By Katie, Julie, and Monica

This is a list of tips from some folks who have managed emergencies in the past.  For now, this has information specific to #HurricaneHarvey but generally can be applied to any disaster.  #BeSomeone #HoustonStrong

1.  People will need help for many months but most help will only be around right at first and then disappear.   Continue to be available in a month and 6 months later!

2.  Do not just show up at a shelter or a non-profit and expect someone who is managing a crisis to find something for you to do.  Many of these foundations will have instructions or applications on their websites for volunteering.  See an example here: Red Cross  

3.  Donate to local organizations that are working hard to help their neighbors.  The giant organizations such as Red Cross and United Way will get many donations nationally but will not be around for the long haul.  

• Want to help Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston?  Consider donating to JJ Watt’s fundraiser.  He has said publicly that every penny will be used to deliver goods directly to the people.

4.  Donate money.  Money can be used to buy exactly what is needed by organizations to help their neighbors.  

5.  If you want to donate items, many organizations will make a wish list.  They don’t need to wade through mountains of unwashed, used clothes and old stuffed animals.  They are required to wash used items before distributing, and it is almost impossible to do when there is such a massive need, so donate NEW items (at least initially).  Some organizations will make an Amazon Wish List, where items can be sent directly to them, which makes it easy for everyone!  There are many items needed immediately in shelters, such as:

• pillows
• blankets
• large towels
• socks
• underwear
• small flashlight
• cleaning supplies
• toiletries
• masks
• gloves
• bleach
• diapers

6.  Nursing homes have needs as well

• socks
• skin lotion, combs, brush
• adult diapers
• pillows
• house slippers
• sweaters
• lap blankets
• word puzzle books and pencils
  ​

7.  People managing these situations know what they’re doing.  Learn their system and try to be helpful.  Don’t do your own thing that someone else may have to fix.

8.  Don’t take pictures of yourself volunteering for your social media account.  It’s not about you and you need to honor the privacy and dignity of others experiencing one of the worst moments of their lives.

9.   Donate Blood!  There is always a need, but especially in disasters.

10. The animal shelters will be overflowing after this.  Volunteer to foster an animal or help at the local animal shelter.  Consider donating as well!  I have listed all the shelters in the area affected by Hurricane Harvey and included links for wish lists, donation portals, and websites/FB pages.  Click here to check it out.

11. Consider donating straight to a cause you support.  There will be people from all walks of life with homes and businesses that will require tons of work and support to rebuild.  Do you love a particular sport?  Find a team to sponsor.  Have a fireman in the family?  There will be many Volunteer Fire Departments who will be wiped out.  Love animals?  Help the local shelter (see #10)!  The schools will need help recovering, too!

12. This is a great learning opportunity for kids.  Helping others is an important life lesson, so get them involved!

***More resources on how to get and offer help specifically in Houston can be found atTexas Tribune.

A BIG thank you to Traci Maxwell of Wimberley, TX, Rebecca Howard of Sedalia, CO, and JJ Watt for being a fantastic role model and supporting your city.

By Katie, Julie, and Monica

My family and I have been through several floods and hurricanes over the years.  I can share more on that later, but given the recent events with #HurricaneHarvey, I want to help you navigate through what will be a very difficult time in the coming weeks.  Here are the things I wish I had known when we went through it the first time.  I pulled this together from my own experience, other family and friends who have been through it, and multiple resources.    #HoustonStrong

Safety First - Don’t go back to the site of the disaster unless you are cleared to do so.  If there are barricades, it is likely for your safety.  Don’t put the safety of emergency personnel in jeopardy because you are being impatient or are curious.  

If it is an emergency, talk to the officials to get help.

First Calls to Make:

1. Storage Facility - you will probably need one if your house was damaged and they will fill up fast.
2. Rental Car - you will need one if your car was damaged.  
3. Insurance Agent (homeowners, renters, car) - hopefully you had flood insurance but if not, still check with your agent to see what is covered.  ***There is a new Texas law going into effect making it harder for homeowners to hold insurance companies accountable when they take months or years to pay for a claim, underpay, or wrongfully deny legitimate claims.
4. disasterrelief.gov OR 1-800-621-FEMA. Register for official help & documentation.
   

Be VERY wary about Flood Renovation companies.  Ask a lot of questions, verify references, get everything in writing, and make sure you know what you're committing to.  Some are legit but some are scams preying on desperate folks like you who have lost everything.

Contact Local Organizations to see what resources might be available to you. 
Houston Hurricane Harvey flood victims:  click here

Insurance Claims - again, claim before Friday!

1. Call your insurance agent or submit a claim online. If your insurance covers the damage, your agent will tell you when an adjuster will contact you. 
2. Take photos or video before and as you clean.
3. Inventory items by room.  This can be started when you’re waiting to return to your home even before damage is assessed if you are anticipating it.
4. You’ll need complete records for insurance claims, applications for disaster assistance and income tax deductions.​
5. You do NOT have to take the initial offer from the insurance adjuster.  I have heard of initial offers of $600 that were able to be negotiated up to $36,000.  You shouldn't have to do this but it has been known to happen.  Don't let anyone take advantage of you and fight for what you deserve.
   
   

A little information about flood insurance from FEMA and Bankrate.

1. Standard homeowners policies DO NOT cover flood damage.
2. Anyone can get flood insurance but if you live in a flood plain, your homeowners insurance may require it.  As with any policy, price will depend on risk.  It is usually not super expensive.
3. Federal flood insurance policies will cover up to $250,000 for structural damage.  For personal possessions, the cap is $100,000.  You can get private coverage for excess if needed.
4. There is a difference between "storm damage" and "flood damage."  If your roof blows off and your house gets rained on, that is storm damage.

Clean up (General, Car, Property, Clothes, Leather)

General

• If in doubt or encounter a dangerous situation, just wait for help from people who are trained.

 

• Take precautions for your own health and safety.  Flood waters are full of contaminants, including bugs, animals, fecal matter, chemicals, etc.
  • Consider wearing:
    • Boots
    • Gloves
    • Masks
    • Protective eye wear

 

• Be careful when removing debris - there could be people or animals trapped.

 

• Don’t burn anything unless approved by your city.

 

• If you find items that are not yours and in good condition, post on social media.  There are often Facebook pages created for the survivors.

 

• If you find a stray animal and can house it or get it to a shelter, there are usually lost and found pages for them as well.  Be careful!  Even the nicest animals can bite when stressed.  If you cannot approach safely, call animal control.
  
  
• If you had significant damage, you will need alternative living arrangements for weeks, if not months.
  ​
• The recovery process can be a long one.  Take a breath, make a list, and tackle one thing at a time. 

Car (From State Farm Vehicle Flood Damage Checklist)

1. Survey potential damage. Note the depth of the floodwaters in relation to your car. Don't try to start your car — this will cause more damage if there is water in the engine.
2. Act quickly. Submersion in salt water — which is more damaging than fresh water — makes the chances of corrosion much higher. Start drying out your vehicle as quickly as possible, and contact a towing service to get it back to higher ground. Oil, transmission fluid and lube may need draining before a tow.
3. Look under the hood. This is where you'll find clues as to how extensive the flood damage may be. Unless you're an auto expert, you may want to partner with a mechanic for the following tasks: 
   1. Check the oil dipstick. Look for water droplets, which likely indicate that there is water in your engine. If that's the case, the cylinders, which are supposed to compress air instead of water, will be broken.
   2.  Remove water-damaged cylinders and check for corroded spots.
   3. Change the oil and transmission fluid. You'll want to do this again after the car is drivable and you've gone several hundred miles.
4.  Clean the interior. If floodwaters were more than a few feet deep, water probably made it to the inside of your car. Here's what to do next:
   • Seats and carpet. Remove seats and seat cushions if possible, and use fans and dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying process.
   • Check electrical components. Extensive flood damage could require a trip to the mechanic to get it replaced.
5. Check the fuel tank and line. Use a store-bought siphon pump to remove some fuel. If you note any water (which would naturally separate from the fuel), you'll want to empty the tank completely.

Once you know the extent of your car's flood damage, you'll need to weigh repair costs against the cost of replacing your car.

Property (from floodsafety.com - more details can be found there)

1. Remove items that were not damaged.
2. Shovel out mud
3. Spray off hard surfaces with hose.
4. Scrub surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. 
5. Disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water or a product that is labeled as a disinfectant to kill germs.
6. Use box fans to circulate air throughout the house.
7. Take rugs and other cloth items outside to dry ASAP
8. Solid wood furniture can usually be restored unless damage is severe
9. Veneers or particle board furniture usually cannot be salvaged.
10. Immerse glass, porcelain, china, and enamelware for 10 minutes in a disinfecting solution of 2 tbsp chlorine bleach per gallon hot water.  Air dry.
11. Disinfect silverware, metal utensils, pots, and pans by boiling water for 10 minutes.  Do not use bleach.
12. Disinfect cupboards before storing cleaned dishes.
13. Sheetrock will have to be removed, at lease to level of floodwater if not entirely.
14. Electrical systems must be shut off and repaired/inspected by electrician before turning back on.  Wiring needs to be dried.  Outlets, switches, etc may be filled with mud and will need to be cleaned.
15. Inspect and clean heating/AC units.
16. Electronics and appliances need to be serviced and cleaned to prevent injury from using.
17. Floors:
    1. Remove floor coverings (vinyl, linoleum, carpet) so subflooring can dry thoroughly, which can take several months.  Open windows and doors to expose to air.
    2. Padding should be replaced.
    3. Carpets can be cleaned but if contaminated with sewage or soaked for >24 hours, will need replacing.
    4. Wood floors should be dried gradually.  Sudden drying could cause cracking or splitting.  More details on site above.
18. Inspect roof for missing shingles, holes, defective flashing, clogged downspouts, eaves.

Clothes (summarized from The Spruce - see their great site for more details on decontaminating your laundry room!)

1. Sort
   1. ​Washable vs Dry Clean Only
   2. Colors vs Whites
2. Rinse with a hose to get mud and debris off prior to machine wash or you can break your washing machine!
3. Use hottest water recommended for fabric
4. Use chlorine bleach for whites
   1. ​If chlorine bleach can’t be used, you can use a cup of Pine-Sol or Lysol to the wash.
5. Inspect for stains and soak in Oxy-Clean or comparable product overnight.  Rewash with detergent.
6. Dry on highest heat recommended.  Hang whites outside for extra disinfection with UV light.
7. If you can’t wash immediately, lay them out and let them air dry.  Do not store in plastic bags.
8. Disinfect your washing machine after washing flood water contaminated clothing.

Leather Shoes/Accessories (summarized from The Spruce - see their great site for more details!)

1. Wash mud off while still wet
   1. Do not use sharp objects to scrape.
2. Stuff with paper to reshape.
3. Dry at room temperature
   1. Don’t use sun or heat to speed up
4. Clean with Saddle Soap when dry
5. Condition with leather conditioner
6. Polish
7. Do not wear until dry or risk damaging them permanently.

There are lots of people who want to help.  Reach out and don't be afraid to ask.  
That's what Texans are all about.
​

A BIG thank you to the websites listed under each category, as well as Jamie Hornbuckle and Amy Hampton for their input from personal experience.