AFTER THE STORM
- Avoid broken or long dangling power lines as well as objects which may be in contact with them. Notify police or utility companies of dangling or broken wires.
- Listen to your radio for instructions from local authorities. Drinking water may have to be sterilized. You can do this by boiling water vigorously for two minutes, using water purification tablets available at drug stores, or adding household chlorine bleach, stirring well and allowing it to sit for 30 minutes before using. Two drops of bleach per quart should be used for clear water and four drops per quart for cloudy water.
- Stay away from disaster areas to avoid hindering rescue and first aid work.
- If you must drive, drive carefully, avoiding debris, fallen wires, washouts and swollen streams or rivers.
- Seek necessary medical care at Red Cross disaster stations or hospitals.
- If power has failed, don't open freezers unless necessary for inspection until power is restored or until you can obtain dry ice.
- Be cautious of streams or rivers. The water level can rise rapidly even after the heaviest rain has ended.
- Children should be under supervision at all times.
- Watch for snakes. They, too, are looking for high ground after a flood.
- Report broken sewer or water mains to the water department.
- Notify friends and relatives outside the area of your well being. Your Red Cross disaster stations are equipped to help you with this.
- Call your local insurance agency claims department if you have a loss. Be prepared to give your name, address (permanent and/or temporary), home phone number, work phone number, and a temporary number where you can be reached.
- In cases of severe hurricanes and floods it takes the insurance companies a couple of days to get additional adjustors into the area, rent cars and set up an emergency claim office. Follow-up telephone calls within a week are probably not helpful except when your circumstances are very severe.
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