Use caution when returning to your neighborhood and home. Return
during the day, never at night. Watch out for safety risks as you
drive and walk around. Debris-filled streets may be hazardous. Be
cautious of animals and snakes. Leave young children with a friend
or relative. If they must come with you, watch them at all times.
Do not leave children unattended in a disaster area.
| Follow Instructions |
- Cooperate fully with local authorities and rescue personnel.
- Do not return to your area until authorities say it is safe.
- Do not enter your home or apartment if:
- A building inspector has placed a color coded sign on the structure.
- Colored tape blocks doors or windows.
- Flood waters remain around the building.
- You smell gas or hear a hissing sound.
|
| Use Caution |
- Have a professional inspect your home if you have any doubts about its safety.
- Leave immediately if you smell fumes from spilled household chemicals.
- Stay away from damaged electrical wires.
- Turn off the main water valve if pipes are damaged.
- Do not use water until local authorities confirm it is uncontaminated.
|
| Begin Cleanup |
- Wear protective clothing such as sturdy shoes, rubber gloves and a mask.
- Take steps to have rodents, snakes and insects removed from your home.
- Discard food, medicines and other supplies exposed to floodwaters, heat or smoke.
- Pump out a flooded basement slowly (no more than 1/3 of the water daily) to avoid damage.
- Begin cleaning and disinfecting everything that is wet. Mud and
floodwater debris can contain sewage and chemicals.
|
Assess Damages
List all damaged or destroyed property.
- Be specific, noting the date purchased, original cost, brand name, model or
serial number and current value.
- Describe damages and how they occurred.
- Photograph or video damages.
- Locate receipts, credit card statements, canceled checks or monthly
bank statements showing the value of lost or broken possessions if possible.
- Keep receipts and records of disaster-related expenses, such as
repairs, lodging and supplies. These will help when filing an
insurance claim and claiming losses on your federal income tax return.
- Make copies for your insurer and for your own files.
Use the Damage Assessment Checklist
to keep track of items needing repair or replacement.
Structural Damage
- Ask your insurance provider to send an adjuster to assess damage to your home.
- Check outside your home for cracks in the foundation or chimney and for
sagging in the roof.
- Do not force a door open if it is jammed. It may be supporting your home’s structure.
- Check ceilings and floors for signs of sagging. Do not walk under or over these areas.
- Avoid pushing or leaning against damaged walls, columns or other building parts.
- Do not lean on damaged furnishings, which may be unstable.
- Watch for falling objects when opening cabinets, closets and storage units.
Utilities
| Telephones
|
- Immediately following a disaster, use the phone only to report
life-threatening emergencies.
- If others in your neighborhood have phone service and you do not,
use a neighbor’s phone or cell phone to report the issue.
|
| Electrical
|
- Do not enter standing water to access the electric panel. Call a qualified electrician for help.
- When restoring power, turn breakers on one at a time. Turn breakers back off
if you smell a burning odor or see frayed wiring or sparks.
|
Plumbing
|
- Turn off the main water valve if pipes are damaged. Call a plumber for help.
- Listen to local news reports for water safety information.
- If water is not safe to use, drink bottled water from a safe source.
- Follow local instructions for boiling or disinfecting water for
cooking, cleaning or bathing.
|
Appliances
- Unplug appliances and check for water damage.
- Dry wet appliances completely before using them.
- Check appliances for broken connections.
- Ask a professional to repair appliances as needed.
Safe Generator Use
- Consult your utility company before using a power generator.
- Never operate a portable generator indoors — not even in a garage,
carport, basement, crawlspace or any enclosed or partially enclosed area.
- Place the generator away from windows, doors or other areas that could allow
carbon monoxide (CO) to seep indoors.
- Install battery-operated CO alarms or electric alarms with battery backups.
- Do not connect a generator to your home’s electrical circuits without an approved,
automatic-interrupt device.
- Make sure the cords connected to the generator are appropriately
rated for the electrical load.
- Never refuel a generator while it is operating.
- If a generator is on line when electrical service is restored, it
can become a major fire hazard.
- Improperly connecting a generator to your home’s electrical circuits
may endanger workers restoring power in your area.
Locate Important Documents
Retrieve important financial, insurance and legal documents — as well as hard
copies of important online documents — from a safe deposit box or your
financial institution.
You may need some or all of the following when filing insurance claims,
paying bills, obtaining health care or handling other disaster-related
responsibilities.
- Driver’s license
- Proof of address (utility bill)
- Vehicle registration
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Power of attorney
- Military records
|
- ATM or debit card
- Bank statement
- Health insurance cards
- Will
- Trust documents
- Social Security card
|
If some or all of these documents have been destroyed, do not worry.
Most can be recovered through your financial institution, credit
card company, utility companies and local, state and federal
government offices.
Financial Matters
Avoid making major financial decisions while you and your family
are recovering from disaster. The following steps can help
with immediate financial concerns.
Request Emergency Financial Assistance
Listen for public service announcements to direct you
to sources of emergency financial assistance. Generally,
this money is not taxable for federal income tax purposes.
Contact Your Employer
Some companies provide emergency funds for employees affected
by disaster. Ask about your employer’s leave policy and how
time off may affect your employee benefits.
Stop Bills
Notify utility and other service companies if you cannot
live in your home. Ask them to stop billing. Ask them to waive
connection charges if you are transferring service to a new location.
Pay Insurance Premiums
Do not stop paying insurance premiums, which could delay
needed support or disqualify you from receiving it.
Contact Lenders
Ask creditors such as your mortgage company for more time
to pay, if needed. Notify them before payment is due.
|
A financial planning professional can help you develop a
comprehensive financial disaster recovery plan.
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