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Disaster Clean Up

© Peggy Hoehne

Florida and the Southeast coastal areas have been hard hit lately by hurricanes, one right after another. Throughout this summer tornadoes plagued much of the US. Forest fires raged throughout the western states and floods inundated much of the Midwest.

There is probably no place in the world that is totally safe and secure from natural disasters, let alone manmade disasters that can also strike without warning.

The best advice is always to be prepared. You can find more information on some types of preparedness at the following locations:

American Red Cross Prepare.org a website brought to you by the American Red Cross and other community-based organizations to help you and your family prepare for natural and human-caused disasters. Includes: Seniors, People with Disabilities, Children & Schools, Basic Preparedness, and Animal & Pet Owners.
FEMA for Kids This site teaches you how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage.
Disaster Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities
href="http://www.disasterrelief.org/Library/Pr..."> Disaster Preparation Materials Brochures and pamphlets are available in English, Spanish, or PDF
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. Disaster Preparedness: The Basics

When the disaster has already struck, the next best advice is to be careful and use all safety precautions. I will mention a few of the main pieces of information and provide links to much more extensive follow up information.

Your first thoughts may be of getting back into your home and starting to clean up, but there are other steps you need to take first:
North Carolina State University provides a good beginning check list:
1. Examine the building structure.
2. If your basement is flooded, start pumping the water in stages. Pump about a third of the water each day.
3. If the electrical system has been flooded, have it checked out by an electrician.
4. Get your water system working.
5. Shovel out mud and silt before it dries.
6. Before they dry, wash down flooded walls and floors with hose.
7. Scrub and disinfect walls and floors.
8. If you have power, turn on the furnace, if possible, to speed up drying.
9. Dry out walls and floors.
10. Repair buckled walls and floors.
11. Clean, disinfect, and dry household items, furniture, carpets, clothing, and dishes.
12. Treat items for mildew as needed.
13. Care for damaged trees, shrubs, and lawn.
14. Repaint, repair, and refinish as necessary.

Safety is a priority and handwashing is the single most important thing you can do to protect your health when you clean up after a disaster. Always wash your hands after you touch any debris and before you eat or drink anything. Do not touch your hands to your face after touching any debris.

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