Making a Family Disaster Plan A disaster can strike your household at any given time. Many families will have an emergency plan in case of a house fire, but most do not think about what to do in case of a flood or significant water damage from an appliance or another source. All household emergency plans should be kept simple and easy to remember. Everyone in the household should understand what to do, where to go, and what to take in the event of a disaster. Each household member will have a role to play during an emergency. Making a family disaster plan is important to share ideas, responsibilities and learn to work as a team. Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen in your area. Explain what to do in each case whether it’s flood or fire. Here are some of the first pieces of information your family should discuss during disaster planning: Two designated places to meet, one outside your home in case of sudden emergencies like a fire, and one outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return to your home. Know your family contacts. Pick an out-of-town or state friend to call and let know you are safe. Discuss what to do in an evacuation and plan what to do with pets. Assemble a Disaster Kit Have enough water to last you 10 to 30 days. During an emergency, your home may lose access to water. During a flood, you may be surrounded by water, but that water will be unsanitary. You also may not have access to drinking water. Plan to have one gallon per person per day. This includes drinking, food preparation, and sanitation water. At least three days worth of non-perishable food and potable water should be stored for disasters. A basic first-aid kit should also be kept with emergency kits. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car. Your kit should also include: Medical consent and history forms for each family member A small, waterproof flashlight with extra batteries and matches A pay-as-you-go phone or cell phone solar charger Sunscreen and insect repellant Whistle and a 12-hour light stick/glow stick A thermal blanket/space blanket At Restoration Experts, our goal is to keep you and your family safe during any disaster. In our line of work, we see many fires, floods, and water damage disasters. We hope these tips can help your family make a sturdy plan for escape. Call us anytime with questions or concerns at 1-877-502-8782.
Tips for Living Arrangements if a Disaster Strikes Your Home If a disaster such as a flood, fire, or water damage of any kind strikes your home, it may be necessary to make new living arrangements during the restoration process. The most common reason you cannot occupy your home after a disaster is that it is unsafe due to poor air quality from smoke or mold growth. Even after extinguishing a fire, corrosive soot particles and chemicals still contaminate the air. Moreover, residual water and moisture also cause rapid mold growth that creates an array of respiratory health issues when breathed. If you are forced to leave your home after a disaster, there are some things you should take into consideration. Below are some tips on finding new living arrangements, as well as keeping your belongings secure and managing your expenses during this traumatic time. Find New Living Arrangements: Find a new living arrangement that is close to work, school and home. You want to keep your daily routine as normal as possible. Make sure where you choose to live for the time will be comfortable for the length of time it takes to complete the home repairs. When selecting a location, your insurance company should take into consideration your previous living requirements, so that you and your family are as comfortable as possible. We recommend extended stay hotel suites or month-by-month apartment rentals. However, you should always ask your insurance if your policy covers the cost. Living with friends or relatives is a suitable choice if both parties are agreeable. Take with you as many everyday possessions as you can to make you and your family feel more at home. Secure Your Property and Belongings: Remove all valuable possessions and personal belongings from your home. Do not leave any documents behind that contain financial, banking, or medical information. Make sure all electrical appliances remaining in the home are unplugged. Have your mail forwarded to your new living location, or have the Post Office hold it for you. Make sure your damaged home is properly locked, secured, or boarded up to prevent intrusion by people or natural elements. Contact your local police department to let them know your home will be vacant and ask them to check it periodically to help prevent theft or vandalism. Manage Your Expenses and Documentation: Track your restoration expenses by opening a separate checking account. Save the receipts from any living expenses you incur during your stay away from home. Your insurance company may reimburse you for most expenses. Keep all your insurance claim documentation and receipts in a folder and store it in a safe location. Sometimes the aftereffects from putting out a fire result in more damage than the fire itself. Fortunately, our experts at Restoration Experts can help you with furniture removal and disaster cleanup. Our fire cleanup process takes care of everything, with safe, thorough, and proper cleaning and restoration. Our goal is to get you back into your home as quickly as possible. When the unthinkable happens, call GET RESTORATION EXPERTS at 1-877-503-8782. We’re local and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and will be onsite in one hour or less.