Step 5. Recovery After a Disaster
We may need help to recover after a disaster. Luckily, there are many organizations and resources ready to lend a hand.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Picking up the pieces after a natural disaster can be overwhelming. Don’t worry — resources are available to help. The trick is knowing where to look. In this action, we’ll break down programs dedicated to helping you with food, shelter and financial support after a disaster.
This action is part of the Get Prepared sequence, be sure to complete all Steps 1-5!
1Step 1: Home recovery
After you get the all clear to return home or start recovery, be careful of hazards! If there is any chance of a gas leak, electrical or structural damage, standing floodwater, or other hazards, or if you are not sure, don’t enter your home. Instead, call local authorities and have a building inspector, structural engineer or other qualified professional inspect the building before you go in.
Action: Take pictures and document damage. Before cleaning up, take pictures, make lists and document all signs of damage for insurance claims. Read more about how to document and file claims in Step 4 below.
Action: Checklist for a safe return home:
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Remove valuables: Keep your most prized possessions in a safe place.
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Check utilities: When you enter your home, check for possible utility hazards. Refer to the How To Turn Off Utilities action for more information on what to look for and how to turn utilities off.
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Building safety: Check your home for cracks in the roof, foundation and chimney. If anything looks unsafe, leave immediately.
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Food and water safety: Never consume food or water if there’s a chance it’s been contaminated. Refer to the Food & Water Safety action for tips on food and water safety after a disaster.
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Falling objects: Be careful opening cabinets and closets for objects that could fall.
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Basements: If your basement has flooded, only gradually pump the water out (FEMA recommends one third of the water per day.) If the ground around the basement is soaked with water, pumping it out too quickly could cause the walls to cave in.
2Step 2: Food, shelter and financial support
There are resources for emergency housing, food, first aid and financial assistance after a disaster. Follow news reports, emergency alerts and the Red Cross app for updates and information on resources available for you and your family.
Action: Apply for food, housing, and financial assistance resources if needed
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Red Cross & Organizations: The Red Cross and other organizations offer direct assistance to individuals and families after a disaster.
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American Red Cross: The Red Cross offers resources including food, shelter, supplies, financial assistance and property clean-up. Listen for local updates on Red Cross resources or:
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Text "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999 for a link to download the Red Cross Emergency app for updates and resources.
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Find your local Red Cross phone number and address by entering your zip code here: redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter
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The Humane Society offers help with evacuating, sheltering and recovering animals.
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Call 211: 211 is a National Call Service that can help connect you with both local and national services. It’s available for about 95% of people in the U.S. in all 50 states.
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Food assistance:
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D-SNAP Federal Assistance: If your region has been declared as an official disaster zone, you may qualify for the D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which provides one month of food assistance. You can also find your state SNAP office and call for more information here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory
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Feeding America, Red Cross, and local food banks:
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Feeding America: Search by zip code to find a local food bank.
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Red Cross: See information under Red Cross above to find resources.
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DisasterAssistance.gov: If a disaster has been declared, additional federal resources may be available. Check here to see if there is assistance in your area then click “Apply Online” and complete the application. If you need help, call 1-800-621-3362 / TTY 1-800-462-7585 7 am to 1 am ET 7 days a week.
3Step 3: Mental health after a disaster
Emergencies and disasters often cause trauma and leave an emotional toll. As you take steps to recover physically and financially, learning to recognize and process feelings of anxiety and grief is also important to recovering after a disaster. Many resources are available to help.
Action: Learn some of the common feelings and experiences after a disaster, and ways to take care of yourself and recover.
Common feelings and responses may include:
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Feeling numb, tired, lonely, sad, or physically or mentally drained.
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Feelings of hopelessness or loss of agency.
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Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
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Changes in appetite, trouble falling or staying asleep, or changes in energy level.
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Feeling short-tempered or frustrated, or losing your temper more easily.
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Feeling like no one else is having the same feelings.
Some ways to cope:
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First, acknowledge your feelings. These are normal, natural reactions to surviving a disaster and you are not alone in feeling this way.
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Maintain a routine, even if it’s different from your pre-disaster routine.
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Eat, hydrate, exercise and rest on a regular basis. Go for a walk outside, or do other exercise that gets your body moving. Taking care of your body reduces the effects of stress.
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Once the threat from the disaster has passed, limit your exposure to disaster-related news.
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Stay connected with friends, family and neighbors.
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Talk with someone about what’s happening and how you’re feeling. This could be someone who’s going through this experience with you, a trusted family member, or friend outside the disaster area, or a professional therapist or counselor.
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Find ways to relax: Listen to your favorite soothing music, breathing exercises or meditation.
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Do fun and social activities you enjoy.
Action: Learn how to help children cope with experiencing a disaster.
Kids may not understand or know how to process what has happened, and may not have the vocabulary or experience to express what they’re feeling. They may have reactions immediately during or after a disaster, or weeks or months later. In addition to the signs above, watch for:
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Increased agitation, crying or neediness
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Trouble sleeping or nightmares
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Reliving the emotions during the disaster, or associating everyday sounds or sights with the disaster
Check out these resources from the Red Cross on Building Resilience in Children Through Coping Skills
Disaster Distress Helpline
If you or a loved one are experiencing ongoing or severe symptoms of grief, depression, anxiety, or stress, seek crisis counseling or therapy. The Disaster Distress Helpline — 1-800-985-5990 — is a national hotline that provides free, confidential, immediate crisis counseling 24/7, 365-day-a-year.
4Step 4: Insurance claims
Before you clean up, document any damage to your property or belongings to use in filing an insurance claim. Make a list and take photos — the more detail about the damage and the cause of the damage, the easier the claims process will be.
Action: Steps to filing an insurance claim
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Contact your insurance agent(s) as soon as possible. If you have separate home, flood, earthquake, or other policies, contact each company. Ask your agent:
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What damage is covered under your policy
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How long you have to file a claim
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How long the claim will take to be processed
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What your deductible is and if your claim exceeds your deductible
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If you’ll need to get estimates before starting repairs
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You can make temporary emergency repairs as needed for safety and to protect your property from further damage. Don’t do any other repairs until the claims adjuster has assessed the damage.
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Document structural damage including inspections from qualified professionals and get written bids for any work from licensed contractors. Be careful of contractors who require large sums upfront or bid very low!
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Save all your receipts related to recovery, including hotel receipts, supplies, repairs, etc.
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Check with your agent before throwing out damaged belongings in case they need to be inspected for claim processing.
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Keep a record of all documents and information that you submit to the insurance company as well as all conversations with your insurance company, including the representative’s name, contact info and the details of the discussion.
5Step 5: Check in on your neighbors
If you’ve created a list of neighbors needing assistance (learn more in the Connect with Community action), check in on them to see if they need help. If you can’t reach a neighbor, knock on their door or leave a note if it is safe to do so. Some people are hesitant to ask for help, reassure them that you are okay and happy to help them.
Action: Learn about ways to help after a disaster
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Volunteer: Contact the Red Cross, your local food bank, or any other organization or agency that’s providing assistance in your area. They’re often flooded with calls, so you can also just show up and ask if they need help!
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Donate blood: Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, but only 3 out of 100 Americans have ever donated blood. Blood donors help patients of all ages, and it’s one of the easiest and most impactful ways to help someone who’s been through an accident, surgery, or other trauma. You can find blood drives near you through America’s Blood Centers or the American Red Cross.
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Out of area disasters — financial donations are best: If you want to help with a disaster outside of your area, money is the fastest, most effective way to help folks recovering from an emergency. Reputable organizations on the ground in the disaster zone can get better deals on goods and stretch the money further, and their distribution processes can be streamlined so that the impact happens faster.
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Donate wisely: Make sure to do some research on any organization before you donate money to them. Make sure they are registered as a non-profit 501c(3) in the United States, and be wary of scammers who ask for direct cash or try to rush you to give. Learn more about how to donate safely here.