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Your Guide To Emergency Preparedness For Apartment Dwellers In Westfield

October 14, 2025
A birdeye view of The Edge apartments

Residing in an apartment, you implement general safety precautions every day, like securing your door when you go out. But you might not give as much consideration to major risks like natural disasters. Storms, fires, and more can strike with minimal warning and lead to devastation. While apartments are constructed to withstand natural elements, you still must protect yourself. Consult this guide to discover more about emergency preparedness for apartment dwellers in Westfield and gain confidence in your ability to handle any urgent situation. 

Prepare Yourself For Anything With An Apartment Emergency Kit

An in-unit apartment laundry room with laundry machines and a shelf

In the event you need to shelter where you are or evacuate quickly, having a well-prepared apartment emergency kit in your Westfield abode will make any situation a little easier. Determine an area in your apartment to store a go-bag and additional emergency supplies including: 

  • Flashlights
  • Extra batteries 
  • Weather radio 
  • First aid kit and vital medications 
  • Power bank or wireless charger 
  • Water and non-perishable, no-cook food for three days
  • Supportive shoes and extra clothes 
  • Children's supplies
  • Extra blankets
  • Copies of important documents in a plastic bag 

How To Be Ready For An Apartment Fire In Westfield

 Stairs in a modern apartment

With numerous Residents in a single structure, apartment fires can become particularly destructive. Taking precautions increases your chances of survival. 

Your apartment maintenance team should confirm that fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are functional in every apartment. Do not disable these. Adhere to community fire guidelines and abstain from using open flames indoors. Avoid keeping belongings in hallways that may injure people during an evacuation. Design an escape plan for your household.

If a less intense fire occurs in your apartment, follow standard guidelines for putting it out with water or a fire extinguisher. When faced with a grease fire, employ baking soda, the extinguisher, or salt. 

If a fire spreads, evacuate immediately. Use the stairs and the closest exit and move away from the building before you call 911. Never prop open doors; they will bring in drafts that help spread fire. Avoid going back in to collect things or other Residents. 

How To Stay Protected In Your Apartment During A Strong Storm

A bathroom with a shower

The Midwest often gets dozens of tornadoes annually. Strong winds and intense thunderstorms can also be dangerous. You may have learned at an early age to shelter in a basement, but what do you do during a tornado in an apartment in Westfield?

The most secure spots for apartment Residents are

  • The bottom floor of an underground parking garage
  • The lowest floor of your building, and away from windows
  • A neighbor’s ground-floor apartment 
  • Interior stairwells or halls without windows 
  • An interior room or closet of your apartment 
  • Below a sturdy table
  • Within the bathtub with a thick blanket for protection 

Wear a bike helmet, construction hat, or pillow on your head. Never stand by windows or around large objects that may fall on you.

If your building experiences severe damage from heavy storms, evacuate as cautiously as you can. As you depart, watch out for damaged power lines and gas leaks. Drive or walk to a secure location. 

How To Stay Protected In Your Apartment During Winter Weather

Winter weather can quickly turn a winter wonderland into a dangerous situation. Monitor weather forecasts daily and prepare for inclement weather before it hits. Don’t get stressed out, but gather essential items before a severe weather arrives and have a plan for staying warm in your apartment. Let water drip from faucets to help prevent pipes from freezing. 

Dial your emergency maintenance number promptly if your furnace stops working or you have a burst pipe during freezing temperatures. If you lose heat and power during an ice or snow storm, follow these guidelines:

  • Stay inside
  • Wear layers of warm clothes and cover yourself in blankets
  • Monitor susceptible individuals for frostbite or hypothermia

Avoid using fuel-powered appliances inside your apartment to keep warm. They give off dangerous gases that build up inside.

Dealing With A Power Outage At Your Apartment In Westfield

A modern apartment kitchen

Everyone deals with a power outage occasionally. In most cases, your local utility company will bring back power within a few hours. With that being said, a large enough natural disaster may leave you without power for several days or longer.

Your emergency kit can help you navigate a power outage. But, conditions can get risky if you lack heat or AC during severe temperatures. In this case, at-risk individuals should move to a location with power.

Follow These Food Safety And Cooking Tips

be cautious about food that has gone bad. When you lose power, resist opening your refrigerator and freezer. As a general rule, food remains safe in a shut refrigerator for up to 4 hours and a freezer for 24-48 hours after losing power. Use a cooler with ice if you can to keep essential food cool over the first day of a blackout.

Utilize these guidelines if you need to leave during a power failure at your apartment in Westfield:

  • Turn off any appliances that may have been on
  • Ask neighbors to notify you when power is restored 
  • Watch for downed power lines as you depart and call the utility company to report them

What To Do If Your Apartment Floods In Westfield

If you are located near a flood zone or river, you may face flooding after heavy rainfall or if a dam fails. Watch the news for updates and follow any orders for evacuation. If you must evacuate, follow these steps:

  1. Disconnect all dry electrical components.
  2. Quickly collect necessary items or get your emergency go-bag.
  3. Move belongings you wish to save to higher spots.
  4. Evacuate to a secure location on higher ground.
  5. Avoid driving through flooded areas or step into floodwaters.

In an extreme emergency during flash flooding, do all you can to make your way to the top story of your building or the roof.

What To Do If There’s An Earthquake In Your Apartment 

An apartment bedroom view showing two doorways

While the Midwest isn’t hotbed for earthquakes, you might feel a little shake from time to time! It’s a good idea to understand what to do if you have an earthquake in your apartment in Westfield, as a precaution.

To make your unit more prepared for an earthquake, stow large or heavy items on bottom shelves. Don’t hang anything heavy above beds or sitting areas. Fasten tall furniture like display cabinets to walls.

If you feel the beginning rattles of an earthquake, go to the ground and crawl to a door frame, against an interior wall or under a solid furnishing. Stay clear of windows, exterior doors, light fixtures, or anything that could fall. Protect your head with one hand and clutch onto something secure with the other. If you can reach a pillow, get it over your head.

Whenever you feel the rattling has ended, examine yourself and roomates for injuries. Listen to local news outlets for guidance and prepare yourself for aftershocks. Inspect your nearby surroundings for risks like gas leaks, fires, or damaged electrical lines. Extinguish fires and turn off the power or gas if you you can do so without putting yourself at risk. If you see damage to your building, evacuate your building as cautiously and quickly as possible.

Additional Emergency Preparedness Recommendations For Apartment Residents In Westfield

Disaster can arise at any moment. A few additional tips can help you manage the unanticipated and stay protected:

  • Connect with neighbors. Get acquainted with those in your building so you’re aware who else might be around if a crisis unfolds. Discuss what supplies, secure shelter locations, or skills you can use in urgent situations. 
  • Make sure you carry renters’ insurance. 
  • Do not use an elevator to evacuate during a crisis.
  • Have a safe spot to bring pets if you have to evacuate to an emergency location. 
  • If a disaster makes your building unsafe, wait for communication from property management before re-entering. 

Your Comfort And Safety Are A Priority At Union Street Flats

We can’t change the weather, but we can give you an incredible apartment living experience in Westfield! Union Street Flats is noted for our open apartments, popular amenities, fantastic location, and helpful staff. Schedule a tour today and talk with one of our leasing specialists about making Union Street Flats your future home.