TheFirst 5 Calls to Make After a Spring Flood
Who should you call when a disaster strikesyour home? In some cases, this depends on the nature of the catastrophe. If aspring flood hits Evansville, 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.
Ingeneral, here are the most important calls to make:
1. First Responders – Emergencyservices are likely to be overwhelmed in the event of a flood. Call 911 only if there is an immediate danger toyour life and health or that of your family. Otherwise, contact neighbors orfriends 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. Call theutility company right away to address the issue. Move to a safer area until acrew 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 flood, the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) may be able to provide temporary housing. The number is (800) 621-3362 to register for assistance.FEMA may also have vital information about where to find necessities like foodand clothing after a flood.
5. Restoration – Once you’veensured your family is safe, it’s time to start the process of rescuing yourhome. This involves contacting your insurance company, submitting a claim andworking with 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 spring floods). Be proactive incalling a licensed restoration company that specializes in repairing thespecific type of damage your home sustained in the disaster (we suggest PaulDavis Restoration of Evansville).
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 fromthousands of miles away.
