A strike plate with 3 inch screws bites the stud, not the trim
Plus: the gas pumps and the water plant go dark on the same lines you do.
Issue #036 Monday, September 14, 2026 Home Safety
Your deadbolt is hardened steel. The strip of wood it slams into is often quarter inch trim held by screws shorter than your thumbnail.
Today’s Skill
Stud, not trim
Open your front door and look at the strike plate, the metal piece the bolt drops into. Pull one screw. If it is three quarters of an inch, it holds trim and nothing else. Replace every screw in that plate with three inch wood screws that reach the framing stud behind the jamb. Do the same on both hinges. Ten dollars of hardware, twenty minutes, and the jamb stops being the weak point.
On The Radar
Wind inland, lights out
Mid September is the peak of hurricane season on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and the wind does not stop at the shoreline. Inland, remnant storms drop trees on distribution lines and outages run days, not hours. Water plants and gas pumps sit on the same grid. Fill the tank at half instead of quarter, store three days of water per person, and top off your phone bank before the forecast turns.
The Drill
The dark walk, tonight
After full dark tonight, step outside and walk a slow lap around your house. Note every approach a person could use without crossing light. Aim one existing fixture at that spot or add a motion light this week. Then call one neighbor and trade cell numbers. Ask them to call you if they see a door open that should not be.
Ready beats lucky.
- Survival Rise
P.S. Tomorrow: the three things in your pantry that quietly expire before the label says so.