Dealing With the Aftermath
of a Hurricane
by Rebecca Caito
Rhode Island Sea Grant
P1270
Safety
After a Hurricane
Major health and safety hazards remain even after a hurricane's
wind and rain have passed. Injuries can happen to anyone dealing with
the aftermath of a major storm, so it is wise to be overly cautious.
Debris-filled streets are dangerous; therefore, walk or drive with
caution. Prior to entering a building, check for structural damage.
Make sure it is not in danger of collapse. Turn off any outside gas
lines and let house air for several minutes to remove escaping gas.
Upon entering a building, do not use open flame as a light source:
Use a battery-operated flashlight. Never leave young children alone
or allow them to play in damaged buildings or in areas that might
be unsafe. Wear protective clothing on legs, arms, feet, and hands
while cleaning up debris. Wear rubber gloves while scrubbing flood
damaged interiors and furniture.
Electrical
Safety After a Hurricane
It is wise to be overly cautious and aware of electrical
hazards. Watch for loose or dangling power lines, and report them
immediately to the proper authorities. Be sure all electric and gas
services are turned off before entering the premises for the first
time. Disconnect main switch and all circuits. Watch for electrical
shorts or live wires. Do not turn on any lights or appliances until
an electrician has checked the system for short circuits.
Temporary
Repairs
When inspecting a house for hurricane damage, make sure there
is no live power in or around the house. Make doubly sure that main
electrical breakers are off. The most common repairs will involve
nailing plywood or taping heavy plastic to broken windows, ceilings,
and walls. Flooded basements should be drained and cleaned as soon
as possible. After the floodwater around your property has subsided,
begin draining the basement in stages—about one third of the
water volume each day. To prevent flooded wooden floors from buckling
and warping further, drive nails into the areas of the floor where
it lifts or bulges. It is also important to remove loose plaster and
repair the damaged plaster on the walls and ceilings after the house
is completely dry.
Make
Sure Your Water is Safe
After a major storm, you must assume that all water sources
are contaminated until proven safe. Purify all water used for drinking,
cooking, and washing, and for eating and cooking utensils. Also, purify
the water used for washing hands, body, and kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Do not use water that has a dark color, an odor, or contains floating
material. To disinfect water, one of four methods may be used: (1)
boil at a rolling boil for 10 minutes; (2) add 8 drops of liquid chlorine
bleach (such as Chlorox) per gallon of water; (3) add 20 drops of
two percent iodine per gallon of clear water, or 40 drops per gallon
of cloudy water; (4) add water purlfication tablets according to directions
on the package. These tablets can be bought at most drug and sporting
goods stores. These solutions should be thoroughly mixed and the water
allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before using. To lessen the
flat taste of boiled water, pour the water back and forth several
times between two clean containers. Water in water pipes and toilet
flush tanks (not bowls) is safe to drink if the valve on the main
water line was losed before the flood.
How
to Cook When the Power Goes Off
After a storm has knocked out electricity or gas lines, cooking
meals can be a problem and can be hazardous if a few basic rules are
not followed. Charcoal or gas grills are the most obvious alternative.
NEVER USE THEM INDOORS. Wood can be used for cooking in many situations.
You can cook in a fireplace if the chimney is sound. Do not start
a fire in a fireplace that has a broken chimney. Be sure the damper
is open. If you have to build a fire outside, build it away from buildings—never
in a carport. Sparks can easily get into the ceiling and start a house
fire. Never use gasoline to get a wood or charcoal fire started. A
charcoal grill is a good place to build a wood fire. Be sure to put
out any fire when you are through with it. When cooking is not possible,
a number of canned foods may be eaten cold.
Play
It Safe With Food
Some foods
damaged in a storm may not be safe to eat. All foods that may have
been covered by contaminated water should be destroyed. This includes
those foods sealed in unopened cans. Foods in sealed cans that have
not been fouled may be safe to eat if the cans do not have bulges
or leaks; however, the cans must be disinfected before opening. To
disinfect cans, remove labels and wash the containers with soap or
detergent. Rinse in a chlorine bleach solution using two tablespoons
of household laundry bleach to each gallon of water. Rinse containers
in clean water, dry, and relabel them. The cans can also be sterilized
by covering with water and boiling for at least 10 minutes. In the
event of a power failure, refrigerated foods warmed above 40 F for
more than two hours are not safe to eat, and should be discarded.
Once-frozen foods that have thawed completely and held above 40 F
for more than two hours should also be discarded. Partially thawed
frozen foods that still have ice crystals may be safely refrozen.
Discard any food having a questionable odor or strange color, and
discard all stuffed poultry. Dry ice can be placed in a freezer on
boards or heavy paper on top of packages to keep temperatures below
freezing. Allow 2.5 to 3 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of space.
For more detailed information regarding safe food handling, contact
your local Cooperative Extension System
Assessing
Landscape and Tree Loss
Property owners
may need to calculate the loss of trees and other landscaping. Cleanup,
repair, and replacement costs on the damaged landscape may be used
to measure the decrease in property value if: (1) the repairs are
necessary to restore the property to its condition before the storm;
(2) the amount spent on repairs is not excessive; (3) the replacement
or repairs do no more than take care of the damage sustained; (4)
the value of the property after the repairs does not, as a result
of the repairs, exceed the value of the property before the storm.
If homeowners decide to pursue claims or deductions, they must prove
that loss was sustained due to the storm or flood and that the amounts
claimed as loss are deductible. Photographs of the property before
and after the damage help show the condition and value of the property
prior to the storm. Appraisals are the most desirable tools for establishing
values before and after casualties. Always keep receipts for repair
and replacement for claims.
Homeowner
Insurance Policies
Although your
homeowner's policy may not cover flood damage to your home, it does
offer some protection from loss due to a natural disaster, such as
a hurricane. Items usually covered by the policy (it may vary according
to the policy's provisions) are: (1) your house, including rental
units that are part of the building and any attachments to the building,
like a garage; (2) any structures on your grounds that are not attached
to your house, such as a garage, tool shed, pool cabana, or gazebo;
(3) the lawns, trees, and shrubs on your property; (4) vacant land
that you own or rent, with the exception of farmland; (5) any items
friends have loaned to you that you are keeping on your property;
(6) your living expenses, if your house is unlivable due to damage;
(7) rental payments, if you normally rent part of your house, but
it is unlivable due to damage; (8) settlements, medical expenses,
defense, and court costs involved in claims brought against you for
bodily injury to others or damage to the property of others.
Filing
Insurance Claims
When filing
an insurance claim for hurricane damage to your home, an insurance
adjuster should be called imediately. Cleanup and salvage should begin
as soon as possible. Do ot wait for an adjuster; additional damage
can be added when found. But do take photos BEFORE any cleanup for
use as an inventory. Always keep damaged materials for proof of loss.
Be sure to sign a proof loss statement. If looting should occur, report
any theft to the police. Save receipts for reimbursement, including
temporary lodging and food.
Stress
After a Hurricane
A natural
disaster, such as a hurricane, not only leaves a trail of property
destruction in its wake, but many times leaves thousands of its victims
with a destroyed sense of balance. Victims may need to devote time
to restoring their own emotional equilibrium. It is very important
to be extra patient and accept that restoration (both physical and
emotional) takes time. In a crisis situation, it is essential to have
a supportive network with family, friends, and neighbors.
Helping
Your Child Cope With Disaster
After a hurricane,
it is very normal for children to be afraid. The fear may last for
an extended period of time and is best dealt with by kindness and
understanding on the part of parents. Children should be encouraged
to talk about their feelings and otherwise express their fears through
play, drawing, painting, or clay modeling. Children may be upset at
the loss of a favorite toy, blanket, or teddy bear. They may be afraid
of the disaster recurring and ask, "Will it come again?"
They may be afraid to sleep alone or may want to sleep with a parent
or another person. Having nightmares is also common. Some children
may be quiet and withdrawn, while others may become upset easily,
crying frequently or becoming angry. Parents who are busy trying to
clean up and rebuild their lives and homes may cause some children
to feel neglected. One of the most important steps adults can take
to combat this is to take the time to talk with children.
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For Further Reading: "Hurricanes," Rhode Island Sea Grant,
April 1992.
"Hurricane
Plan for Boaters," Rhode Island Sea Grant, April 1992.
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Source: South
Carolina Sea Grant.
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