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<br /> <br />Clean Up <br /> <br />28 <br /> <br />tie caps or screw-on lids-they <br />do not keep out floodwaters. <br />The u.s. Department of <br />Agriculture operates a food <br />safety hotline. Professional <br />home economists can answer <br />your questions about whether <br />to keep or discard food. Call <br />1-800-535-4555 between 10:00 <br />a.m. and 4:00 p.m. eastern <br />time, Monday through Frtday. <br /> <br />paper and Books <br />Valuable papers such as books, <br />photographs, and stamp collec- <br />tions can be restored with a <br />great deal of effort. They can be <br />rinsed and frozen (in a frost-free <br />freezer or commercial meat <br />locker) until you have time to <br />work on them. A slightly less <br />effective alternative to freezing is <br />to place paper in a sealed con- <br />tainer, such as a plastic bag, with <br />moth crystals. <br />Dry papers quickly when you <br />thaw or unseal them. (A blow <br />dryer will do.) Don't try to force <br />paper products apart-just keep <br />drying them. Photocopy valuable <br />papers and records soon be- <br />cause substances in the floodwa- <br />ter may make them deteriorate. <br />If a computer disk or tape has <br />valuable information, rinse it in <br />clear water and put it in a plastic <br />bag in the refrigerator. Later, you <br />can take it to a professional dry- <br />ing center and have the data <br />transferred to a good disk or <br />tape. Many companies that spe- <br />cialize in restoring computers <br />and computer records after a <br />disaster are members of the <br />Disaster Recovery Institute. To <br />find a member company near <br />you, call (314) 846-2007. <br /> <br />The Yard <br />As you get rid of things from <br />your house, don't turn your yard <br />into a dump. Health hazards <br />such as food and garbage must <br />be hauled away as soon as your <br />insurance agent or adjuster has <br />told you how to make sure their <br />loss is covered. Other things you <br />throwaway should be removed <br />as soon as your insurance <br />adjuster says it's OK. <br />Mosquitoes can carry many <br />diseases, and a flood can create <br />ideal conditions for them to <br />breed. Drain or remove standing <br />water because it can become a <br />breeding ground. Also dump <br />water out of barrels, old tires, <br />and cans. Check to be sure that <br />your gutters and downspouts <br />are clean and can drain. Ditches <br />and drains also need to be <br />cleaned so they can carry storm <br />water away from your house. <br />If you can't get rid of standing <br />water, your hardware or farm <br />supply store may carry a com- <br />mercial product that kills <br />mosquito larvae but does not <br />harm other animals. A slightly <br />less effective method is to apply <br />a thin film of cooking oil to the <br />water. Repeat the application <br />within a few days if a rain has <br />disturbed the film. <br /> <br />The Lawn <br />Lawns usually survive being <br />underwater for up to 4 days. Salt <br />water should be hosed off tl;1e <br />lawn and shrubs. Some grasses <br />are not damaged by saltwater <br />flooding. Check with your local <br />nursery, garden store, or <br />Cooperative Extension Service <br />(see below). You may have to <br />