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can no longer damage your home. There are programs that will buy some properties with hous- es that have been destroyed or substantially damaged. Other programs give financial help to move or elevate houses so they are above flood levels. See Step 7 for more information on flood- proofing assistance programs. If you decide to stay, you can take steps to protect your house from damage in the next flood. Before you start trying to make things just like they were before, look at the flood proofing mea- sures in Step 8. Floodproofing as you repair and rebuild can save you a lot of money over time, Protecting your house from future floods will also add value to your property. Plan Your Reeo".ry Get organized with a recovery plan. A recovery plan is simply a list of jobs that need to be done. Planning can help you save time and money. Doing things in the right order will also make every- one feel better-you'll know you are making progress with- out wasting effort, To develop a recovery plan, follow these steps: :::)' Make sure it is safe to work in your home. You will want to go back to your home as quickly as possible. But you must make sure that the building is safe and sound. (See Step 2.) o Review the rest of the recovery steps in this book. Start making lists. Begin with the big projects such as "replace furnace" and "dry out walls." Write down things you will need, such as clean- ing supplies or film and paper for record keeping. If neces- sary, make plans for a place to stay while you clean up. o Decide what you can and can't do. You can save money by doing as much of the work described in this book as you can. But be realistic. Jobs such as propping up broken foun- dations and replacing elec- trical service boxes are best left to the professionals. Many other jobs may be too involved or too heavy for you. o Decide if you need {'mancial assistance_ If you need to replace items or hire a profes- sional and you don't have insurance, there may be some volunteer organizations that can help you. (See Step 7.) Check the local newspaper and tune in to local radio and TV stations for notices about Red Cross, church, and gov- ernment disaster assistance. o Check with your mortgage holder. If your mortgage holder is listed on your insur- ance policy, you cannot cash your insurance claim check without their approval. Before you decide on repairing and flood proofing, make sure that your loan will not be affected. The mortgage holder may be able to provide financial help, such as deferring interest pay- ments for a month or two. o Think before you use credit cards. Credit cards may be the fastest way to handle expenses for repair and "l"~ ; >, 5.'J." P - - -~ ,. Get Organized, J tto,;J' Cleanup and Repair- Who Does What? Jobs you might want to do by following the steps in this book Sorting contents to be repaired or discarded Drying the ceiling, walls, and floors Drying and cleaning electrical cir- cuits and boxes (if code allows) Removing minor debris such as branches and trash Checking the gas or oil system Fixing leaky pipes Checking the sewage disposal system Cleaning the building and contents Checking sources of financial help Doing minor flood proofing pro- jects, such as building an earthen wall or raising appliances Jobs that usually require senrices of a professional Making structural repairs Restoring electrical service Replacing, taping, and finishing wallboard Checking the water system to make sure that it is safe to drink (This service is often free from the local health department.) Removing major debris, such as cutting trees Cleaning and repairing electrical and gas appliances and motors . Cleaning leather, furs, uphol- stered furniture, and expensive carpeting . Doing major flood proofing pro. jects, such as moving or elevating a house 13