Looking For Protection For Your Home Against Fires And Floods? These Tech Tips Can Help.

Mark Saltzman | USA Today Special

Although Maui may be the deadliest wildfire in modern American history, natural disasters are not uncommon.

In fact, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the number and cost of weather and climate disasters are increasing exponentially due to climate change and population growth, respectively.

In 2022, 18 natural disasters in the United States caused more than $1 billion in damage each: three hurricanes (led by Hurricane Ian last fall), two hurricanes, several major hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts.

A person may feel helpless in the face of nature's wrath, but it is possible to reduce the damage to our property and, most importantly, the risk of harm to our family, and technology can help.

How can I be sure that my home is fireproof?

Especially in the case of fires, homeowners should do a home assessment to see what changes they can make to their homes to reduce the risk of fire, and there are websites and apps with listings.

General recommendations for fire prevention include cleaning roof decks and gutters regularly, checking your chimney annually, keeping plants within a few feet of your home to create a non-combustible zone, and keeping power lines away from tree branches near your home.

What is home fire safety technology?

Smoke detectors are becoming more advanced and can alert you and your family to fires, smoke, carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Firefighting equipment manufacturer Kidd says power outages from a hurricane can greatly increase the chance of a home fire or carbon monoxide poisoning from using generators. Battery powered generators can be a safer option compared to gas.

How to protect your home from flooding during hurricanes?

A homeowner can take several steps to reduce the chance of severe wind and water damage, especially in vulnerable parts of the country.

The goal is to prevent water from entering the home. So good (though not technical) advice is to secure baseboards, check gutters and downpipes for proper drainage, and seal holes, cracks, and holes.

Also use waterproof building materials for repairs, especially those involving underground basements. Make sure there is a weatherproof seal on the basement windows and the base of the basement door.

Hurricane Hillary threat: Southern California experiences its first tropical storm as Hurricane Hillary approaches.

How can technology help prevent flooding in my home?

There are a number of products that can help warn you of flood damage, including small, inexpensive sensors that you can place around your home to detect moisture and notify you via an app or smart speaker that there is a problem.

Examples include the mydlink water sensor ($80), Kidde Freeze Detector + Water Leak Detector ($45), and Moen Leak Detectors ($59 for 1 or $150 for 3).

Note These Wi-Fi connected sensors can't prevent costly water problems in your home, but they can notify you immediately of a problem to help minimize damage.

Follow Marc on Twitter for the tech tip of the day: @marc_saltzman . Write to him or subscribe to his Tech It Out podcast .

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of USA TODAY.

How do you make your home and property fireproof?