Home Hardening by Threat Type

List threats relevant to your location: hurricane, earthquake, flooding, burglary, civil unrest, or blast proximity. Document your home's current vulnerabilities. This determines which hardening measures matter most.

Install solid core or metal doors. Upgrade strike plates to 3-inch screws through frame into studs. Add deadbolts.

For burglary/forced entry: Focus on lock quality and frame strength.

For hurricane/wind: Reinforce doors and check frame integrity.

For blast: Solid core doors provide some overpressure resistance. Interior doors to safe room must be solid and well-fitted.

For hurricane/wind: Install storm shutters or impact-resistant film. Use rated mounting hardware.

For burglary: Add locks, bars, or grilles on ground level. Security film slows forced entry.

For blast: Impact film reduces flying glass injuries. Avoid large window areas in safe room.

Choose a small interior room without windows—bathroom, closet, or interior bedroom. Stock with water, first aid kit, medications, battery radio, phone charger, and crowbar. Install interior lock. Mark clearly and test access monthly. For blast threats, choose rooms with solid walls (kitchen or bathroom offer better protection).

Gas: Shutoff valve is near the meter. Obtain correct wrench size beforehand. Only trained personnel relight the system.

Water: Main shutoff stops all flow. Mark location clearly.

Electric: Main breaker panel kills power. Label breakers or photograph the layout. Practice operation in daylight.

Mount ABC-rated extinguishers in kitchen, garage, and near safe room. Mount at eye level. Teach all household members PASS: Pull pin, Aim low, Squeeze trigger, Sweep side-to-side. Replace or recharge annually and after any use.

From each room, identify two exits—one door, one window. Test windows for full opening and clear ground access. Install escape ladders on upper floors. Create household map showing all routes. Post near sleeping areas.

Practice evacuation routes monthly, timed. Test safe room lockdown. Everyone knows utility shutoff location and operation. Assign roles: who grabs pets, medications, documents. Drill both day and night. Update plan when household composition or home layout changes.