Best Strategies to Protect Your Home & Loved Ones
During times of disaster, whatever the cause, we must prepare not only for our basic needs but also for our safety, when the emergency response system may very well be overwhelmed. The bigger the disaster, the slower the response time. Criminals know this and may take advantage of it.
Protecting Your Home
In times of crisis, it’s crucial to prepare for potential violence as desperation can sometimes lead people to act out of character. When resources become scarce and survival instincts kick in, societal norms can break down, leading to increased instances of violence. Prepare your home now to avoid possible crime, violence, looting, and even home invasion.
Unless you are told to get out, the safest bet is for you to stay home and out of the way. The decision to stay home brings two responsibilities: protecting your family and your home. By preparing in advance, individuals can ensure their safety and the well-being of their loved ones.
It’s important to remember that preparation is not about fostering fear but promoting resilience and readiness in the face of adversity.
Protecting Your Home
Protect your home using security layers
Criminals look for and will concentrate on accessible targets. You want to make breaking into your home difficult. Designing a home defense system that includes multiple security layers is a proactive way to protect your home, family, and belongings. Security layers are preventative measures designed to deter intruders from targeting your home.
Layer 1 - Outside
This layer comprises the exterior of your home.
Layer 2 - Inside
This layer comprises the interior of your home.
Layer 3 - Personal
This layer focuses on each member of the family.
Protecting Your Home
Outer Perimeter of Your Home
This layer comprises the outer perimeter of your home, the landscaping, and security features (e.g., floodlights, motion detectors, gates, doors, and locks). Walk around your home to identify vulnerable entry points; making adjustments can significantly enhance your home's security.
Plant vulnerable areas around windows and along fences with inhospitable plants
While making your property beautiful, incorporate thorn-bearing plants—such as rosebushes, bougainvillea, or blackberry vines—around windows and along fences to deter intruders and make access more difficult.
Keep your outdoor areas well-trimmed
Trim shrubs that are close to the house so that strangers cannot hide behind them. Make sure the perimeter of your home and property is clear of hiding places.
Fence your entire property
Not all properties allow fencing, but if yours does, install a fence around your entire property to deter unauthorized access.
Lock your gate
If you fence all or part of your property, you will most likely have a gate. Secure your gate with a combination or key lock, and remember to keep spare keys in a secure, separate location.
Light your property at night
There are many options with varying prices: motion sensor-activated infrared floodlights can illuminate your home and property all night or be set to go off with a timer, then reactivate upon any outside movement; solar garden lights charge up during the day and shine at night.
Porch lights
Use a porch light with a dawn-to-dusk timer or one that is motion-activated. Either way, the light will be on when a person walks up to your door.
Exterior cameras
Lights can be placed at entry points and around your property’s exterior. These motion-activated cameras help identify and discourage would-be intruders.
Spare keys
A spare key should never be left hidden under a doormat, a rock, a flowerpot, or a magnetic key holder placed under a car. Use a coded key vault instead.
Shatterproof window film
Place a shatterproof window film on the exterior of your window.
Advertise your alarm system
Place stickers on windows and signs in your yard.
Place a stop on mail and newspaper delivery
Don’t allow your mail and newspapers to pile up. This only alerts thieves that you aren’t home.
Tell a neighbor
If you have a neighbor you know you can trust, let them know when you are leaving town and ask if they keep an eye on your home and report and suspicious activity. You can return the favor.
Protecting Your Home
Interior of Your Home
This layer is comprised of the interior of your home. There are many steps you can take inside that will help protect your home and your family.
Beef up exterior doors and door frames
- Best doors are made of solid steel with a solid core and reinforced steel frame. These are very difficult to breach.
- Install 1-inch to 1.5-inch deadbolt locks.
- Consider multiple locking mechanisms.
- For glass doors, install a double-cylinder lock to reinforce its strength.
- Each door should have a peephole.
Reinforce all windows near door locks
- It’s very easy for a thief to break a window, reach in, and unlock the door from inside. Reinforce these windows to make unauthorized entry more difficult.
Install an alarm system
- An effective system monitor should include window entry sensors with anti-lift devices.
- Have a thorough knowledge of how this system works, including the panic code on the keypad.
- Set the alarm when you sleep.
Wireless Motion Sensors
- These are battery-operated devices that attach to the door.
- It allows you to have the alarm system off and still be notified when the door opens.
- Its loud noise is very helpful for those watching children or Alzheimer patients, etc., who know how to unlock doors and want to get outside.
Keep curtains closed at night
- While you can’t see out, people can see in if your curtains remain open.
- Set a specific time each night, perhaps at dusk, to close all curtains throughout the house.
Secure sliding glass doors
- Place a pipe, metal bar, or piece of wood on your door track.
- These items should be cut to match the length of the door track minus a few inches.
Set a timer for lights
- Set a timer for lights (and TV if you wish) to go on and off at programmed times to give the appearance that someone is home.
Keep your valuables away from windows
- Avoid placing purses, car keys, money, or jewelry in plain sight near windows, as this may encourage theft.
Consider a Safe Room
If someone breaks in while you are home, it’s important to have a place to go until help arrives. Replace this room’s door and frame with an exterior-grade door and a reinforced frame. This room should have both a phone and a method of self-defense.
Protecting Your Home
Each Family Member
This layer focuses on what each family member can do to protect themselves and those they love. All family members, including children, should actively participate.
Be observant of your surroundings
- When leaving and arriving home.
- Be aware of suspicious activity.
Be wary of people that come to your door
- Whether they are strangers, delivery people, or even officers of the law, if they are unexpected, you need to be alert. Be cautious, as such visits can sometimes precede home invasions.
- People can still be mugged, burglarized, and attacked simply by opening the door to a stranger.
- When in doubt, do not open the door—verify their identity by asking for IDs and confirming their legitimacy before letting them in.
Teach children to
- Never open the door to strangers.
- Not be easily persuaded by individuals who appear professional or carry badges.
- Call for help if a parent is not home.
- Call 911 and know when to call other emergency numbers that have been posted.
Create a home invasion protocol
- Educate your family on a specific home invasion protocol, including how to respond and where to go for safety.
- Ensure everyone knows how to use the security alarm and panic button.
- Teach what actions to take if an intruder enters the house.
- Develop a well-planned escape route for an emergency exit if needed.
Choose a weapon for self-defense and know how to use it
Picking the right self-defense tool is a big deal when it comes to keeping yourself and your home safe. While some people prefer firearms*, there are plenty of non-lethal options that can give you solid protection without the legal and ethical headaches that come with using deadly force.
Consider tools such as a Byrna Launcher, pepper spray, stun guns, batons, or personal alarms, all of which can incapacitate a threat without causing permanent harm. Byrna Launchers, for example, fire kinetic or chemical irritant rounds that can disorient and deter an attacker, making them an excellent choice for home and personal defense.
Regardless of the tool you choose, proper training and familiarity are key. Knowing how to operate it properly, store it safely, and react under pressure can make a significant difference in an emergency.
*If firearms are part of your security plan, make sure you understand your state’s gun laws, permit requirements, and safe handling protocols.Sign up for a self-defense course
- Martial arts can provide a strong level of self-defense for family members old enough to learn.
- There are many styles to choose from, including Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Wushu, and Mixed Martial Arts, each offering unique techniques suited for different self-defense scenarios.
- Select a course that best suits your family’s needs, whether it’s practical street defense, physical conditioning, or traditional martial arts philosophy.
- Consider making it a family activity, turning training into a fun and empowering experience that strengthens skills while creating valuable family time.
Know your neighbors
Building relationships with your neighbors is more than just being friendly—it’s a key part of keeping your home and community safe. Even brief interactions can establish trust, making it easier to look out for one another. If they notice anything unusual, they can alert you—and vice versa.
Consider taking it a step further by starting a Neighborhood Watch program. These programs bring neighbors together to share safety tips, report suspicious activities, and collaborate with local law enforcement. Studies show that communities with active Neighborhood Watch groups experience lower crime rates and a stronger sense of security.
A Neighborhood Watch can be as simple as a group chat for quick alerts or as organized as regular meetings with local police to discuss crime prevention strategies. The goal is to create a network where neighbors feel empowered to protect their community.
Zip Your Lips
Keep your emergency preparedness actions confidential. Do not advertise the specific measures you are taking to protect your family outside your immediate circle. While it’s beneficial to encourage others to get prepared, keeping your plans private is a key safety precaution.