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Saturday, June 06, 1998 Page: 2A
After the storm
We asked other communities hit by tornadoes for advice on cleaning up. We
also went to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state Department of
Environmental ProtectionBefore the cleanup
Don’t go alone: It’s best to deal with a stressful or traumatic experience
with a friend or family member at your side.
Record the damage: Immediately document property losses and damages for
insurance and tax purposes. The documentation process does not need to be
difficult or complex.
It’s important to take pictures and do a complete inventory of damage
before the mess gets cleaned up. A month from now, you might not remember what
you threw away. IRS publications 584 helps you itemize room by room damage.
Call 1-800-829-3676 for a copy. Damages are tax deductible to the amount over
any insurance reimbursement. Find insurance papers, drivers licenses, Social
Security cards, checkbooks, photo albums and other important and sentimental
documents. Keep all receipts.
Secure your belongings: Bring items inside your home and garage. Cover
windows and other openings with plywood, or lock doors and windows, to
discourage looters.
No electricity?: If you’re going to hook a generator to your home’s main
power supply, look out for “back feeding.” That happens when the generated
power exits the home through the main line. Trouble is, the power can activate
a downed line that might be viewed as dead.
Other utilities: Check for a smell of gas and look for exposed and downed
electrical lines. If you smell gas, do not try to cook. Open all windows and
doors, turn off the main gas valve at the meter, and leave the house
immediately.
The cleanup
Safety gear: Wear sturdy work boots and gloves when going into the area
because of broken glass.
No kids allowed? You might want to teach kids about volunteerism by having
them help clean up, but they can get hurt easily on storm debris such as
broken glass, nails, auto parts and trees.
Stay away: Leave the tree removal to the experts. Even if you have a chain
saw, don’t interfere unless you’re asked to help.
Hidden dangers: Have a professional check for structural damage. You might
not be able to see some problems.
Burning: Do not burn debris for heat or disposal. The Department of
Environmental Protection will consider requests to burn debris on a
case-by-case basis, but only with the approval of the local government. If
open burning is used, devices known as air-curtain destroyers are recommended
to provide for more complete combustion.
Don’t mix it: While most debris from this disaster typically contains
household items, trees and brush, and demolition-type waste from homes and
buildings, it also can contain harmful chemicals and other wastes that might
have to be handled separately. Debris should be visually inspected to exclude
mixing tanks, barrels and other containers with harmful industrial chemicals
and potentially hazardous wastes.
Before you eat
Water: The water supply might be disrupted or contaminated. Drink only
approved or chlorinated water. Consider all water from well, cisterns and
other delivery systems in the disaster area unsafe until tested.
Don’t try the taste test: Don’t taste food to test for safety. Some foods
might look and smell fine, but if they’ve been at room temperature longer than
two hours, bacteria able to cause food-borne illness can begin to multiply
very rapidly. Some types will produce toxins that are destroyed by cooking and
can possibly cause illness.
Check it: Check food for glass or slivers of other debris. Discard canned
foods with broken seams.
Freeze it: Refreeze thawed foods that still contain ice crystals or feel
cold.
Keep it: The following foods should keep at room temperature a few days:
Butter or margarine; hard and processed cheese; fresh fruits and vegetables;
dried fruits and coconut; opened jars of vinegar-based salad dressings, jelly,
relish, taco sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, ketchup, olives and peanut
butter; fruit juices; fresh herbs and spices; fruit pies, bread, rolls and
muffins; cakes- except cream cheese frosted or cream filled; flour and nuts.
Still, discard anything that turns moldy or has an unusual odor.
Toss it: Discard the following