In the last five years, multiple severe weather events have occurred in the Ohio Valley (annual average for 2020-2024 is 7.2 events). Ohioans reach out to disaster recovery companies for property recovery and restoration services each time a disaster strikes. Discover in this guide, what you should do while waiting for your 24-hour disaster response team to arrive.
What to Do Immediately After Property is Damaged in a Disaster?
Start by focusing on immediate safety, like turning off electricity if needed or evacuating the building if there’s structural damage. Then, see if you can salvage important items like vehicle titles, photos, and passports. Follow the expert advice and document all damage with photos and videos for insurance claims. It is best to limit foot traffic in damaged areas and designate one responsible family member to access the area. Finally, secure your property by locking undamaged entry points and boarding up broken windows, before the disaster recovery company Ohio Valley arrives.
5 Things to Do When Waiting for the Emergency Cleanup Professionals Ohio
Rapid recovery restoration service teams typically arrive within an hour or two after calling. In the meantime, here are five things you can do while waiting for the recovery professionals to arrive:
1. Prioritize Immediate Safety
While help is on the way, make sure you’re safe after a disaster. For example, you may want to turn off electricity at the main breaker after a severe flooding event to reduce the risk of electrical hazards. Or evacuate the building immediately if you see major structural damage, like sagging ceilings or unstable floors. Public safety analysis consistently shows that flooding can structurally affect many buildings across the Ohio Valley each year.
Therefore, disaster recovery companies in the Ohio Valley recommend prioritizing your safety before property restoration experts Valley arrive.
Also, if you smell rotten eggs or hear hissing near gas lines, call 911 and your gas company from outside the house because natural gas and propane are intentionally engineered to smell like rotten eggs to make leaks detectable.
Avoid re-entering the building after a major fire event, as there’s risk of exposed wiring, hidden embers, and smoke inhalation.
2. Salvage High-Priority Items
If it’s safe to re-enter your property, make sure you salvage high-priority items, such as:
- Property Deeds
- Vehicles Titles
- Birth Certificates
- Family Photos
- Passports
- Social Security Cards
- Family Heirlooms
- Medications
- Prescriptions
- Business Files
- Computer
Or anything that holds emotional value should be rescued from the damage, because your couch can be replaced but your grandmother’s wedding album cannot. According to FEMA, family heirlooms, photos, and keepsakes often mean more to survivors than monetary loss, so these should be recovered when safe to do so.
However, if you cannot recover these items yourself, communicate your priorities clearly with the licensed restoration contractors Ohio. Tell them which items matter the most to you, so they can adjust their restoration plan accordingly.
Note: In humid Ohio weather, there’s a risk of mold growth as well. So if possible, try to salvage these items within 24-48 hours.
3. Document Everything for Insurance
FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program stress documenting the damage before emergency reconstruction services Ohio begin working. They specifically recommend taking pictures and videos of the damage from multiple angles, and keeping a record of all receipts, invoices, and original photos of items (if available).
Some insurance forms include areas where you attach these invoices to strengthen your claim. It is best if you take both wide-angle shots and close-ups to capture the full-scope of destruction.
Also, Forbes suggests walking through your property with a video camera, and narrating the damage as you go. This can provide additional context that photos alone might fail to convey.
Make sure you also create a written inventory alongside visual evidence. This will transform your photos into actionable claims documentation. For instance, list each damaged item this way: Samsung 55-inch TV, purchased in 2022, living room.
4. Limit Foot Traffic in Damaged Areas
Emergency response teams in Ohio Valley recommend limiting foot traffic in damaged areas. Otherwise, you might get hurt or you could cause further damage to the property. For instance, in the case of floodwater, CDC guidelines strictly warn that floodwaters can contain human and animal waste, chemicals, bacteria, and other hazards, and that you should avoid walking through them.
Similarly, walking through a fire-damaged room transfers soot, ash, and acidic residue to clean carpets and surfaces, where it continues causing damage and becomes even harder to remove. But if it’s really necessary to enter damaged areas, for example, for a safety check or documentation, better create a designated pathway and use it exclusively.
Property restoration experts in the Ohio Valley recommend using plastic sheets, tarps, or even towels to create a physical barrier between damaged areas and safe zones. This will limit accidental contamination. Also, only one responsible person should handle the necessary checks and documentation process in the damaged area. No need for everyone to visit it.
5. Secure Your Property and Control Access
While a certified disaster response team is on the way, you may consider securing your property. For instance, if the property is uninhabitable and you may move out until recovery, make sure you lock all doors and windows that aren’t damaged. And for the damaged ones, see if you can cover them with sheets or plywood.
However, do not risk your safety and use unstable ladders or go near compromised structures. Also, don’t forget to take photos of temporary fixes from multiple angles, as this is necessary to prove you took reasonable steps to prevent further loss, which will strengthen your insurance claim.
And control who enters the property (only immediate family members and no children under any circumstances). While in this situation, well-meaning neighbors and friends may offer to help, but it’s important that you decline. That’s because, if anybody gets injured on your property, you can face liability claims. Plus, every person who enters the property creates tracking, contamination, and documentation challenges.
So you don’t have to handle or move everything, just do what feels safe and manageable.
Hire Americon Restoration For Swift Disaster Recovery in Ohio Valley
While your certified restoration company, Ohio, will handle the heavy work once they arrive. It is important for you to be well-informed about things to do in those critical first hours after a disaster. These steps will minimize the damage, protect your safety, preserve your valuable belongings, and strengthen your insurance claims.
In the meantime, contact a trusted disaster recovery company in Ohio Valley like Americon if you’re facing property damage from flooding, fire, or other severe weather events. We have the expertise and equipment to restore your property safely and efficiently, helping you recover faster. Call 1-833-437-3487 to get started today: we serve 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the 5 steps for disaster preparedness?
The 5 key steps for disaster preparedness involve understanding the risk, making an escape plan, making your go-bag, making a stay bag (in case you can’t travel), and staying informed through alerts.
What are the 5 P’s of emergency?
In case of disaster management, the 5 P’s of emergency include Plan, Participate, Protect, Prepare, and Practice. When implemented together, these offer a structured approach for risk management and improving response during emergencies.
What steps should you take after a disaster to recover?
Contact a certified restoration company in Ohio immediately after a disaster to recover. Call a water, fire, storm restoration team, instead of trying to recover the property on your own. And prioritize your personal safety while waiting for the recovery team to arrive.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover temporary housing after a disaster?
Yes, most homeowner’s insurance policies cover temporary housing, meals, and other necessities, if your property becomes uninhabitable. However, contact your insurance company to confirm beforehand and to understand your coverage. Also, don’t forget to keep a record of all receipts for reimbursements.
What are the two things that you should not do after a disaster?
Do not panic and do not drive immediately after a disaster (unless told to do so by the emergency officials). Staying calm is the ultimate key to surviving in such situations. There may be times you may have to take charge of other people. So pace yourself and deal with urgent situations first.
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