Natural Disaster Planning

Prepare for your next natural disaster project by discovering our planning ideas & tips.

Photo of a flood encroaching on a home. Preparing for a flood can prevent your house from damage.

Natural Disasters

How to Prepare for a Flood

Discover essential steps to prepare for a flood and learn ways to flood-proof your home to protect your loved ones and personal property from harm.

Holiday Home Disasters Most Likely to Occur in Your State

Are you curious about holiday home disasters in your state? Read our analysis of the most popular states for common disasters and helpful tips for prevention.

How to Wire a Portable Generator

Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman explains a few different methods for hooking up a portable generator to a house.

How to Prepare for Storms and Natural Disasters

Be prepared to protect your family and your home when disaster strikes.

How to Safeguard Your House from Wildfires

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor learns about ways to make a home more resistant to wildfires.

How to Retrofit a Home for an Earthquake

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor travels to Portland, Oregon to learn how to protect homes from earthquakes.

How to Install Whole House Lightning Protection

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook travels to central Florida to install a lightning protection system

3 Things to Do Before a Storm

Do these simple tasks before severe weather hits to help minimize or even prevent costly damage to your home

House with a Battery Backup System with Lower Level Lights On

Whole-House Battery Backup

Home battery backup systems could be part of our energy future. Learn more about how they work, their cost, and what benefits they bring.

How to Prevent Plumbing Leaks Automatically

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates a wireless detector that can shut off the water in case of a flood.

Understanding the Dangers of Home Fires

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor visits Underwriters Laboratories outside of Chicago to see first hand how dangerous fires can be.

Disaster Supply Kit: How to Prepare for Severe Weather

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor and Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel discuss how to prepare for the next big storm and list out what severe weather supplies you’ll need.

14 Supplies to Help You Prepare for a Blizzard

What you need to prepare for a snowstorm so you have the essentials before, during, and after an emergency strikes.

Dealing with Household Disasters

Floods happen. So do collapsed ceilings, trapped critters, and smoke-belching fireplaces. But with our homeowner survival tips, you'll know just what to do when trouble strikes

How to Build a Fireproof Home Using ICF Blocks

Insulated concrete forms—combined with flame-resistant roofing and siding—make for one safe house.

A house that has a driveway blocked due to storm damage

Tips for Protecting Your Home From a Hurricane

With the possibility of 74+ mph winds, a hurricane can cause a lot of damage. Roofing, siding, and outdoor furniture are all vulnerable, but so are interior living spaces without the key precautions. Rest assured, you can limit chances of harm and learn how to protect your home from storm damage with this hurricane preparation checklist.