After a natural disaster, your first priority is confirming that you and everyone around you are physically safe. From there, the steps branch out: checking your home for hazards, securing clean water and food, documenting damage for insurance, and applying for assistance. Each of these has specific details that can make a real difference in how quickly and safely you recover.
Check for Immediate Safety Hazards
Before you re-enter your home, look around the exterior for downed power lines, visible foundation cracks, and any smell of gas. If you smell natural gas or hear a hissing sound near your gas line, leave the area immediately. Do not flip any light switches or use lighters, matches, or open flames, because even a small spark can ignite leaking gas.
Once you’re reasonably sure the outside is safe, check the interior carefully. A sagging ceiling means it absorbed water and is now dangerously heavy. A sagging floor could collapse under your weight, so avoid walking on it. Look for missing support beams, shifted walls, and cracks in the foundation. If anything looks structurally unstable, stay out until a professional inspects it.
Shutting Off Utilities
If you suspect damage to any utility line, shut it off at the source. For gas, use a wrench to turn the valve at the meter (keep a wrench stored near the meter ahead of time). For water, turn the main valve to the right to close it. This prevents contaminated water from entering your plumbing and water heater. You may need a special valve wrench from a hardware store. For electricity, locate your main breaker panel and switch off all power. Only shut off gas if you actually smell it or hear hissing, since restoring gas service typically requires a utility technician.
Make Water Safe to Drink
Assume your tap water is unsafe until local authorities confirm otherwise. Boiling is the most reliable method: bring clear water to a rolling boil for one full minute. If you’re above 6,500 feet in elevation, boil for three minutes.
If you can’t boil water, household bleach works. Use regular, unscented liquid bleach with a sodium hypochlorite concentration between 5% and 9%, which covers most store-bought brands in the U.S. For one gallon of clear water, add 8 drops of bleach. For five gallons, add half a teaspoon. If the water is cloudy or very cold, double those amounts. Stir well and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before drinking. Store disinfected water in clean containers with tight-fitting lids.
Food Safety During a Power Outage
A refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours with the door closed. A full freezer holds its temperature for roughly 48 hours; a half-full freezer, about 24 hours. The key is keeping the doors shut as much as possible.
Once those windows pass, throw out all perishable items: meat, fish, eggs, milk, cut fruits and vegetables, and leftovers. When in doubt, throw it out. If your food spoiled because of a power failure, take photos or keep a written list of what you lost. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies cover spoiled food, often up to $500 or more, sometimes with no deductible.
Avoid Floodwater Contact
Floodwater is not just dirty rainwater. It routinely contains sewage, household chemicals, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff. Contact with it can cause wound infections, skin rashes, gastrointestinal illness, and in some cases tetanus. Along the Gulf Coast, rarer bacterial infections are also a concern.
Floodwater can also conceal physical dangers: submerged debris, downed power lines, displaced vehicles, and animals like rodents and snakes that have been pushed out of their usual habitats. If you have any open cuts or wounds, keep them completely away from floodwater and clean them thoroughly with disinfected water and soap if contact occurs. Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during any cleanup.
Handle Sanitation When Plumbing Is Down
If your sewer or septic system is damaged, do not flush toilets. Sewage backup creates a serious health hazard. The simplest short-term solution is a bucket lined with a heavy-duty plastic bag. After each use, add a small amount of kitty litter, sawite, or dirt to reduce odor and absorb moisture, then seal the bag tightly. Bury sealed bags at least two feet deep and well away from any water source if trash collection isn’t available.
If you’re in a larger group or expect a longer disruption, a trench latrine works: dig a narrow trench, use a temporary privacy screen, and cover waste with a layer of soil after each use. Chemical toilets (portable toilets) are ideal if available, but they require periodic professional servicing. Whatever method you use, wash your hands thoroughly afterward with disinfected water or hand sanitizer.
Document Everything for Insurance
Before you clean up or make any repairs, photograph and video all damage. Capture wide shots of each room and close-ups of specific damage to walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, and personal belongings. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim.
Call your insurance agent or company as soon as possible to report the damage. Ask specifically about temporary living expenses: if your home is uninhabitable due to covered damage, your homeowners or renters policy may pay for a hotel or rental while repairs are underway. Check your policy for coverage limits on this. Once you’ve documented everything, you can make temporary repairs like covering holes, tarping the roof, and bracing damaged walls to prevent further damage. Keep receipts for any materials or services you pay for during temporary repairs, since these costs are often reimbursable.
Apply for Federal Assistance
If a federal disaster has been declared in your area, you may qualify for FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. This can help cover housing repairs, temporary rental assistance, and other serious disaster-related needs. To be eligible, you need to meet a few conditions: you must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien; your losses must result from the declared disaster; and your insurance or other sources must not already cover the costs. Assistance is generally limited to your primary residence.
Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. You can upload documents directly through your online account, which speeds up the process. Don’t wait for your insurance claim to be finalized before applying. FEMA coordinates with insurers and will adjust assistance based on what your policy covers.
Watch for Emotional and Mental Health Effects
Disasters take a psychological toll that often surfaces days or weeks later. Trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and loss of interest in normal activities are all common stress reactions. In most people, these symptoms ease within a few weeks.
Children show distress differently. They may complain of stomachaches or headaches, have nightmares, refuse to go to bed, lose interest in things they usually enjoy, or become unusually angry. These reactions are normal in the short term, but if they last longer than a month, it’s worth reaching out to a healthcare provider.
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides free, confidential crisis counseling around the clock in multiple languages. Call or text 800-985-5990. For anyone in immediate emotional crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988.
Prevent Mold Before It Starts
Mold can begin colonizing wet surfaces within 24 to 48 hours. If your home flooded, dry out the interior as fast as possible. Open windows, run fans, and use dehumidifiers if you have power. Remove soaked carpeting, drywall, and insulation that cannot be fully dried. Hard surfaces like concrete and wood framing can often be cleaned with soap and water, then dried thoroughly. Wear a mask, gloves, and eye protection during mold cleanup, since inhaling mold spores can cause respiratory problems, especially for people with asthma or weakened immune systems.