At Home
At Work
Disaster Kit
What
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Disaster
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Returning Home After a Disaster
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Returning home after a major disaster can be both dangerous and difficult.
Do not return home until authorities have indicated that it is safe to
do so.
Remember that it takes a long time to recover from a disaster.Take your
time and pace yourself. Plan a reasonable amount of activity each day.
Include children in clean-up and recovery activities. Watch for signs
of stress in yourself and family members. If you can't shake feelings
of despair, get professional help. While life will not be the same as
before the disaster happened, you can and will recover.
The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet
and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely.
If after a disaster you have to leave town, take your pet with you. Pets
are unlikely to survive on their own.
Try to stay at home and avoid driving to keep roads clear for emergency
workers.
If you have appropriate insurance, call your agent. Take pictures of
damages. Keep good records of repair and cleaning costs.
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Before entering a damaged building:
- Put on a sturdy shoes and work gloves for protection against glass
or other other debris.
- Check exterior, roof and chimney for structural damage.
- Stay away from fallen or damaged electrical wires. They could still
be alive. Do not carry lanterns or torches that could start a fire.
- If you have any doubts about safety, have your home inspected
by a professional before entering.
- Keep a battery operated radio with you to hear any emergency updates.
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Upon entering:
- Check for injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate.
Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger
of further injury. Call for help.
- Extinguish all open flames.
- Until phone service is fully restored, use the phone only for a life-threatening
emergency.
- Check utilities and appliances:
Check gas supply
If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing sound, open a window
and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main
valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor's home.
If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on
by a professional.
Check electricity
If you see sparks, broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation,
turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker,
call an electrician first for advice.
Check sewage and water lines
If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets
and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water
company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water
by melting ice cubes.
Checking Electrical Appliances
If any of the electrical appliances are wet, turn off the main power
switch in the house. Unplug the appliance, dry it out, then reconnect
it and turn off the main power switch back on.
If fuses or circuits blow when the electrical power is restored,
turn off the main power switch again and inspect for short circuits
in the home wiring or appliances. Call a professional if the problem
continues to occur.
Open closets and cupboards carefully
Check food and water supplies before using them
Foods that require refrigeration may be spoiled if the electricity
was cut off for some time. Throw out any food that has been in contact
with flood waters.
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Cleaning Up:
- Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable
liquids.
- Try to protect your home from further damage. Open windows and doors.
Patch holes.
- Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. The mud left behind by
floodwaters can contain sewage and chemicals.
- If your basement is flooded, pump it out gradually (about one-third
of the water per day) to avoid damage. The walls may collapse and the
floor may buckle if the basement is pumped out while the surrounding
ground is still waterlogged.
- Throw out food, cosmetics and medicines that have come into contact
with flood waters.
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