When you leave your home for an extended period of time, like for vacation, you quickly become an easy target for a home burglary. Thieves are always on the lookout for easy marks and there’s nothing easier than a vacant house. There are some important steps you can take before you leave for long periods of time to make sure that you don’t become an obvious target. Next time you plan a vacation be sure to mind your home before you leave so you don’t have any nagging regrets during your trip or come back to a crime scene.

One of your biggest assets when you leave for vacation is going to be a good relationship with your neighbors. Having someone trustworthy for a few favors will go a long way in making your life easier while you’re away and your home a less obvious mark.

Mail

One of the easiest things you can do to deter theft during a vacation is put a hold on your mail. This can be done with a quick phone call to the postal service. An alternative is to call on that trusty neighbor of yours and have them pick up your mail daily. If you have a newspaper subscription you could lend it to a neighbor without one for the duration in exchange for picking up your mail. When the mail starts to pile up your house starts to look like an easy target so be sure to put a hold on it for the duration or have a friend or neighbor pick it up.

Lock Up

This one might seem obvious but you need to be thorough in a last inspection of the house and make sure that all of the doors and windows are locked. There’s no worse feeling than leaving for vacation and wondering if you remembered to lock up all the doors and windows. For this reason, one great tip is to do something weird while locking up so you can distinctly remember and not have to worry about it later. For example, you could could to three in another language or spin in a circle after locking up and you won’t have to worry about it during precious vacation time so much.

Lights

When you leave your home for vacation you should think about installing a programmable light timer that can periodically turn on and off your lights while you’re gone. If your lights are either permanently off for an extended period it becomes clear that you’re out of town and your home becomes susceptible to robbery. Alternatively, it seems suspect (and also racks up a large electric bill) if you leave some of your lights on for the entire time as well. By getting a programmable light timer you can create the illusion that somebody is home and deter potential thieves.

Additional Precautions

There are a few more small things that you can do to minimize the chance a burglar realizes that nobody is home. If you’re gone for a long period of time and have a lawn get a neighbor or friend to mow it occasionally. An unkempt lawn in an otherwise tidy neighborhood is a dead giveaway. Also, if possible get someone to park in front of your house if you don’t regularly use a garage. Lastly, don’t leave a message on your voicemail saying that you’re out of town and when you plan to get back. If someone is casing your house and get a hold of your phone number this voicemail would be a big green light to go forward with their plans.

Video surveillance is quickly becoming a staple of home security so it is important to stay informed of your options when looking to purchase a video surveillance system. While once this was only reserved for commercial purposes it is becoming both more affordable for domestic use and more advanced and functional. Digital video has quickly become the standard and gives you a lot of advantages over the analogue variant of the past. Here we’ll look at some of the important criteria to consider when looking to purchase a home video surveillance system.

digi video camera

Digital vs Analogue

This one is a bit of a no-brainer and you’d likely be hard pressed to find an analogue home surveillance system for sale new nowadays. The advantages of digital recording are apparent in ease of video storage and the added bonus of integration into other digital technologies. You will be able to more easily pair your home security cameras with your security system and even potentially your smartphone. Digital recording also allows for wireless transmission of data which can make for an easier setup and installation.

Motion Activated

One great way to approach home security surveillance is to use motion activated cameras. This will cut down on the amount of hard disk space that your recordings use as well as allow you to forgo hours of searching through tape to find a specific incident. Modern security cameras can be programmed to beginning recording at the first moment of motion and save you a lot of hassle.

Location

Where you place your cameras is an important factor to consider before purchasing. You need to think about vulnerable locations in your home where a video cameras can get a good view of any potential perpetrators. Make sure that the view is unobstructed and preferably in a location that a potential thief would have to pass through to reach an entrance. Also worth considering is covering any entrances to your garage, which is a common target for home burglaries.

Maintenance

While usually home security cameras are pretty easy to maintain it is still important to do so. This basically means making sure that it is working periodically and checking to make sure the lens is clean and nothing is obstructing the view. The amount of maintenance is minimal but important should an issue arrive and you find you can’t get a clear picture of the thief because the lens was dirty.

With all that being said home security cameras are a great investment that don’t require a very active approach to home security. The maintenance is minimal and aside from the upfront cost it won’t cost much to keep it going. Additionally just having security cameras visible on your property is a strong deterrent to potential thieves.

This time we’re going to look at another way you can improve your home security with a simple do-it-yourself project. Last time we looked at the importance of peepholes and how easy it can be to install or upgrade your peephole for additional security. Now, we’re going to look at some different ways you can reinforce your doors so they will be more resistant to break ins. This can basically be done by installing a reinforcement plate on the door and door jamb that stop either from splintering or breaking upon heavy impact. Here’s how it’s done:

To begin you’ll need to take measurements of the thickness of your door and the distance between the entry knob and the deadbolt cylinder. Once you have these measurements you’ll need to purchase a door reinforcement kit with the appropriate proportions according to your measurement. Here you have a few options based on materials and either single side or wraparound. The price will fluctuate based on strength and you should buy what you think is necessary for your home.

Next you’ll use the same measurements to buy a door jamb reinforcement plate. This tends to be a little bit more expensive but is necessary for this project and works well in conjunction with the door reinforcement.

Once you have the materials you will need to remove the door knob and deadbolt cylinder and begin installation of the door reinforcement kit. This should come with instructions and likely longer screws than were previously used. You’ll need to drill pilot holes before installation but it should be pretty straightforward and sit snugly on the frame of your door. Once this is complete you can reattach the door knob and deadbolt cylinder.

Now you can begin installation of the door jamb reinforcement. You will need to mark the latch and deadbolt centers on your door jamb before installation with a pencil so that everything will align correctly. Remove the original latch and strike plates and any previously added weather stripping. Now you will need to drill pilot holes where indicated by the instruction and attach the door jamb reinforcement.

Once this is all in place your door and lock will be much more resistance to break ins by force. The wood or other material won’t splinter and break upon impact because of the metal reinforcement and you can rest easier with the knowledge that your home is more secure through a simple and fun home security project.

Depending on where you live, flooding could be a major issue that you have to deal with on occasion. Flooding can vary greatly in danger but it’s always best to know how to deal with such situations should they arise. Here we’ll look at some simple ways to avoid property damage in case of minor floods and ensure the safety of yourself and your family in case of extreme flooding.

First you’ll want to assess your situation and decide if you are indeed at risk of flooding. If you live near large bodies of water including lakes, rivers, or the ocean you are likely at risk. Additionally, one thing that often goes overlooked, is groundwater flooding. Learn more about the geology of your area and take note if you are residing above underground water reserves and how high the water table is in your area.

Preparation is key to dealing with flooding because if you are not ready when it comes it will likely be too late to prevent property damage. Preparation in this case comes down to two methods. You need to have a plan and you need to have proper materials available.

First you’ll need to think about where water can enter and find ways to prevent it from doing so. Doorways are a low entrance that need to be secured asap when dealing with a flood. While sandbags and plastic bags may offer a simple respite from flooding they will still let water in so it’s best to get purpose made flood boards for your doorways. Additionally you can raise the threshold of your doors if flooding is a common occurrence.

One often overlooked way that water can get into your home during a flood is through your pipes. Sometimes the flow can be reversed when there’s too much water in the drainage system and push water back up your pipes. You can deal with this problem easily by installing non-return valves on choice pipes in your home.

Additionally you’ll want to buy special covers for ventilation bricks that can be easily fitted in case of flooding. Also, as previously alluded to, sealing your floor is a good method to prevent water coming through from the ground.

While there are a lot of ways to prevent water from getting into your home, sometimes it is inevitable. In case water does get in there are some steps you can take to prevent further damage. Mount your TV on your wall about 1.5 meters from the ground. Raise your electrical sockets off the ground. Use tiling and rugs rather than fitted carpets and potentially buy a pump if you have a basement where the water could collect.

In case of major flooding it is important to have a radio and stay tuned to a flood watch channel and wait for information and advice. For such situations it’s a great idea to keep a disaster kit as well. You should plan a meeting place for your family should you get separated as well as have an out of state contact that each family member can call to say that everything is okay. Before evacuating to higher ground know how to shut off electricity, water, and gas to your home. And lastly, it’s important to remain calm while moving to higher ground and not to panic.

Improving your home security can be a fun and easy project that doesn’t have to break them bank. By simply taking some time and doing some research you can find some easy projects around the house that are manageable for even the meekest of handymen. While it is always a good idea to have a professional security system in place it is possible to augment it here and there with fun and easy do-it-yourself projects.

Installing a Peephole

This is an easy project that can give you a little bit more peace of mind when opening the door. Some doors may come with peepholes with poor vision that you wish to replace or no peephole at all. Generally, it is best to install a wide-angle peephole so that you have a greater range of vision when using it.

Preparation

To begin you’ll need to make sure that your door is of a standard width. This usually means somewhere between 1 ⅜ to 2 inches in thickness. This will be important when buying your peephole. You will also need to check what kind of material your door is made out of so you can prepare a proper drill piece for boring the hole.

Next you’ll need to mark where you want to install the peephole. It should be in the center of your door around 5 ½ feet off the ground. Mark the spot with a pencil and drill a pilot hole ⅛ inch in thickness. The pilot hole does not need to go all the way through the door though it is important for it to be level and perpendicular to the surface of the door. Once you have your pilot you can start drilling the complete hole. Most peepholes require a standard ½ in hole for installation but you’ll want to check the specifics of yours before you begin.

Installation

Once you have your hole completed you can begin installing the peephole. It will typically come in two pieces. The lens piece will typically be larger and have threads on the outside while the viewing scope is smaller with threads on the inside. You can put the two pieces together before installation and look through to make sure that you have the proper orientation. For installation put the lens piece through the completed hole from the outside and attach the viewing scope from the inside. The two pieces should screw together until they fit snugly. Optionally you can attach the outer piece with a small dab of silicone caulk to create a seal.

This is just a short example of an easy do-it-yourself project that anybody can do to augment their own home security system. Everybody feels a little bit safer when opening the door if they can look beforehand and see who it is. So, take a little bit of time, dust off the power tools, and start improving your home today.

Old wiring can be a tricky subject because it’s something that will often remain behind the scenes until it’s too late. If you’ve recently moved into an old house or suspect a mediocre wiring job in your new house it might be a good idea have an expert check out the wiring for any major problems. Faulty wiring can be quite dangerous; it is a common cause of house fires and can cause potentially harmful electrical shocks. It’s always best to play it safe and have your wiring inspected before you invite disaster into your home.

Usually it’s not a great idea to manually check the wiring in your home. One small mistake and you could have a potentially deadly 240 volts running through your body. Unless you have a strong background and extensive knowledge of electrical wiring it is generally safer and smarter to hire a professional. However, there are some easy ways to see if you have really old or faulty wiring or not without having to rummage around behind the walls.

Check Your Fuse Box

The first step that you can safely take to get an idea about the status of your house’s electrical wiring is to check out the fuse box. The location of the fuse box will vary from home to home but can be commonly found in the basement or cellar. Once you find the fuse box you can get a general idea of the age of your wiring by just looking at it. If it looks old it probably is. Look for cast-iron switches, a wooden back, and no labels as easy indicators of old wiring. Additionally look for a black rubber-insulated electrical cable entering the box. Modern fuse boxes use a pvc-insulated casing for this wire that is usually grey or white.

Check Your Plugs

You can get an idea of the age and condition of your wiring by inspecting the wall sockets in your house. If you notice that there are not very many plugs in each room it’s likely that the wiring is quite old. Over time our need for electrical appliances has greatly increased so having only 1 or 2 sockets per room means that they were likely installed a long time ago and might need attention. Do the sockets have a third pin for grounding? These plugs became commonplace in most american homes by the late 60s which can give you an indicator of when the wiring might have been done in your home. Additionally, look for sockets that are fitted into skirt-boards rather than the wall itself and sockets that feel hot to the touch when being used as indicators of mediocre wiring.

Check your Lights

In the same way you can get an idea of the age of the wiring from your wall sockets, your light switches can also tell a lot about the age of the wiring. If they look drastically different from what you are used to seeing they are probably very old. Keep an eye out for flickering lights which would indicate loose connections. Lastly, if your lights need to be changed more often that you think they should be it might have to do with poor wiring.

Finding one indicator of old or faulty wiring might not mean that you have to call a professional electrician. However, if you find a lot of different indicators it may be a responsible idea to have it checked out if only for peace of mind.

Although the Mayan doomsday prophecy has come unfulfilled it is never a bad idea nor too late to prepare for unforeseen emergencies. During the Cold War it was a common practice to outfit basements and bomb-shelters with a wide array of non-perishable supplies; however, this fad has worn off to some extent today. National security threats may be at a minimum but it is still a wise idea to keep an emergency shelter properly outfitted for any array of natural catastrophes that could occur. There is a wide range of potential disasters that could leave you and your family without access to electricity, outside communication, food, and water for extended periods of time and preparation is key to survival.

Food

It is important to keep a small supply of non-perishable food in your disaster kit. This can include but is not limited to canned goods, dried food, and frozen food. Keep in mind specialty dietary needs that may apply to members of your family including the very young or very old. Also, remember to keep a can opener too! Most disaster circumstances require a maximum of two weeks of sustenance so plan accordingly. High energy food such as granola bars and nuts are also a great idea. It is not important to maintain a perfectly balanced diet but including some variety will both maintain nutrition as well as morale.

Water

While humans can survive weeks without food we can only last a few days without water; so this may  be the most important thing to stock for disaster. It is recommended to have one gallon of water per person per day. Stockpile enough for your family for two weeks and you should be fine in case of an emergency situation. Make sure that the water is stored in a way so as not to be contaminated over time.

Radio

Communication with the outside world is important for alerting rescue operations or to keep informed on the situation if possible. In this modern day, usually a cell phone will suffice; but for those seeking extra preparation a radio could be of use. Remember to keep fresh batteries as well as spares. Should the situation last long enough it’s likely that cell phones will run out and will have no way to be recharged, so a radio is a good idea for extra preparation.

First-Aid

Keeping a basic first aid kit could be the difference between life and death. Unforeseen disasters can always come with unexpected injuries. Important items to keep in your first aid kit include: antiseptic ointment, bandages, pain-relievers, disposable gloves, prescription medication, antibiotics, sterile gauze, and more. An easy option is to purchase a premade first-aid kit specifically designed for such scenarios. A good idea, as well, would be to have a family member with basic emergency medical training. Sunday EMT classes can be found in almost any town or city for a very small fee.

Lastly the most important thing in any emergency situation is to keep your wits and remain calm. Panic can turn any situation into an uncontrollable disaster. Take some time with your family to practice emergency maneuvers and in case of disaster you will feel much more prepared and confident to deal with it.

Just as we did last year with our home security update guide, this January is the perfect time to upgrade your current home security measures. Make it your resolution to, this January, vow to get your home’s security in tip top share. We’ve identified a step-by-step guide to figure out if you are in need to a home security reassessment.

1. Identify the problem: look around your home and identify those entry points most likely to be used by a burglar.

• Which entrances are hidden/out of view from my neighbors?
• If I am locked out of my house, where could I get in without too much difficulty? Every door/window you list in response to these questions should be a number one priority.

2. Basic Security improvements: make some of the following very simple improvements before calling any security companies. This will save you lots of money as you go along and make sure that we’re only brought in for the things we do best (high quality security protection). Exterior doors should be strong enough to withstand excessive force.

• All exterior doors should be secured with a deadbolt lock that has a minimum one-inch throw.
• All strike plates and frames for exterior doors should be anchored to the home’s main construction.
• All exterior doors should fit snugly against the frame and all frames should be free of warping, cracks, and other signs of wear and tear.
• Solid core wood, metal or other reinforced doors, Reinforced door jams or jam braces.
• Three-inch screws, heavy-duty strike plates and tamper proof hinges.
• The main entrance door should have a doorwide-angle (180 degree)viewer/peephole.
• Sliding glass doors and windows should be secure against forcing the locks or from being lifted completely out of the frame.
• High-risk windows (basement, garage, ground-level, partially or totally secluded, latched, etc.) should be secured sufficiently enough to discourage or impede possible intrusion.
• Double-hung windows should be secured with pins or extra locks to discourage prying.
• Trees and shrubs should be trimmed to allow visibility along the perimeter (particularly entries) of the house.
• Timers (both interior and exterior) should be installed to activate lights in your absence
• All entrances (doors and windows) to your home should be well lit at night.
• Safety glass or security film on vulnerable windows.
• Motion sensor lighting, specifically directed and focused on entry points and vulnerable areas, no flood lighting and beware of light trespass.
• Your address should be posted on your house and be clearly visible from the street both night and day.

3. Install an alarm: this is where you pick up the phone and called Allied Fire and Security. We are the pros in this matter and will help you assess your homes security needs to ensure that your family and belongings are kept safe and sound.

Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be a strange and unpredictable time—for example, an epic snow storm in Seattle may hardly register in other parts of the Puget Sound because of the area’s unique weather patterns. It’s difficult to know, if, for example, you are driving through the area, whether you’re looking for sunning skies, rain, hail, or snow. This can make winter weather preparedness overwhelming but, as we like to say around here, better safe than sorry! This said, you need to take precautions to prepare yourself for the possibility of winter weather both while you are home and while you are travelling.

Plan ahead. What happens if your car is compromised by a winter storm? Say you get in an accident or you get snowed in? Make sure you have all the transit timetables for the county in case you need to travel by bus during winter weather. Identity the best route home with the fewest hills, small streets possible. Large streets, freeways and bus routes are your best bets for getting home safely.

Develop an emergency plan. If telephone lines are down, power isn’t working, and you’re having a hard time getting home, your family needs a plan of attack to ensure safety and security in a winter storm. What should each family member do in case of bad winter weather, where do you store your food, where should you go if you cannot make it home, make sure everyone has contact lists and a back-up plan.

Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlight at home in case the power fails.

Schools: Everyone loves snow days! Listen to local radio and television stations for information on school closures and schedule changes.  Please be sure to retain the snow and ice information that your local school distributes.

For a recorded message on Seattle School District schedule changes, call 206-252-0207.

Power Outages: Seattle City Light – 206-684-7400 for a recorded list of power outage areas. If your area is not listed, let City Light know.

Puget Sound Energy – 1-888-225-5773

As a homeowner, make sure that your home and the roads in front of your home are in the best condition possible to help aid in the recovery of the roads following winter weather. Additionally, make sure that you have all necessary provisions for 3 to 4 days of being “snowed in”

While it’s important to make sure you have a plan in place for safety measures while at home, it’s equally important that your workplace or your children’s school has a safety plan in place. Please note that these are just our ideas on school safety drills and procedures and you should make sure to thoughtfully consider as well as speaking to a safety specialist before implementing any drills or policies.

Shelter-in-Place

A shelter-in-place procedure is used when it is safer to keep the students inside the building rather than expose them to possible harm by allowing them to leave the building. Tornado warnings, wildfires or hurricanes may all trigger a shelter in place at schools securing the students while keeping the buildings open for entry only.

Once a shelter in place is called the school should remain in that condition until the “All Clear” is given.

Lockdown

Lockdown is intended to limit access and hazards by controlling and managing staff and students in order to increase safety and reduce possible victimization. A lockdown may be called by school officials, law enforcement agencies or other emergency responders. It may be called for a variety of reasons including: weapons, intruders, police activity in or around the school, contamination or hazardous materials or terrorist events.

The building will have restricted access until the “All Clear” is given or individuals are directed by emergency personnel or staff.

During a lockdown, staff should ensure that:

• All doors, windows, and classrooms will be locked
• Students and teachers will remain in their classrooms
• No one will be allowed to enter or leave the building
• Parents will not be allowed to pick up children from school
• Local authorities will provide assistance, if needed

Evacuation

There are two  types of evacuations used by school districts. The first is the typical on-site evacuation, where students are removed from school to a safe location on campus. This is the site used for fire drills and other evacuation drills.

The second type is off-site evacuation, where staff and students must be transported to another location for their safety. In off-site evacuation, students are removed from the school to a remote safe location.

Students should only be released from designated Reunion sites where proper accounting and out-processing can be conducted by school staff while not under the direct pressure of the incident.
What procedures do your kid’s school use for safety measures?