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Monday, September 26, 2011 

Photo: FEMA

September is National Preparedness Month, and the past month has underscored the importance of rain, and the destruction caused by too little or too much of it. In Vermont, where the CERF+ office is located, we are dealing with the aftermath of unprecedented flooding that came with Hurricane Irene. Just like the many other floods we see, most people did not have flood insurance on their homes and businesses. Many people are learning the painful fact that homeowners and business insurance does not cover "rising water."

While the East Coast was being washed away, the wildfires in bone-dry Central Texas intensified. We tend to think of wildfires as striking areas in the west that have a "wildfire season." But, the fact is that a wildfire can strike anyplace that has abundant fuel and too little rain. Many artists live in idyllic rural settings that are particularly vulnerable to fire. Even if you don't live in a fire-prone area, some of these tips can help you think about how to protect your property from a fire in an adjacent building:

• Create safety zone of at least 30 feet around your studio and home, by removing and reducing highly flammable vegetation.

• Remove debris from locations close to structures.

• Enclose all eaves.

• Use fire-resistant siding and safety-glass windows and doors.

• Use non-combustible materials for your roof.

• Develop an external water supply — such as a small pond, well or pool. 

We have just added a page with more tips and resources for wildfire planning on www.studioprotector.org, and a page of Recent Disaster Emergency  Response Information on www.craftemergency.org.

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