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<br />After the flood-What do we do now?
<br />The Urban Drainage and Flood Control District advises flooded homeowners
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<br />The hardest work and a lot of danger still
<br />lie ahead for Denver area residents, according
<br />to the Urban Drainage and Flood Control
<br />District, an independent agency that helps local
<br />governments in the Denver metro area with
<br />their storrowater drainage and flood control
<br />problems. "Many flood-related deaths happen
<br />after the flood itself is over," says Scott
<br />Tucker, Executive Director of the District.
<br />"People don't realize the seriousness of the
<br />danger posed by saturated ground surfaces,
<br />unstable damaged buildings, infectious organ-
<br />isms carried by flood water, and especially the
<br />risks of working around damaged power and
<br />natural gas lines. "
<br />All the same, everybody is eager to get
<br />back into their homes and businesses and get
<br />their lives back in order. The District therefore
<br />provides these guidelines for doing that quick-
<br />ly, safely, and wisely.
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<br />What you'll need
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<br />Flashlight
<br />First aid kit
<br />Drinking water
<br />Battery-operated radio
<br />Waterproof boots
<br />Hard hat and sturdy shoes
<br />Camera to record damage
<br />Tools (crowbar, hammer, saw. pliers)
<br />Trash bags
<br />A wooden stick for turning things
<br />over and scaring away small animals
<br />o Cleaning supplies (shovels, buckets,
<br />hose, mops. rags, brooms, rubber
<br />gloves, cleaners, disinfectants, &
<br />lubricating oil)
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<br />Going back home
<br />When it is safe to return to your neighbor-
<br />hood, be careful. Do not drive or walk through
<br />nmning or standing water. Respect road barri-
<br />cades, Watch for downed power lines.
<br />Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes and gloves.
<br />Walk all the way around the building to check
<br />for structural damage before going in. Do not
<br />smoke or use open flame. Turn off the outside
<br />gas valves. Shut off the electricity. As you
<br />enter, make sure the roof, stairs, floor, and
<br />ceiling are not in danger of collapsing. Open
<br />all' doors and windows. Let the building air out
<br />for several minutes before you stay inside.
<br />Inspect the interior with a flashlight.
<br />Do not turn on any lights or appliances
<br />until an electrician or utility company employee $[{
<br />has given you approval to do so.
<br />If your basement is flooded. don't flush
<br />any toilets.
<br />Assess the damage and take photographs of
<br />it if possible. Make a preliminary plan for
<br />cleanup and repair.
<br />
<br />Cleanup and repair
<br />
<br />1 When you first go back to start clean-
<br />ing up, rescue the most valuable items first
<br />-money, jewelry, insurance papers, and
<br />photographs.
<br />
<br />2 Next, protect your home from more
<br />damage by covering holes in the walls, win-
<br />dows, or roof with plastic, tarps, or boards.
<br />
<br />3 Make temporary repairs to brace
<br />sagging floors or ceilings and fix broken
<br />stairs and other safety hazards.
<br />
<br />4 Call your insurance agent. Find
<br />out how to file a claim and what records
<br />of damages and expenses you will need.
<br />Even if your damage is not covered,
<br />your agent can recommend places to get
<br />advice and assistance. Plan to take
<br />photographs and keep records of the
<br />damage and repair work.
<br />S Finally, make a list of things
<br />that need to be cleaned, repaired, and
<br />replaced, and do them one at a time.
<br />Follow these guidelines:
<br />. All foods, drinks, medicines, and
<br />cosmetics that have gotten wet from
<br />the flood must be discarded. The only
<br />safe foods are those in sealed cans, but
<br />the cans must be cleaned and disin-
<br />fected before they are opened. Drinks
<br />in aluminum cans must be thrown out.
<br />. All wet household items must be either
<br />discarded or cleaned and disinfected.
<br />The mud is easier to get off while it is
<br />wet, so hose everything off soon (even
<br />if your water is not safe for drinking).
<br />Things that need repair have to be
<br />dried out first, too.
<br />. Ask your trash service what it will
<br />pick up and when. Your city may offer
<br />special collection services for flood
<br />dehris. Keep the contaminated refuse
<br />separate from the things you are clean-
<br />ing and drying out in the yard.
<br />
<br />Gas Turn the gas
<br />off and leave It off
<br />until you are sure
<br />that there are no
<br />leaks and that gas
<br />appliances are
<br />working properly.
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<br />Sewer The public sewer
<br />syst<:m should be functioning
<br />600n after the flood, but mud ;,:,:":!',.',',l.:..!::,.;"
<br />and debris may cause clogs. If .
<br />the ba60ment Is not flooded, ' .,
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<br />For more information
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<br />. Local radio and television stations will have more information about how
<br />people with flood damage can get help.
<br />. Get the Red Cross's free booklet, Repairing Your Flooded Home, It gives
<br />step-by-step instructions for cleaning and making minor repairs.
<br />. American Red Cross: 722-7474
<br />. Salvation Army Disaster Services: 296.2456
<br />. Federal Emergency Management Agency: 235.4800
<br />. Urban Drainage and Flood Control District: 455-6277
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<br />
<br />. The house itself will need cleaning,
<br />too. Mud is a serious health hazard.
<br />Shovel as much of it out as possible,
<br />while it is still wet. Then wash down
<br />the house, inside and out, with your
<br />garden hose. A soap-spraying attach-
<br />ment will help you do a more thorough
<br />job on the walls, floors, and furniture.
<br />But don't use a high-pressure process
<br />on soggy walls or objects. Heating and
<br />air conditioning ducts and electrical
<br />sockets need to be hosed out, too.
<br />. Keep the doors and windows open as
<br />much as possible to let things dry out.
<br />. Rest frequently. Drink plenty of water.
<br />Be careful. Use generators, gasoline
<br />powered machines, camping stoves.
<br />and barbecue grills outdoors only.
<br />. Call your local building department
<br />before you make major repairs. Yon
<br />may need a building permit. There are
<br />many ways to prevent the same dam-
<br />age from occurring next time there is a
<br />flood, and the building department is a
<br />good source of infonn:llion.
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<br />Health & safety
<br />
<br />. Be extremely cautious around wet or
<br />broken power and ga.. lines.
<br />. Remember that wet floors, stairs,
<br />and ceilings are prohably unsteady.
<br />. Avoid touching flood water or mud.
<br />Both are contaminated with infectious
<br />organisms, chemicals, and sewage.
<br />. Wash your hands often, especially
<br />before eating, drinking, or smoking.
<br />. Watch out for rats, snakes, and other
<br />displaced animals, including pets.
<br />. For many weeks, symptoms of stress
<br />will be normal. Rest often. Eat well.
<br />. Make a list of things to do, and set a
<br />reasonable schedule.
<br />. Get control over your future by
<br />flood proofing your house while you
<br />do repairs.
<br />. Reassure your children. Listen to
<br />them talk about their feelings. In-
<br />clude them in the cleanup by giving
<br />them chores they can handle.
<br />. Be careful with chain saws, genera-
<br />tors, campstoves, and other gear.
<br />
<br />Electricity Even
<br />If the Public Service
<br />Company has turned
<br />off the power In your
<br />neighborhood. shut
<br />your own slJpply off
<br />at your fuse or
<br />circuit box 60 you
<br />can control when It
<br />goe5 back on, But
<br />don't try It. If there's
<br />stMdlng water
<br />around the ~OX,
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<br />Draininq your basement If you pump wat<:r out too fast, the pressure of
<br />the saturated ground can blJckle the ba60ment floor and caU60 the walls to colla p60 ,
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<br />Inst<:ad. walt until there Is no flood wat<:r left In YOlJr yard. Be sure the electricity Is
<br />turned off, Then. pump the wat<:r down about 2 or 3 feet, Walt 24 hours. then pump
<br />It down another 2 or 3 foot, Repeat this process until the ba60ment Is empty, If the
<br />wat<:r level In the basement goes up overnight. It Is too 600n to drain the basement.
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