Shelter & Home Security
A home that holds in bad weather.
Weather is the most common source of home damage and disruption. Wind, water, cold, and heat all test a home's physical resilience. Most of what makes a home resilient is maintenance done in advance, not emergency action during the event.
Start with weatherproofingThe case for physical readiness
Most damage is predictable. Most prevention is inexpensive.
FEMA estimates that for every dollar spent on hazard mitigation, six dollars in future disaster losses are avoided.[1] Most of that spending happens at the building level, and most of the highest-return improvements are not dramatic. They are air sealing, drainage improvements, roof maintenance, and door reinforcement.
Weather readiness is not about preparing for a specific disaster. It is about addressing the physical vulnerabilities in a home that weather of any kind will eventually find. A poorly sealed window is a heat problem in summer and a cold problem in winter. A clogged gutter is a foundation problem in rain and an ice dam problem in freeze-thaw cycles.
The guides in this section take a physical approach to the home, working through the envelope, the systems, and the specific weather conditions that are most likely to cause damage. The goal is a home that stays warm, dry, and livable longer than the surrounding average when conditions deteriorate.
What this section covers
- Air sealing, insulation, and weatherproofing the home envelope
- High-wind preparation: doors, windows, roof, and garage
- Flooding and water intrusion: drainage, basement sealing, sump pumps
- Winter home preparation: pipes, heating backup, ice management
- Extreme heat: passive cooling, shade, ventilation, and the heat plan
- Seasonal home maintenance that prevents larger failures
Guides in this section
Six guides. One for each weather challenge.
Start with weatherproofing to cover the fundamentals, then read the guide that matches your region's primary weather risk.
Weatherproofing
Air sealing, insulation, window and door performance, and drainage basics. The foundational improvements that reduce energy costs and extend how long a home stays habitable when conditions deteriorate.
Read the guide →
High winds
Reinforcing doors, windows, and the garage door against high-wind pressure. Roof attachment, tree and debris hazards, and the difference between wind mitigation and structural hardening.
Guide coming
Flooding and water intrusion
Foundation drainage, basement waterproofing, sump pumps, and what to do before a flood watch becomes a warning. The difference between surface flooding and groundwater intrusion.
Guide coming
Winter home preparation
Pipe insulation and freeze prevention, heating backup, gutter and ice dam management, and the winterization checklist that covers both daily efficiency and emergency readiness.
Guide coming
Extreme heat
Passive cooling strategies, shade and ventilation, the home heat plan, and how to identify and help the people in your household most at risk during extended heat events.
Guide coming
Seasonal home maintenance
A seasonal calendar of the maintenance tasks that prevent the failures weather eventually reveals: roof inspection, gutter cleaning, HVAC service, weatherstripping, and caulk.
Guide coming
Quick start
Three improvements with the most return.
Before reading all six guides, these three improvements address the most common sources of weather-related home damage and are within reach for most homeowners and renters.
Seal the obvious air leaks
Check weatherstripping on exterior doors, caulk around window frames, and foam-seal around pipes and wires where they enter the home. A tube of caulk and a roll of door-sweep weatherstripping cover most of what a typical home is losing. Estimated cost: $20 to $60. Impact: year-round energy savings and better temperature stability during outages.
Time: half day · Renter-friendly: mostly yes
Clean the gutters and extend the downspouts
Blocked gutters are the source of ice dams in winter, fascia rot year-round, and foundation water intrusion in heavy rain. Cleaning gutters twice a year and making sure downspouts direct water at least four feet from the foundation is among the highest-return maintenance tasks for the cost. Estimated cost: $0 to $40 in downspout extensions.
Time: 2 to 4 hours · Homeowner task
Know where the shutoffs are
Find the main water shutoff, the main electrical panel, and the gas shutoff or propane shutoff for your home. Label them. Make sure every adult in the household knows where they are and how to operate them. This costs nothing. It is the single most important piece of structural preparedness knowledge for any household.
Time: 20 minutes · Renter-friendly: yes
Connected guides
Weather readiness connects here.
Fire and Utility Safety
Utility shutoffs, generator safety, and heating equipment risks. The operational complement to structural weather readiness.
Heating During Outages
Backup heating options, fuel safety, and how to keep a home warm when the grid is down. The energy side of winter readiness.
Cooling During Outages
Keeping a home livable during summer outages. Fans, shade, and the heat protocol that protects the most vulnerable household members.
Home Repair Basics
Emergency roof tarping, plumbing basics, and the repair skills that matter most in the aftermath of a storm.
Flood Preparedness
Local risk context, evacuation decisions, and what to do when flood conditions are imminent. The hazard guide that pairs with water intrusion prevention.
Shelter & Home Security
Back to the full section. Eight content areas covering safety, security, and resilience for every home.