activated. And of course, you’ve probably noticed that the quality varies greatly, too.
Some security cameras are worthless in identifying anyone – but it might be enough to show there’s activity. Others have very clear recordings and you can pick up sounds clearly.
There are even security systems that have night vision recording that looks clear as day, so it all depends on your budget and what you want to have working for you.
If you are solely relying on a service, and a major survival event occurs, don’t expect that service to be functional anymore.
In addition to security cameras strategically placed inside and outside of your home, you can have intercoms and doorbell cameras that allow you to monitor and engage with people even if you’re not home, so that they don’t know your home is empty.
When using any type of digital security measures, you have to be careful about the passwords you use and the ability of your system to get hacked. Many gadgets have built-in encryption that will add an extra layer of protection.
Deterrents to Secure Your Home
Ideally, you want people to take one look at your home and immediately know they don’t want to even attempt a break-in. There are some deterrents you can use similar to how you would use a fence or a gate.
Start with landscaping. Thorny bushes outside of your home’s windows make predators not want to sneak up and peek in or climb through the window. A regular bush won’t have the same effect, so look for ones like Barberry, cacti, blackthorn and more.
When you have a visible house from the street, thieves often go elsewhere, so make sure your landscaping is strategically placed where they have nowhere to hide when casing your home for a break in.
Having a home that is lit up outside at night is another great deterrent. When it gets dark, you don’t want criminals to find it easy to go undetected on your property.
You can have solar lights that are always on or motion-sensor lights that activate whenever someone steps foot on your property.
Go around the perimeter of your house at night to pinpoint any dark areas and install lighting that will make it unappealing for criminals.
Make sure they are solar operated so that you don’t have to worry about batteries running out or the grid going down.
You can also use deterrents to make people think twice about choosing your home. These include security system signs, protection signs about self defense gadgets and dangerous dogs, and actual large guard dogs that make their presence known on your property.
Don’t forget that your behavior is also something that can protect your home, your supplies and your loved ones. Knowing not to brag about things you have, or telling people when you’ll be away are important factors in keeping your property safe.
Cheap Ways to Secure Your Home
Conclusion: Ensuring Safety and Protection
Taking measures to secure your home is an essential step in protecting your family during times of crisis.
By implementing these strategies, such as reinforcing doors and windows, installing a security system, and maintaining a well-lit exterior, you can significantly reduce the risk of break-ins and ensure the safety of your loved ones.
Additionally, creating an emergency plan and having necessary supplies on hand will help you navigate any unforeseen circumstances with confidence.
Remember, safeguarding your home is not just about physical safety but also peace of mind. So take action today and make your home a secure haven for your family – they deserve nothing less!
