Steps after disaster
Dan
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Steps to Take After a Flood, Fire, or Other Disaster
Overview
Steps to take after a fire, flood, or other disaster.
- The first 24 hours
- Necessities
- Cautions
- Where to get help
- Recovering important records and documents
- Preparing the way for financial recovery
- If you are insured
- If you are not insured
- Unemployment, tax relief, and legal assistance
- Repairing and rebuilding your home
- The importance of maintaining routines
When a disaster damages or destroys your home or neighborhood, everything
changes. Whether it?s a flood, fire, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or
winter storm, suddenly many things don?t work and aren?t available --
food, water, electricity, refrigeration, and the ability to drive. You may
need to move quickly to obtain food, water, and shelter, avoid
unaccustomed dangers, and recover property and financial losses.
The first 24 hours
After making sure that you and those you live with are safely out of
harm's way, you should do the following:
- Make sure everyone is OK. If anyone is injured, weak, extremely
distressed, or has any other unusual symptoms, seek medical help right
away.
- Check up on your neighbors -- especially disabled persons, children who
may have been alone when the disaster struck, and elderly people who may
stay inside from fear or disability.
- If your home has been severely damaged, turn off your gas and
electricity if you can safely do so. It?s possible that your power lines
and gas lines may have sustained damage also. Let utility crews turn them
back on when they determine it?s safe.
- Don't be in any hurry to go back into your home. There are many risks,
from floors or ceilings giving way to live wires to gas leaks. Don't go in
if the gas and electricity haven?t been turned off, and don't try to turn
them back on yourself.
- Report any downed power lines or broken gas lines right away.
- Stay off the roads so emergency workers can move quickly. And stay out
of their way as they work.
- Keep listening to the radio or TV for news about what to do, where to
go, what places are dangerous (roads with fallen trees, unsafe bridges),
and how to contact the local disaster relief services, such as the
American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. Relief services can help with
such immediate needs as shelter, food, medicine, eyeglasses, and clothing.
- If there is a fire hydrant near your home, clear away any debris so the
fire department has easy access to it.
- Notify your employer if you can't get to work because of the disaster.
If you don't have phone service, use a cell phone to stay in touch with
work. 23160-1205
Steps to Take After a Flood, Fire, or Other Disaster
- If there is any damage to your property, contact your insurance agent or
company. Ask what steps you need to follow to submit a claim.
Necessities
- Water. A normally active person needs at least two quarts of water each
day, and up to twice that much in hot weather. Children, nursing mothers,
and ill people need even more. -Don?t ration water. Drink what you need,
and keep looking for more. You can minimize what you need, though, by
reducing activity and keeping cool.
-If the water supply is disrupted, you can use water from your hot-water
tank, pipes, ice cube trays, or the reservoir tank of your toilet (but not
the bowl). You can also collect rainwater and water from streams, rivers,
ponds, lakes, and natural springs. But be sure you boil any water you
drink or use for cooking.
- Don't drink floodwater, which is likely to be contaminated; water from
water beds, which has pesticides and other chemicals; or any water that is
dark, has an odor, or has any material floating in it.
- Food. You'll need to keep your strength up, so eat at least one
well-balanced meal each day.
-If your stove isn't working, you can use a fireplace (if the chimney
isn't damaged), candle warmers, chafing dishes, or fondue pots. Charcoal
grills and camp stoves should only be used outdoors, and any fire should
be outdoors. Even in an open carport, a fire can send sparks into the roof
and start a house fire.
-Canned food doesn?t need to be heated, but if you want to heat food in
the can, be sure to open the can and take off the paper label first.
- If you are without power and refrigeration, first use up perishable food
from the refrigerator, then from the freezer. Open the refrigerator or
freezer door only when absolutely necessary, as that lets in heat.
- Shelter. The American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies set up
shelters for people whose homes are destroyed or too dangerous to stay in.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can provide housing
assistance if your home was damaged or destroyed. Call 800-462-9029
(TTY/TDD: 800-4627585).
- Locating and contacting family members. The American Red Cross maintains
a database to help people find family members after a disaster. Your
family members in other cities can call their local chapters, but should
not call the chapter in the disaster area. Cautions
- Electrical lines. Don't turn the electricity back on after a flood if
the system was flooded or if you smell gas. Don't handle electrical
equipment in wet areas. Avoid puddles or other standing water -- you could
get a shock from underground or downed power lines. Assume all wires on
the ground are dangerous, including cable TV lines. If you have a
generator, be sure to use the proper size and type of power cord; never
run cords under rugs or carpets, and never connect the generator to
another power source.
- Natural gas, propane, gasoline, and other flammables. Don't turn the gas
back on after a flood. Let the utility crews handle it. Use a flashlight,
never matches or candles. Beware of leaking gas lines and propane
containers, gasoline that has leaked from vehicles, and lighter fluid or
paint thinner that has spilled.
- Carbon monoxide. Using fuel-burning devices (such as kerosene lamps,
wood stoves, fireplaces, gas-powered pumps, and generators) for indoor
cooking, heat, or light can be very dangerous. The carbon monoxide these
devices give off is invisible and odorless, but can be deadly. Provide
plenty of ventilation and watch for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:
mild headaches that persist or get worse, shortness of breath,
irritability, poor judgment, memory loss, or rapid fatigue. Never try to
heat your house with a gas stove. Never burn charcoal in the house or
garage.
- Floodwater. Stay out of floodwater, as it can be surprisingly powerful.
Water only six inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Floodwater is
highly contaminated. Don't eat or drink anything the floodwater has
touched -- throw it out.
- Unsafe buildings, roads, bridges, and sidewalks. Stay on the ground, as
structures that are still standing may fall in on you or collapse under
you. Floods can erode roads and sidewalks.
- Exposure. Watch for symptoms of frostbite -- numbness and loss of color
in the toes, fingers, nose, or ear lobes -- and hypothermia, when body
temperature drops dangerously low. Get medical help immediately. Warm the
person gently and wrap him in blankets, but don?t rub the hands, arms, or
legs, and don?t try to warm him up with coffee, tea, or alcohol. These can
actually do more harm than good.
- Animals. Disease-carrying animals and poisonous snakes may also find
themselves homeless. Avoid putting your hands or feet under debris where
an animal may be hiding and wear boots and long, heavy pants when clearing
out debris.
- The return of the disaster. Listen to radio or TV reports to be alerted
if a storm, hurricane, or flood is likely to strike again.
- Fraud and crime. Unfortunately, disasters can bring out looters and con
artists. Be careful, and keep an eye out for elderly neighbors who may be
easily conned. Be wary of people who offer to help if you don?t know them
and they aren?t part of an identifiable organization, especially if they
offer to come into your home. If your house is looted, notify the police
immediately. You may need that police report to file an insurance claim.
- Keep an eye on children at all times. Aside from all the dangers listed
above, dangerous items in your house, such as cleansers, medications, or
sharp knives, may have been knocked out of their usual places and could
get into children?s hands. Where to get help
- There are local, national, and government organizations that offer help
during emergencies and disasters:
- the American Red Cross -- contact your local chapter
-the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) -- FEMA?s helpline number
is 800-525-0321
-the Small Business Administration (SBA) -- check for the number in your
local directory
- the Salvation Army -- check for the number in your local directory
- A Disaster Recovery Center may be established in or near the community
affected by the disaster. There you can meet with representatives of
federal, state, local, and volunteer agencies.
- Local churches, service organizations (such as the Kiwanis Club, Lions,
or Knights of Columbus), large local employers, and local newspapers and
banks may offer help. Recovering important records and documents
- Move quickly to replace important documents that were lost or destroyed
-- your driver?s license, auto registration, bank books, insurance
policies, health insurance cards, credit cards, titles to deeds, stocks
and bonds, wills, and other important documents.
- Do what you can to reconstruct lost financial records. Banks, credit
card companies, and utilities may be able to provide you with some back
statements. The IRS can provide previous federal tax returns. Information
on the hard drive of a damaged computer may still be recoverable.
Preparing the way for financial recovery
- Start saving receipts for all your expenses, or at least keeping a
record of them. These will help both in filing an insurance claim and in
claiming losses when you file your income tax return.
- Make lists, as soon as possible, of all property that was damaged or
destroyed. These will prove useful for your own purposes, and essential
for filing insurance claims or seeking financial assistance. Document as
much of the damage as you can with photographs or a videotape. Include as
much of the following information as you can for each item: - brand name,
description, model, year, ID number - the place and the date or year you
bought it, and the price -any documentation such as a sales slip, canceled
check, warranty, or correspondence with the manufacturer or retailer
-description of the damage and what caused it. For example, a sofa may
have been soaked by a flood, or by water sprayed over it by firemen
putting out a fire, or by water pipes that burst due to a fire.
- any photographs that show the item before and after it was damaged
Do your best to recall everything that?s missing. Go over photos you have
taken inside your home, and ask friends and family if they have any. Draw
floor plans of each room to help you remember what items were there. You
can also jog your memory by walking down the aisles of department stores,
looking through shopping catalogues, and scanning the classified ads in
the newspaper.
- Let utility companies know if they should stop billing to your home
because it has been destroyed or you can?t live in it.
- Get in touch with creditors right away. Most will be willing to help you
get through this situation, especially if many people have been affected.
If you are insured
Your homeowner?s policy will probably cover much of your loss, but keep in
mind that policies vary. Your policy may cover these and other expenses:
damage to your home, including rental units; loss of personal possessions;
your living expenses if your house is unlivable due to damage; and rental
payments that you cannot collect due to damage.
Here are the steps you will need to take in filing a claim:
- Contact your insurance company right away. If possible, have your policy
numbers ready when you call. Find out how they want to process your claim.
They may have special procedures set up if many people were affected by
one disaster. Follow up your call with a letter, and keep a copy.
- If your home is uninhabitable, find out if your insurance company will
pay for living expenses. If so, ask if this will reduce the amount you
ultimately receive for damages.
- Begin salvaging. Don?t wait for the agent or claims adjuster, but do
take photos. Keep damaged materials as proof of loss.
- File your claim. Do it as quickly as possible, as claims are generally
handled in the order received. File a claim even if you are not
specifically covered for this type of disaster, as you may be covered for
secondary effects, such as the fire and water damage that often result
from an earthquake.
- Make it easy for the insurance company personnel to find you and your
property. Leave phone numbers where claims adjusters can reach you.
- Work with claims adjusters. Provide them with your list of damages, and
note if the list isn?t complete. Take notes on all conversations with the
adjuster, and write follow-up letters to the company to confirm what was
said. Find out what your neighbors? adjusters are saying, but keep in mind
that your policies may differ.
- Consider bringing in additional or independent adjusters if you are not
satisfied with your insurance company?s damage estimates. But remember
that these measures will delay settlement and cost you extra money.
- Settle the claim, but don?t be in too big a hurry to do so, and don?t
accept settlement checks as final. You may need to file additional claims
later, for example, if your house is looted. If you are not insured
Loans and grants may be available from FEMA and the Small Business
Administration (SBA). FEMA and SBA are the main organizations that help
uninsured and underinsured homeowners and renters when a federal disaster
has been declared. FEMA makes grants and SBA offers loans. Relief aid is
also available from your local city or county government, private lenders,
American Red Cross disaster relief, and other volunteer organizations.
Watch TV or read the newspaper for announcements of available aid, such as
the following:
- Red Cross assistance for immediate repairs and living expenses when no
other immediate assistance is available.
- Small Business Administration loans for rehabilitation of homes and
small businesses. Interest rates are moderate.
- Commercial and Federal land bank loans with moderately low interest
rates, for repairs and improvements.
- Long-term loans from insurance companies, at relatively high interest
rates, for repair and improvements. Unemployment, tax relief, and legal
assistance
- Unemployment benefits. If you lose your job due to a disaster and are
not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance compensation, you can
apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Call 800-462-9029 (TTY/TDD:
800-462-7585) or your local unemployment office.
- Tax relief. You may be eligible for significant tax deductions or
refunds. The rules are complicated, so it?s a good idea to work with a tax
adviser or other qualified professional.
- Legal aid. Low-income people can receive free legal counseling from
local members of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Call
312988-5522. Repairing and rebuilding your home
- If you have to leave your home, let the local police know it will be
unoccupied. You may want to secure your home to avoid vandalism or looting
by boarding up the windows.
- Let others know where you will be if you have to leave your home. Let
your family and friends, insurance company, mortgage company, employer,
post office, delivery services, fire and police departments, utility
companies, and your children?s schools know where you will be.
- If it?s safe to go back in your home, try to collect necessities and
important papers -- insurance information, medication, eyeglasses, hearing
aids, and valuables such as credit cards, bank books, cash, and jewelry.
You may want to save important documents from your computer onto diskettes
(if the power is on and it won?t take too long).
- Salvage what you can. Professional fire and water damage restoration
businesses can help, but check with your insurance company to see who?ll
be paying for these services. Don?t throw away damaged goods until you?ve
made a complete inventory. If you need to get rid of something that?s
dangerous or in the way, make a record of it.
- Make necessary immediate repairs. To prevent further damage, you may
need to patch the roof, board up windows, or tear down a damaged chimney.
The Red Cross and other volunteer organizations may be able to help you
obtain materials or provide volunteers to help with the work.
- Find a reputable contractor. Get several estimates, compare notes with
neighbors, and check the credentials of any contractors you are
considering. Get contracts in writing and make sure repairs will be done
according to local building codes.
- Rebuild. Don?t pay more than 20 percent down. You can then pay
periodically as the work progresses. Don?t make your final payment until
the job is done and you are satisfied with it. Don?t sign over an
insurance settlement check to a contractor. The importance of maintaining
routines
When so much of your everyday life has been disrupted, it is especially
helpful to maintain as much of a normal routine as possible. This is worth
some extra effort, because maintaining order and routines helps you deal
more effectively with all the work of recovering from a disaster.
- Make sure your child gets to school (if it?s open) and keeps up with
homework.
- Have meals together as a family.
- Find time to be together. Watch a TV show together, listen to a favorite
radio program, do the daily crossword puzzle, or get together with
friends. ? List important jobs and chores, get them done, and then check
them off your list. As you return to familiar routines, you?ll start to
feel that life is returning to normal once again.
2000, 2005 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.
This article is an example of the information offered through Ceridian?s Work Life and EAP Services.
Ceridian is making the article available as a public service. It may be copied and distributed to anyone
affected by a natural disaster.
marika
> I got this from work during the California fires.
i know you were talking about california, as you said in your post---
"california"
>Hope it helps someone.
that's how i could tell you were talking about california, cos you
said california
> stay inside fromfearor disability.
> - If your home has been severely damaged, turn off your gas and
> electricity if you can safely do so. It?s possible that your power lines
> and gas lines may have sustained damage also. Let utility crews turn thembackon when they determine it?s safe.
> - Don't be in any hurry to gobackinto your home. There are many risks,
> from floors or ceilings giving way to live wires to gas leaks. Don't go in
> if the gas and electricity haven?t been turned off, and don't try to turn
> thembackon yourself.
> - Report any downed power lines or broken gas lines right away.
> - Stay off the roads so emergency workers can move quickly. And stay out
> of their way as they work.
> - Keep listening to the radio or TV for news about what to do, where to
> go, what places are dangerous (roads with fallen trees, unsafe bridges),
> and how to contact the local disaster relief services, such as the
> American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.
however, at about 7 pm, last year, the news started screaming about
Pyong Yang
having tested another nuclear bomb
would this list have been useful then?
> - Electrical lines. Don't turn the electricitybackon after a flood if
> the system was flooded or if you smell gas. Don't handle electrical
> equipment in wet areas. Avoid puddles or other standing water -- you could
> get a shock from underground or downed power lines. Assume all wires on
> the ground are dangerous, including cable TV lines. If you have a
> generator, be sure to use the proper size and type of power cord; never
> run cords under rugs or carpets, and never connect the generator to
> another power source.
>
> - Natural gas, propane, gasoline, and other flammables. Don't turn the gasbackon after a flood. Let the utility crews handle it. Use a flashlight,
I guess tv watching does help in a disaster
About an hour later, the Japanese came on and apologized about making
everyone overreaact
mk5000
"Hmm. There are also people who are "transformed" by finding
neopaganism. I'm
not sure it's christianity which is the defining factor there, but a
way of
making sense of the world which suits that particular individual.
Salvation
theology is not a part of Wicca, for instance, but Wicca and
Christianity
are equally valid. "--jani