More people are injured after a hurricane than during it. Almost all of those injuries come from rushing into a damaged building or a debris-filled yard.
Before you go outside
- Wait for the all-clear from official sources. The back half of the storm is as dangerous as the front.
- Put on real shoes — boots, not sandals. Debris is full of nails, glass and metal.
- Gloves, long sleeves, long trousers. Assume everything is contaminated.
- Carry a flashlight, and use it before you use a match or lighter. If there is a gas leak, a flame or a spark can be fatal.
Check for the dangerous things first
- Gas. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave immediately and call for help from outside. Do not flip switches, do not use a phone indoors.
- Electrical. If water reached outlets or the panel, do not touch it. Treat every downed line as live.
- Structure. Sagging ceilings, cracked beams, a shifted roofline. If the building has moved, get out.
- Water. Assume tap water needs boiling until told otherwise — see Boil Water Notices.
Then, in this order
- Photograph everything before you move anything. See Document Damage Before You Clean Up.
- Get water out and air moving in any part of the house that got wet. Mold starts fast — see Mold Starts in 48 Hours.
- Contact your insurer and start the claim. See Filing a Property Insurance Claim.
- Check on neighbours, especially anyone elderly or alone.
General safety information. Follow instructions from your county emergency management office and utility providers.