hurricanewatchdog.com
keeping an eye on the sky
AFTER THE STORM
The looters appear to take whatever they can get their hands on from people who have little or nothing left. Even the wildlife is confused. After Hurricane Katrina, we came back to the Mississippi Coast to heavy traffic, downed trees, debris in every direction and a lone alligator in a median near Highway 90. I have often thought about that alligator and what he or she must have been thinking. How far had he/she been washed away from home?
No one and no thing is unaffected. Even for those who have a home left standing or undamaged, normalcy is gone. Familiar places like restaurants, churches, stores and parks may never be quite the same. Yet, knowing all that, those who return must pick up the pieces and go on. If you are facing this daunting task, Hurricanewatchdog.com has tips for you we hope will make the days ahead a little easier.
DEALING WITH IT
-- Be patient - it may take quite a while to get power back, have clean water to drink or bathe in, to be able to buy those groceries you need, to get through the traffic to even get gasoline to buy for that generator. Tempers will flare because too many people need too many of the same things, and they all have been traumatized. If you come in contact with someone whose anger is out of control, just walk away. Different people deal with disasters in different ways, and some people do not deal with it well. To confront such a person invites a bigger disaster than you are already facing.
-- Be willing to help your neighbor, but be willing to ask for help, too. You may need help cutting all those limbs away from the house, picking up aluminum siding that's all over your yard (that you have no clue which house it even came from).
-- Don't keep your feelings inside. Talk to someone - a friend, clergy, relatives. You may think that those crazy thoughts you have are yours alone. That is, until you find out many of your friends are having them, too. Depression, anger, inability to concentrate, sleeplessness, hopelessness are all part of it. Post-traumatic stress is really quite common. It may not appear in the first days, but may take weeks or months. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, it was more than a year before many people showed symptoms. It is thought that it's because many of them were so busy trying to clean up and deal with day-to-day living that they never slowed down to think. When they did, they were overwhelmed. If you have children, be especially sensitive to their reactions. Let them talk, draw, paint or express themselves whenever they feel like it. They and you need to know it's OK to cry. Alot. Healing from an event like this is much like healing from the death of a loved one. As a matter of fact, I would describe my feelings for a long time after the storm as mourning. I did not know any of the persons who died in the storm and my house was still standing. I mourned though, for the losses of others and the things and places I loved like the stately old houses along the beach front, restaurants my family and I so enjoyed, and live oaks that were decimated. I knew that life would never be the same. You need to know that these feelings are normal and to be expected, but be prepared to get the help you need to work through them - particularly if you may have thoughts of true hopelessness or suicide. Contact your local authorities to direct you to mental health facilities, if you don't know how to reach that facility. They will be glad to help.
FINDING LOVED ONES AND LETTING OTHERS KNOW YOU'RE OK
Do you need to locate someone after a storm or do you need to let people know you're OK? Click here to go to the Red Cross' Safe and Well List. You can add your name or search for names there.
REPORTING DAMAGE
Do you have damage? Before you move the first limb, take photos of everything as proof for your insurance company. Food ruined? Make a list before you throw it out. Many policies will pay for loss of food due to lack of power. Before beginning actual repairs, contact your insurance company to see if the adjuster needs to view damage first. For damage to roofs, keep blue tarps stored that can be used to cover areas missing shingles. Contact your insurance company as soon as you see you have damage. Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency, too (FEMA). There are some situations that FEMA will pay for some damages if you are uninsured or underinsured. FEMA will need contact information, your current insurance companies name, and what damage has been done. After reporting this information, they will give you a reference number. Keep it with your records as you will need it whenever you contact them. FEMA can be reached by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For more details or to apply online go to www.fema.gov.. I've also located a good article about what you need to know about your insurance claim. Go to ABCnews.com to get more information that will help you in dealing with your claim.
SCAMS
Along with the looters, come the scammers. Mighty sad (as we say down in the South), but true, so protect yourself first. Don't let it happen to you. Check out that business first. Ask for a list of references with phone numbers you can call, go to www.bbb.org to check their records on the company. Make sure they have a satisfactory record. Check with friends, relatives and neighbors. Who do they recommend? AND, never pay up front. Many individuals gave large sums of money to contractors after Katrina. Some contractors did the work they’d agreed to do, but many didn’t. Families often gave all or most of savings or insurance proceeds never to have the job done, receive shoddy workmanship or partially finished jobs. Always get it in writing. Have your contractor draw up a contract specifying everything he will do, what your cost will be, how long the job will take to complete, and a guarantee of satisfaction and workmanship. Ask to see his license or permits. Have him include warranties, if applicable. You want your life back to normal quickly, but take the extra time to make sure that someone isn’t taking advantage of you!
VOLUNTEERING
-- Consider volunteering at the local shelter or supply center. If you haven't received heavy damage, your local shelter and supply centers DESPERATELY need your help. As a local volunteer at my church's supply center, never were there enough people to give out the food, blankets, first aid and clothing that was so badly needed. An endless of line of people needed things so badly. We could not keep up with the demand. Go, if you can, even for a few hours. It WILL make a difference.
That being said, if you are outside of the affected zone and want to help, bless you! As many of the Hurricane Katrina volunteers have said, they received more than they gave. Try it and see! Here are links to some agencies to get you started: