After the Storm
More people die after a hurricane than during it. The hazards shift from wind and surge to carbon monoxide, heat, downed power lines, and delayed medical care. The first 72 hours after landfall are when most post-storm deaths occur, and a clear plan for that window saves lives.
Do not return to your home until local officials say it is safe. Roads may be impassable, bridges may be closed, and utilities may be down. Re-entry to barrier islands and beach towns is often restricted to residents with a decal or permit for several days.
Generator safety
Carbon monoxide from portable generators is the leading cause of post-hurricane death. After Laura and Ida in Louisiana, more people died from generator carbon monoxide than from the storms themselves. Run any generator at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent, never in a garage or carport, and keep a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm inside the home.
The first 72 hours
- Stay indoors until officials confirm roads are clear and downed power lines are de-energized. Treat every downed line as live.
- Do not drink tap water until a boil-water advisory is lifted. Use your stored water supply.
- Check on neighbors, especially elderly or medically dependent residents, as soon as it is safe to go outside.
- Photograph all damage before you remove anything or begin cleanup. Insurance and FEMA both require documentation.
Filing an insurance claim
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Claims are processed in the order they are received.
- Make only temporary repairs to prevent further damage, such as tarping a roof. Keep receipts for all materials and labor.
- Wind and flood are separate policies. File under both if your damage involves water from surge or rain, because the cause of loss determines which policy pays.
- If you are underinsured or denied, apply for FEMA individual assistance at disasterassistance.gov.