Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness For Apartment Dwellers In Indianapolis

Living in an apartment, you implement simple safety precautions each day, like securing your door when you leave. But you may not give as much thought to more significant hazards like natural disasters. Storms, fires, and more may strike with little warning and cause devastation. While apartments are made to endure natural forces, you still need to protect yourself. Follow this guide to learn more about emergency preparedness for apartment dwellers in Indianapolis and gain confidence in your ability to manage any urgent situation. 

Prepare Yourself For Anything With An Apartment Emergency Kit

In the event you need to shelter in place or evacuate quickly, having a well-stocked apartment emergency kit in your Indianapolis abode will make any situation easier to manage. Designate a space in your apartment to store a go-bag and additional emergency supplies like the following: 

• Flashlights

• Additional batteries 

• Weather radio 

• First aid kit and medicine 

• Wireless phone charger or power bank 

• Three days of water and non-perishable food

• Durable shoes and spare clothes 

• Children's supplies

• Pet supplies 

• Additional blankets

• Duplicates of essential documents in a sealed, waterproof bag 

How To Be Prepared For An Apartment Fire In Indianapolis

With numerous Residents in the same structure, apartment fires can become extremely deadly. Being prepared increases your probability of survival. 

Your property maintenance team should confirm that smoke alarms and fire extinguishers work in each apartment. Do not disconnect or tamper with these. Abide by community fire guidelines and abstain from using open flames inside. Don’t store things in hallways that could trip people during an evacuation. Have an exit strategy for everybody in your apartment.

If a less intense fire breaks out in your apartment, adhere to recommended guidelines for putting it out with water or a fire extinguisher. Use the extinguisher, salt, or baking soda on grease fires. 

If a fire gets big, evacuate right away. Take the stairs and the closest exit and get away from the building before you call 911. Never prop open doors; they can let in drafts that intesify the fire. Refrain from going back inside to retrieve belongings or other Residents. 

How To Take Cover In Your Apartment During A Strong Storm

The Midwest often gets numerous tornadoes annually. Strong winds and fierce thunderstorms can also be dangerous. You likely learned at a young age to shelter in a basement, but what do you do during a tornado in an apartment in Indianapolis?

The most secure spots for apartment dwellers are

• The lowest floor of an underground parking garage

• The lowest floor of your building, and away from windows

• A neighbor’s bottom-floor apartment 

• Interior stairwells or halls without windows 

• A closet or interior room of your apartment 

• Under a solid table

• Within the bathtub with a thick blanket to help protect from debris 

Wear a bicycle helmet, construction hat, or pillow on your head. Avoid standing close to windows or near hefty objects that may fall on you.

If your building experiences serious damage from heavy storms, evacuate as cautiously as you can. As you depart, be cautious of gas leaks and damaged power lines. Walk or drive to a secure location. 

Staying Safe In Your Apartment During Winter Weather

Winter weather can swiftly turn a lovely winter landscape into a dangerous situation. Pay attention to weather forecasts daily and prepare for inclement weather before it hits. Don’t stress yourself out, but collect necessities before a winter storm arrives and make a plan for keepin comfortable in your apartment. Allow water to drip from faucets to reduce the risk of frozen pipes. 

Call your emergency maintenance hotline immediately if you encounter a burst pipe or your furnace stops working during freezing temperatures. If your power and heat are lost during a winter storm, adhere to these guidelines:

• Stay indoors

• Dress in layers of warm apparel and bundle up in blankets

• Keep an eye on vulnerable individuals for frostbite or hypothermia

Never use fuel-powered appliances inside your apartment to keep warm. They give off toxic gases that collect inside.

Living With A Power Outage At Your Apartment In Indianapolis

Everybody experiences a power outage now and then. In most cases, your local power company will restore power within a couple of hours. However, a large enough natural disaster might leave you without power for many days or even weeks.

Your emergency supplies can help you get through a power outage. However, circumstances can get risky if you are without AC or heat during extreme temperatures. If this happens, vulnerable individuals should move to a building with power.

Abide By These Cooking And Food Safety Tips

Be wary of food that has spoiled. When you lose power, resist opening your refrigerator and freezer. Generally, food stays safe in a shut refrigerator for up to 4 hours and a freezer for 24-48 hours after power goes out. Use a cooler and ice if you can to maintain essential food throughout the initial day of a blackout.

Utilize these recommendations if you need to leave during a power outage at your apartment in Indianapolis:

• Switch off any appliances that might have been operating

• Ask neighbors to notify you when power is back on 

• Be alert to 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 live near a river or flood zone, you might experience a flood after severe storms or if a dam breaks. Watch for news alerts and heed evacuation orders. If you must evacuate, take these steps:

1. Disconnect all dry electrical devices.
2. Swiftly pack necessary items or retrieve your emergency go-bag.
3. Move items you want to save to higher locations.
4. Evacuate to a secure location away from the flood zone.
5. Never drive through flooded areas or walk into floodwaters.

In a worst-case scenario during rapid flooding, do everything necessary to retreat to the top story of your building or the roof.

How To React To An Earthquake In Your Apartment 

While the Midwest isn’t well known for earthquakes, we experience a bit of rattling from time to time! It’s a good idea to learn what to do if you feel an earthquake in your apartment in Indianapolis, as a precaution.

To make your unit more earthquake ready, place heavy or large belongings on lower shelves. Refrain from hanging anything substantial above your bed or seating. Secure tall furniture like bookshelves to walls.

If you notice the beginning tremors of an earthquake, drop to the floor and crawl to a door frame, below a strong furnishing, or against an interior wall. Stay clear of windows, exterior doors, light fixtures, or anything that might fall. Protect your head with one hand and hold onto something secure with the other. If you can grab a pillow, get it above your head.

When you believe the quake has ceased, check yourself and roomates for injuries. Listen to local media for directions and prepare yourself for aftershocks. Check your immediate surroundings for dangers like fire, toppled power lines, or gas leaks. Put out fires and disable the power or gas if you you are able to do so without putting yourself at risk. If there is visible building damage, evacuate your building as safely and quickly as possible.

Other Emergency Preparedness Recommendations For Apartment Residents In Indianapolis

Disasters can arise at any second. A few more recommendations can help you handle the unforeseen and remain safe:

• Rely on neighbors. Become familiar with others in your building so you have an idea who else might be home if a crisis unfolds. Discuss what supplies, safe shelter areas, or knowledge you can use in urgent situations. 

• Make sure you have renters’ insurance. 

• Do not use an elevator to evacuate during an emergency.

• Know of a safe place to bring pets if you need to evacuate to an emergency location. 

• If an emergency leaves your building unsafe, await communication from property employees before re-entering. 

• Access a portable radio or smartphone to locate local resources if you have to evacuate. 

Your Comfort And Safety Matter At StoneBridge Luxury Apartment Homes

We can’t change the weather, but we can give you an outstanding apartment lifestyle in Indianapolis! StoneBridge Luxury Apartment Homes is recognized for our sought-after amenities, terrific location, spacious floor plans, and helpful staff. Arrange a tour today and talk with one of our leasing agents about making StoneBridge your new home.