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<br />For more information
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<br />
<br />After the flood-What do we do now?
<br />he Urban Drainage and Flood Control District advises flooded homeowners
<br />
<br />
<br />The hardest work and a Inl of danger still
<br />lie ahead for Denver area residents, Kcnrdin&:
<br />10 the Urban Drainage and Flood Control
<br />District, an independent agency lhat helps local
<br />govemmenll in the Denver metro area with
<br />their slormwaler d"inap and flood control
<br />problem.'l. ~Many nood.n::lated deathl harren
<br />afler the Rood iUclf i~ over, ~ says Scalt
<br />Tucker, Executive Director of the Di!lltrict.
<br />.Pearle don't raliu Ihe lIeriOl.LVIeS.'l of the
<br />danger pmcd by grunted ground surfaces,
<br />un!lluble damaged building!ll, infeclious organ-
<br />isrn-.; carried by nood water, and e.o;pccially Ihc
<br />risks of workin, around damaged power and
<br />natural gas lines. .
<br />All the same, everybody is eager to gel
<br />hack inlo their homes and busine.<'l'leS and get
<br />their Iiv~ hack in order. The District therefore
<br />provide.o; the!lle JUidelines for doinlthat quick-
<br />ly, safely, and wisely.
<br />
<br />What you'll need
<br />o Flashlight
<br />o First aid kit
<br />o Drinking waler
<br />o Battery.operaled radio
<br />o Waterproof boots
<br />o Hard hat and sturdy shoes
<br />o Camera to record damage
<br />o Tools (crowbar. hammer. saw, pliers)
<br />Tr..h b.gs
<br />A wooden stick for tuming things
<br />over and searino away small animals
<br />o Cleaning supplies lshovels, buckets.
<br />hose. mops, raos. brooms. rubber
<br />gloves, cleaners. disinfectants. &
<br />lubricating oill
<br />
<br />Going back home
<br />When it ill sde to retum 10 your neighhor-
<br />hood, he careful. Do not drive or walk through
<br />running or !Illanding WIlier. Re.'lJ*I I'OlId barri-
<br />cades. Walch for downed power line.'!.
<br />Wt:jr sturdy, WIltefl)roof shoes and gloves.
<br />Walk alllhe WIly around the building to check
<br />for ,tNetu,,1 damAge berore loine in. Do not
<br />lIlmoke or U!Ie 0flCft name. Tum off Ihe oulside
<br />IU valves. Shul off the electricity. As you
<br />enler, make !!lUre the mof, stIIin:, nnor, aMI
<br />ceiling are nol in danger of collaJ"Aing. Oren
<br />all doon and windows. lei (he building air out
<br />for ~t111 minutes before you stay inside.
<br />In!llpc:ct lhe interior with a nuhlillhl.
<br />Do notlUm on any lights or arr1iancell
<br />unlil an el<<tncian or ulility company employee
<br />has given you arrroval to do so.
<br />J( your basement is nooded, don'l nush
<br />any toilets.
<br />Auess lhe damaJ:'e and lake photographs of
<br />it if pmsihle. Make a preliminary plan for
<br />cleanup and repair.
<br />
<br />Cleanup and repair
<br />
<br />1 When you fil'lllt go hack 10 start dean-
<br />ing up, l'e.'lCue Ihe mMt valuahle items first
<br />-money. jewelry, insurance parers, and
<br />ograph!ll.
<br />Nelli, rrntect your home from more
<br />mare hy covering hnlC!ll 1ft the W11l1l1l, win.
<br />dnws, or roof With plastic. tarps, or hoard...
<br />
<br />
<br />3 Make temJ'llTary repain: to hrace
<br />saggin, nool"! or ceiling!'; and fill hroken
<br />slairs and olher safety hazards.
<br />4 Call your In!llurance agenl. Find
<br />out how 10 file a daim and whal recnNS
<br />of damages and C'llpenlle!'l you will need.
<br />e...en If your damace is not coverc:d.
<br />your asent can recommend places to gel
<br />advice and LouoisLlnCe. Plan In take
<br />photographs and keep records of the
<br />damage and repair work.
<br />S Finally, make a Ii!';t of thing!ll
<br />(hal need 10 be cleaned, repaired, and
<br />replaced, and do them one al a lime.
<br />Follow Ihese guidelines:
<br />. All foods, drinks, medicine~, and
<br />c~melic~ that hne gollen wet from
<br />the Oood muSI be di5Carded. The only
<br />sde food~ Are those in sealed CIIns, but
<br />the can.o; mU~1 be cleaned And dilllin-
<br />(eeled before they are npened. Drinks
<br />in aluminum canl mull be thrown out.
<br />All wet houllebold ilems mllll be either
<br />diacarded or cleaned IInd disinfeeled.
<br />The mud i. euier to ,et of( while it i.
<br />wet, so nOlle everythin~ off MlOfI (e~n
<br />if your WIller is nollllfe (nf drinkin&>.
<br />Things tbal need ~pair bave to be
<br />dried out first, too.
<br />. AM your trad! aervice wblll il will
<br />pick up and wben. Your city may offer
<br />special collection servlca for Rood
<br />debris. Keep the enntRminated refule
<br />sep...... from the Ibinl' you. are cleu-
<br />in, and drying out in the yard.
<br />
<br />Gas 'fun! the 9"e
<br />off and Ic.tvc: It off
<br />untll you are .ure
<br />th.tt there.re no
<br />lute .N11 th.t ~.
<br />.ppll.ncee .re
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<br />Sewer The putrllc geWeI'
<br />~tell"l ~hould IJe func:t~
<br />_ .he... the &0.:1, wt mud
<br />."" debl1!o rMY GautoCl c~!o. If
<br />the pueme"t l!o Mt Rooded.
<br />check the toIleu tIy fluehlng
<br />them. If they ....c c~d. call
<br />your ~r dep.rtme"t to
<br />locate theblocb~.
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<br />. local 'adto and television stalions will have more inlormalmn about how
<br />1>e000e With flood damage can vet help.
<br />. Get lhe Red Cross.s free booklet, R~f/ YOCIf' Flooded ~. II gives
<br />step.by.step inSlfuchons lor c1e.r'Ilf'lO and making minot repalts.
<br />. Amencan Red C,oss: 722-7474
<br />. Sal....tion Army DIsaster Serveces: 296.2456
<br />. Federal Emergency Managemenl Agency: 235.4800
<br />. Urban o,ainage .nd Ftood Control oislflct: 455-6277
<br />
<br />The hou~ it!lelf will netd c:Iunin"
<br />too. Mud is a !lerious health hAZArd.
<br />Sbo...el... much or it out ... f"MIible,
<br />while it i. still wel. Then WIIsh dowll
<br />the hOUlllC, inlKle and OUl, with your
<br />,arden hose. A Mlap-Ipraying altac:b-
<br />ment will belp you do a more thol'OuCh
<br />job on the walls, floors, and furniture.
<br />But don -I use a high.preQure procell
<br />on IOUY ....us or objects. Healing and
<br />air conditioning dutts and electrieal
<br />soc:keta need 10 be bosed out. too.
<br />Ketp the doors and wind~ open as
<br />much at roasihle 10 lei lbinp dry oul.
<br />Rest frequently. Drink plenty of water.
<br />Be careful. U. geftlCralon, glllaOliM
<br />pawered mllChinell, c:ampinllltnve..
<br />and barheclM griUIII outdoort only.
<br />Call your local building deranmenl
<br />before you make mlljor relN'ir.. You
<br />may need a building permit. The~ are
<br />many WIly. to prevent the ..me dam-
<br />ace (rom oc:eunift& next lime "'ere is a
<br />Oood, and the buiklinc depanmenl it. a
<br />,ood IlOUree of infnnnatinn.
<br />
<br />Health & safety
<br />Be ulremely eautious around wet or
<br />broken power and 1&1 linel.
<br />Remember that wet Ooor., lUiirll,
<br />and ceiling' are probllbly unuelldy.
<br />Avoid louchin, flood waler or mud.
<br />Both are contaminated with infectioull
<br />orcanisms, chemical!, and seWllge.
<br />Wasb your hanels often, Uf'ICciaUy
<br />before calinC, drinltilll, or smoking.
<br />Watch oul for rau, snakes, and other
<br />displaced animals, includinC ~.
<br />For many weekl, .,mptoml of .uell
<br />will be normal. Reaa often. Eat well.
<br />Make a Ii.. of thinp 10 do, and act .
<br />rcuonable ICbedule.
<br />. Gel control o~r your future hy
<br />floodproofing your boule while you
<br />do repain.
<br />Reauure your thild~D. Lillten to
<br />them talk ahout their feelings. In-
<br />clude them in the cleanup by giviftC
<br />them chores lbay ean handle.
<br />&. careful with chain .WI, leMra-
<br />IOn. eam,.aova. and other rar.
<br />
<br />Electricity e_
<br />ft the f"ubtIc 5ervk::c
<br />~")' ha6 turned
<br />offttw:~tnyour
<br />~borhclod,"t
<br />your own euppiy off
<br />,Ityout'fuM or
<br />circuit "* to you
<br />,,Inc:onCl'Ol when It
<br />~ ..et Oft. eut
<br />don't trylt lfttlel'"e'.
<br />ilotilndlfN] w.""
<br />around tlle boK.
<br />
<br />IN T E R: lOR:
<br />
<br />~t:
<br />
<br />WAfER:
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<br />'f;~?~:~J;:1
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<br />Draining your t1aseme:nt If you pu'"f' water out too f."t. the prenure ",
<br />the Ntouraled ~round ,." buckle the ..Hft'W:"t Roor arid ~UK the wall!o to coll~.
<br />'"!oteH. walt until there I~ no flood wat.ef' left I" ~ yard. e-e !oVl'e the cle.ctl1Glty I~
<br />turned off. The". pu,"" the water I60wn aPout. 2 or 3 feet. W,lIlt 24 houf's. w" PU""P
<br />If; ~ al'1Other 2 or:3 feet. Repeat thl. pn1Ce!o~ u"tll tnc 17aeeme"t 1110 empty. If the
<br />water level i" the 17.!loeme"t goe!o up ~1lJ"t. it l!o too !oOO"I to dr.," the P.~mc"t.
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