Hurricane Cleanup Doesn't Have To Be Complicated
Hurricane Nicole has come and gone, but the hard work of cleaning up must now begin. Cleaning up after a hurricane can be a daunting task, but with organization and planning - it's totally manageable. Here are some tips to help you get started on the cleanup process.
Assess – It’s important to take a few minutes to assess the overall situation before starting your storm clean up. The priority is to determine whether it is safe. High wind and flood waters can produce many hidden hazards like downed power lines, debris hidden by water, and sink holes. Standing water can be electrified. There can even be hazards from wildlife and insects (ever seen a raft of fire ants in flood water?!) Make sure the environment is safe before proceeding.
Next in your assessment is the nature of the cleanup. Debris on your property requires different tools than water intrusion or flooding.
Prioritize – Once you’ve taken stock of the situation, you should prioritize your work. A big mess can be overwhelming; so you should make a list and rank order the tasks by order of importance, then work on the most pressing first. Patching roof damage, removing water, and moving/removing large debris are examples of first steps, but everyone will have a different situation.
Gather Tools – Taking a few minutes to determine what you will need for your tasks will save you precious time. The last thing you need when tackling a big cleanup job is multiple trips to the store (or your favorite cleaning products vendor <cough> GOKLEAN! <cough>) to get things you forgot on the first (or second…or third) trip. You will inevitably forget something but taking a few minutes early in the process will help minimize the return trips. I’ve put a list below of things you might need to jog your memory.
Start Cleaning! – No shortcut here…just do the work. Friends, families, and neighbors all pitching in can be a fun way to get a lot done in a short time; and it builds relationships and creates lasting memories. So… if your cleanup is small, give some thought to helping someone else.
Here’s a list of some items that might help you plan your trip to the store:
- Garbage bags
- Rake/Shovel
- Brooms & Mops
- Trash Cans
- Gloves (work gloves, latex/nitrile, etc.)
- Cleaning chemicals (degreaser, bleach, all-purpose cleaner, deodorizer, disinfectant, glass cleaner)
- Rags and wipers
- Absorbent pads
- Safety Glasses
- Masks - especially if your lungs are sensitive or the mess has been sitting for a few days or longer