In The Wake of Irene....

With Hurricane Irene expected to slam the US mainland this weekend as a Category 3 or 4 storm, it goes without saying the damage left in her wake will be considerable.  Residents will no doubt be displaced, and will find themselves coming home to property that has been either seriously damaged or destroyed.  It becomes imperative to know what to do and how to respond in the wake of such a disaster.

Some basics for post hurricane activities:

Do not return to your home until the all clear has been given by federal and local authorities.  There may be dangers presented by flood waters or downed power lines.  Wait until official word comes down before making any attempt to go home.

Keep the radio on.  Conditions and situations may still changes rapidly in the wake of a major storm, and you want to be aware of them.  You can also find information about medical shelters, financial assistance, etc.

Don’t find yourself just hanging out.  Scenarios such as this do not require spectators.  In fact, you could end up just getting in the way of serious rescue and recovery efforts.   Yes, the damage can be interesting to look at, but not at the expense of someone else’s safety.

Avoid driving as much as possible.  As mentioned, some streets may still be flooded, which could disguise the fact that the road may not even be there anymore.  There may also be debris in the streets that could cause accidents or injury.

Once you do return to your home, do not turn on any electrical appliance or device.  Inspect electrical appliances for water damage, and beware of any loose or dangling power or electrical lines.  When in doubt, your electrical system should be inspected by a qualified electrician before any further use.  Electricity and water do not mix. 

Verify that your structure is stable before entering.  Flood waters can shift a home on its foundations, and hurricane force winds can have a similar effect.  You don’t want your home coming down around you.

Open doors and windows to begin ventilating your home.  They key to removing water damage is to get as much air circulating throughout the home as possible. 

Limit your use of the phone.  In the aftermath of a disaster such as this, phone circuits will no doubt be jammed with people needing assistance.  You can wait for a bit before calling your Aunt Harriet in Michigan to let her know you’re okay.

Use bottled water and food that has been properly sealed, such as canned goods.  If power was out for any length of time, assume that all refrigerated food has spoiled.  Don’t make a bad situation worse by eating the wrong thing.

Take photographs or video of the damage, as this will prove invaluable when it comes to dealing with your insurance company.

Don’t let your yard become a waste dump.  Too many people throw debris into their yard, where it can become another health hazard.  Make sure everything is properly hauled away and disposed of.

Yards flooded by sewage can be treated by a liberal application of lime.  Keep children and animals away from lime treated areas until the lime has dissolved.

Be prepared for the long haul.  Cleaning up after a hurricane is a long and involved process. 

Contact Water Damage Local.com for all your flood damage or hurricane clean up issues.