Please review and share tips below for cleaning up safely and resources that may help.
First off, please only return home when officials say it is safe to do so. Do not enter your damaged home if:
⛽️ You smell gas
🌊 Floodwaters remain around the building
🚨 Authorities have not declared it safe to enter
TIPS TO CLEAN UP 🧹 SAFELY:
🌞 Wait until daylight to clean up
⚡️ Don’t touch or cut any downed lines
🌊 Stay away from flooded areas
🪑 Be sure to take lots of breaks to avoid straining your body.
🪚 Be very careful with chainsaws and other power tools.
💧 Stay hydrated and take breaks in the A/C ❄️ (if available).
CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH THE CLEANUP?
🗑 ️You can ask for and lend a hand to your neighbors by posting to YOUR neighborhood’s Nextdoor news feed using this link: https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?open_composer=true&hashtag=cleanuphelp - Be sure to select “Your neighborhood” or “Nearby neighborhoods” to reach the neighbors closest to you. The kind neighbors at CrisisCleanUp.org have activated their Home Cleanup Hotline for Survivors of Hurricane Ian. Survivors can call (800) 451-1954 - most volunteer groups will work through (DATE)
Volunteers may be able to assist with the following:
🌳 Cutting fallen trees
🎛️ Drywall, flooring & appliance removal
🏘️ Tarping roofs
🏚️ Mold mitigation
What is out of their scope of help?
🚫 Large tree removal, or removing trees leaning on homes
🚫 Fire cleanup
🚫 Activities requiring permits (plumbing, electrical, rebuilding, etc.)
🚫 Hauling debris to landfills
Is help guaranteed? No. Volunteers only work with non-professional volunteer groups that do not charge money for their services. They exclude for-profit contractors, and any groups they know have a bad reputation. Volunteer groups are unskilled and may be unable to complete all the work. We recommend supervising volunteers to ensure they do a good job. Please let CrisisCleanUp.org know if you know any group that is not doing a good job.
If you have other tips, share them below in the comments, and kindly repost this message to your neighbors on Nextdoor by clicking the "Share" button/arrow below and then "Repost in newsfeed."
