The fall time change, which, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, happened last night, is a great reminder to take care of some semiannual home preparation tasks.

The most obvious of these is, of course, testing your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries. But there are other important ones too, and a gloomy November day when it’s raining is the perfect time for crossing these items off your list.

Emergency Equipment

Check your flashlights, emergency radios, blood pressure monitors, thermometers, and any other battery-powered equipment. Replace batteries as needed.

Turn fire extinguishers upside down and tap them with a rubber mallet to loosen the settled chemicals; leave them upside down for a few days.

Emergency Supplies

Check expiration dates on your food, water, and medications. Use the older food or donate it to Helpline House's food bank before the food goes bad. Update your supplies as needed

Throw out canned foods that are dented, swollen, or corroded.

Inventory household chemicals and make sure they are stored safely.

Conduct a Brief Family Member Checkup

Revisit your household needs: Is anyone on new medications? Is there a new human or animal member of the household? Does anyone have any changed needs? Update your emergency kit as needed.

Review your family emergency plan. Update phone numbers, addresses, contacts, and meeting places.

Make Sure Your Home Is Earthquake Ready

Brace and bolt furniture/appliances for earthquake safety. Use earthquake putty to secure smaller items on shelves.

Review the locations of propane and water shutoff valves. Are they still accessible? Make sure toilet valve shutoffs work.

Take Care of Appliances

Clean your air dryer vents and hoses.

Replace air filters in heating systems, vacuums, and air purifiers as needed.

Prepare Your Vehicles

Make sure your vehicles are updated for the season: Add blankets, windshield scrapers/brushes, and windshield wiper fluid. Do you have chains or studded tires?

Are You Bainbridge Prepared?

Take the assessment here.

Download the Spring Forward/Fall Back Emergency Readiness Checklist here.