Before, During & After the Storm
by Guest Author
Before the storm
- Schedule a roof inspection.
- Make sure your rain gutter and downspout system is ready to flow.
- Seal your home’s exterior.
- Check your storm drains.
- Keep your gas tank full when storms are expected.
- Make sure everyone in your family understands your emergency plan.
During the storm
- Don’t touch downed power lines or objects that are in contact with downed lines.
- Avoid walking or driving through flooded areas. Moving water only 6 inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Standing water may be electrically charged from downed power lines.
- If your power is out, stay safe with flashlights rather than candles.
- Avoid turning the power on in your home if it’s flooded.
- If you’ve been told to evacuate, you can text SHELTER plus your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
After the storm
- As soon as possible, take photos or video of any damaged property. You’ll need these later for insurance assessments.
- Clear debris quickly to remove safety hazards.
- Call your insurance company to confirm coverage and discuss the process of reimbursements.
- It’s important to do repairs quickly so problems don’t escalate, but don’t just hire the first contractor to come knocking. Do your due diligence (see below) and hire someone reputable.
- If the storm has been identified as a natural disaster, you may qualify for disaster relief. For next steps, go to www.cfda.gov and use these CFDA numbers: 97.048, 97.049, 97.050.
Some of the information used in this report comes from Ready.gov
