Disaster Recovery Services Safety Tips

Preventative Measures

Document and inventory property regularly and thoroughly
Maintain the right amount and type of insurance
Post the phone/contact information for emergency responders at phones throughout your home or business. The numbers should include; fire, police and utility companies.
Make sure someone in your family or on your staff knows how to contact your insurance company or agent
Your local fire department will probably be glad to conduct a fire safety inspection in your home and a regular, annual inspection for your business
Plan and practice emergency procedures and evacuations at home and work
Use a fireproof box, or a bank safe deposit box, to store important documents

First Emergency Responses - Water and Electricity

Document and inventory property regularly and thoroughly
Let your local utility companies deal with any utility that needs shutoff or repair
If you need to leave because of the damage, lock all doors and windows and take high-value items with you.
If the damage is significant, do not leave the building unsecured. Local ordinances generally require that you secure damaged premises by boarding up, or some other means
As soon as you can, remove all standing water and moisture as completely as you can
If the heat fails and it's below freezing, letting a faucet or water supply line trickle slowly will help to prevent frozen, broken pipes. If repairs to the heating system will take more than 24 hours, it's a good idea to drain all supply lines, water heaters and plumbing fixtures.
Dispose of any food contaminated by water contact and, if the electricity fails for an extended period, discard perishable foods from refrigerator. It only takes a couple of hours for bacterial growth to start and spread.

First Emergency Responses - Smoke and Fire

Blow off or brush loose ash and smoke particles from upholstery, drapes and carpets. A blow dryer works well for small areas. A leaf blower works well on larger areas.
After removing the smoke residue, cover the carpet and upholstery (if not wet) to prevent recontamination
Cover heating and air conditioning vents with cheesecloth or another filtering medium to minimize the circulation of smoke and soot
Wash ash and soot off plant leaves
Wash pets and remove them if there appear to be any toxic hazards
Change the air filter on the HVAC system
Do not use electrical equipment that appears to be sooty or damaged
Do not use ordinary cleaning products on smoke or fire damaged items