Disaster Recovery Dos & Don’ts
While you are waiting for the property restoration experts to arrive, there are some things you can do on your own to ensure that the damage and your out-of-pocket expenses are minimized.
DO:
- Protect chrome trim on kitchen appliances by applying a light coat of Vaseline or other type of oil
- Blow off or brush-vacuum loose particles from upholstery, draperies, and carpet
- If weather permits, open all windows in the damaged area to improve ventilation
- Use a small amount of oil to coat and protect smoke-damaged faucets, towel bars, and tub fittings
- Remove any pets to a clean environment (birds are particularly susceptible to smoke particles)
- If electricity is off, empty your freezer and refrigerator and keep the door propped open
- If it’s winter and electricity is out, pour antifreeze in toilet bowls, sinks, and tubs to help prevent frozen pipes and other problems
- If heat is off in the winter, call a plumber to drain your heating system
DO NOT:
- Wipe or wash walls or ceilings
- Use upholstered furniture
- Use exposed food items—including canned goods—that may have been exposed to smoke or extreme heat
- Use electrical equipment (TVs, stereos, etc.) until they’ve been professionally checked
- Send smoke-damaged garments to the dry cleaner, since improper cleaning may just cause the residue and odors to sink into the material.
DO:
- Get rid of as much floodwater as possible by mopping and blotting
- Wipe water from wood furniture
- Prop up wet upholstered cushions to ensure even drying
- Place aluminum foil on wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting
- During wintertime, open windows to speed drying—in the summer, turn on air conditioning
- Open (but not do not force) drawers and cabinet doors to ensure that the insides are completely dried
- Move valuable paintings and art away from flooded areas—and preferably to higher ground
- Blot dry wet carpeting with white towels
- Punch small holes in sagging ceilings to relieve trapped water (and place pans or buckets beneath)
DO NOT:
- Leave wet fabrics in place—and hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature
- Leave books, magazines, and colored items on wet carpet or floors
- Attempt to use your normal household vacuum to suck up floodwaters
- Use electrical appliances while you’re standing on a wet surface
- Turn on ceiling fixtures, such as lights as fans, if the ceiling is wet
- Keep everyone out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging from excess water
DO:
- Open windows to improve ventilation
- If coming into direct contact with the mold, wear gloves, a facial mask, and protective clothing
- Wash all soft materials like towels and clothing and store them away from the mold growth
- If the mold growth is extensive, it may be safest to move out of your home temporarily
DO NOT:
- Touch or handle affected materials
- Sleep in any rooms where mold growth is present
- Vacuum anything
- Turn on air conditioning (or heating) as this can allow the contamination to spread through your ventilation system
- Try to remove the mold on your own until you have consulted mold remediation professionals
