TheFirst 5 Calls to Make After a Snowstorm or Flood

Who should you call when a disaster strikesyour home? In some cases, this depends on the nature of the catastrophe. If amajor flood, snowstorm, or mudslide has hit [city or region], you may be in themiddle of a natural disaster that is affecting hundreds or thousands offamilies. In this case, landlines and cell towers could be affected, limitingwho you can contact immediately.

In contrast, if a tornado touched downbriefly or a household fire started down the block, the damage may be limitedto a few homes.  It’s still a disasterfor you if your house was involved, but you’ll probably have access to moreimmediate support.

Ingeneral, here are the most important calls to make:

1.      First Responders – Emergencyservices are likely to be overwhelmed in the event of a snowstorm or flood.Call 911 only if there is animmediate danger to your life and health or that of your family. Otherwise, contactneighbors or friends to help you out (or so you can help each other).

2.      Utilities – A broken gas lineor a downed overhead power line can be a serious hazard after a flood orblizzard. Call the utility company right away to address the issue. Move to asafer area until a crew arrives and corrects the problem.

3.      Loved Ones – You’ll want tocontact family and friends to let them know you are OK and to check on theirwell-being. In the event of a major disaster, use text messaging when possibleto minimize the overload on the voice network. Get in touch with at least oneperson who lives outside your local area. This individual may serve as animportant contact point in getting you the help and information you need (suchas the distribution locations for the American Red Cross or local reliefagencies).

4.      Shelter – If your home isunsafe or completely destroyed in a major disaster, the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency (FEMA) may be able to provide temporary housing. The numberis (800) 621-3362 to register forassistance. FEMA may also have vital information about where to findnecessities like food and clothing after a disaster.

5.      Restoration – Once you’veensured your family is safe, it’s time to start the process of rescuing your home.This involves contacting your insurance company, submitting a claim and workingwith a company that specializes in property damage clean up and repair. Most policies require you as the homeowner to makeimmediate reasonable repairs to your home following a disaster to preventadditional damage and will reimburse you for these repairs. Don’t waitfor a contractor to knock on your door (there will be all kinds of fly-by-nightrepair companies coming through your town after a snow storms and floods). Be proactivein calling a licensed restoration company that specializes in repairing thespecific type of damage your home sustained in the disaster (we suggest PaulDavis Restoration/Emergency Services of [location]).

AdditionalTips:

The amount of warning you have before an event can also affect yourcommunication strategy. You might be able to make some of your calls ahead oftime rather than after the fact. For example, notify your employer that youprobably won’t show up for work tomorrow because a major weather event headedyour way is likely to cause damage.

And if you know someone who is experiencinga disaster in their own city, be in contact with them and let them know you’rethere to help. You may be able to serve as a resource to them even from thousandsof miles away.