Labor Day is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the last days of summer—but it’s never too early to get refreshed on some of the home safety concerns that pop up at this time of year.

• Prepare for severe fall and winter weather. Remember that September is still Texas hurricane season. (It was two years ago on September 15 that Hurricane Ike battered Houston.)

Thankfully, North Texans are rarely hit with the hurricanes’ full force, but we can still get severe weather from outer bands of big storms. And of course tornadoes and flash floods are a threat here as well.

Here are some excellent resource pages to review or have handy:

- www.Ready.gov is the federal emergency awareness website. This page has a great overview of hurricane and storm readiness.

- A Family Emergency Kit Checklist, for the supplies that your home should have on hand in case of severe weather. Also, Martha Stewart has a great photo gallery of home safety supplies that we should all have on hand, including printable checklists.

- “Severe Thunderstorms? Delay the Game” – a Texas DPS alert about lightning risks and sports fields

• Have your heating systems inspected by a professional before you need it. Right now is the optimal time to check fireplace gas lines, thermostat, filters, have chimneys cleaned and other small maintenance tasks.

• Troubleshoot for safety risks in your fall and holiday décor. On average, a home fire caused by a burning candle is reported every 34 minutes in the US. Be aware of the fire hazards of wreaths and dried foliage. Use electrical decorations that have national safety ratings. Don’t leave decorative lights and candles burning unattended. Consider LED candles for increased safety, especially in any home with children.

• Speaking of fire safety, experts recommend that you change the battery in your smoke detectors twice a year, and the Daylight Saving Time switch is as good a time as any to do that.

• Get your kids involved in safety awareness. Download this home safety inspection checklist to perform with your kids.

• Talk to your agent about updating your property insurance. Get caught up on what exactly is covered in the case of flood, fire, or other severe weather, and make policy updates if you need to.

Home safety is one of those situations where “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Take a few minutes today to get prepared, and you can insure your family and home are prepared to handle any seasonal emergency.