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<br />instructions and contact a claims adjuster. You should be able to proceed <br />with clean up. Remember to keep records of what you lost and receipts for <br />expenses. <br /> <br />Until the adjuster comes, you can do the following: <br /> <br />Food and other items which may be a health problem should be <br />listed and photographed before discarding. <br /> <br />Appliances and furniture should be hosed off to help the <br />adjuster's inspection. <br /> <br />Any item partially damaged should be cleaned, dried and aired. <br /> <br />You can make emergency repairs to protect your house and contents <br />from further damage (keep receipts because this work is covered). <br />Otherwise, wait for the adjuster to instruct you on what can be <br />disposed of and what should be repaired. <br /> <br />Disaster Aid: If the flooding was widespread and caused a great deal <br />of damage, your community could be eligible for federal or state aid. <br />Different state and federal agencies can provide assistance under <br />different circumstances. Generally, these programs depend on the <br />President, Governor, or Cabinet Secretary to declare the community a <br />disaster area. Private organizations like the Red Cross may also get <br />involved. <br /> <br />Assistance programs vary frow unemployment compensation for the period <br />when you could not work to temporary housing. There will be news re- <br />leases explaining the declarations and where to go to apply for assistance. <br /> <br />You should keep in mind two things that the different federal and state <br />disaster aid programs have in common: <br /> <br />1. They are only available after major flooding that affects <br />a large area. Only a flood insurance policy provides <br />financial help for all flooding. <br /> <br />2. Most of the assistance programs for repairing your house <br />or replacing its contents are low interest loans (5% - 7-3/8%). <br />A 5% loan for $10,000 paid back over ten years will cost you <br />over $13,000. On the other hand, a flood insurance policy <br />for $10,000 worth of contents coverage plus the $200 deductible <br />will cost you $550 over ten years. <br /> <br />Tax Breaks: Your federal income tax instruction booklet explains how to <br />deduct for casualty losses. You cannot deduct losses paid by insurance <br />or the first $100 of loss. You can deduct the second $100 of the $200 <br />insurance claim deductible and losses not covered by insurance. <br /> <br />Ask the Internal Revenue Service for Publ ication 547, "Tax Information <br />on Disasters, Casualty Losses, and Thefts". Write to the IRS at P.O. <br />Box 24711, Kansas City, Mi ssouri, 64131. It's free. <br /> <br />41 <br /> <br />~ <br />