Checking Household Items

• Normal household items, such as cleaning products, can cause toxic fumes and other hazards if they mix. If you smell a noxious odor, or your eyes water from fumes of mixed chemicals, open a window and get out of your home. Call for professional help.
• If there are spilled chemicals that do not pose a health risk, be sure to put on rubber gloves in addition to other protective clothing. Clean up spills carefully. Discard spilled chemicals and rags used for cleaning according to the advice of local authorities.
• Throw away food, beverages and medicine exposed to heat, smoke, soot or flood waters. If the refrigerator wasn't under water, food that was in the freezer can be used if it still has ice crystals on it. If not, discard it. Canned food is OK if it didn't get wet.

Checking for Structural Damage

• Check the outside of your home before you enter. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. See if porch roofs and overhangs still have all their supports. If you see damage on the outside, it could indicate that the inside of your home is seriously damaged and unsafe. In this situation, ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.
• If there is no significant visible outside damage, then check inside. Carefully open the door. If it is jammed, do not force it open. It may be providing support to the structure of your home. If you force open the door, it may cause parts of your home to collapse or become more damaged. Find another way to enter your home. Those who do enter your damaged home should wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed rubber- soled shoes or boots and work gloves. Depending on the situation, dust masks, safety glasses (or goggles) and/or a hard hat may also be necessary. Many people are injured after disasters during clean-up—the last thing that you want to do is add injuries to the list of things to take care of after a disaster.
• Smell or sniff for gas. If you detect the odor of natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave the property immediately and get well away from it. Call the fire department using a cellular telephone or a neighbor's phone. If the fire department instructs you to do so, turn off the gas with the proper tool at the valve on the outside meter. When natural gas is turned off at the main valve, it must be turned back on by a professional to ensure that the proper sequence is followed to restore gas service and prevent possible gas leaks, fires or an explosion.
• If you have a propane tank system, turn off all valves and contact a propane supplier to check the system out before you use it again.
• Beware of animals, such as rodents, snakes, spiders and insects that may have entered your home. As you inspect your home, tap loudly and often on the floor with a stick to give notice that you are there. Animals (including snakes) do not want encounters with humans, and will move away if you make your presence known.
• Objects, such as furnishings or building parts that have been damaged, may be unstable. Be very cautious when moving near them. Avoid holding, pushing or leaning against damaged building parts.
• Check the ceiling for signs of sagging. Water from fire hoses, wind, rain or deep flooding may wet plaster or wallboard. Wet plaster or wallboard is very heavy and dangerous if it falls. Since damaged plaster or wallboard will have to be replaced anyway, you can try to knock it down but do so carefully. Wear protective clothing, including eye protection and a hard hat. Use a long stick, and stand well away from the damaged area. If the ceiling is sagging from the weight of water, poke holes in the ceiling starting from the outside of the bulge to let water drain out slowly. Take your time, and knock away small chunks at a time. Striking the center of the damaged area first may cause the ceiling to collapse.
• Check the floor for signs of sagging. Again, keep in mind that plywood and other flooring that was damaged by water could collapse under human weight. Avoid walking on sagging floors. If small sections of floors are sagging, place thick plywood panels or thick, strong boards on the floor to cover the damaged area. Be sure the wood extends at least 8–12 inches on each side of the sagging area.
• If it is dry out, open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
• If the power is out, use a flashlight to inspect for damage and for as long as the power remains out. Do not use any open flame, including candles, to inspect for damage or serve as alternate lighting.
• Disconnect and check all appliances for water damage and broken connections before using them.
• Make temporary repairs, such as covering holes, bracing walls and removing debris. Save all receipts.
• Take photographs of the damage. You may need these to substantiate insurance claims later.