|
Insurance and Other Assistance: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible If you are renting, contact the property owner or the owner's insurance company. If you are not insured, contact your lawyer or the IRS for directions. Contact the American Red Cross (843) 339-2675 for disaster relief services. Your Property: Secure the site from further damage by weather, theft, or vandalism. This is the owner's responsibility. Check with Fire Department to see if utilities are shut off and if structure is safe to enter. Inventory damaged personal property. Note in detail the quantity, description, cost, how long you have had the items, the damage sustained and replacement cost. Take photographs if possible. Do not throw away damaged goods until the inventory has been done.
Other Tips: Do not contract for estimating, inventory or repair services without first consulting your insurance agent. Save all receipts for expenses incurred due to fire.
If You Have to Leave Your Home: Remember to take the following: Identification Medicines Eyeglasses, hearing aids, or other personal aids Valuables - credit cards, checkbooks, insurance policies, savings account books, money, jewelry, etc. If you relocate, notify: Your Employer Delivery services Family and friends Your Insurance agent The Mortgage company The Post Office
|
|
Leather and Books: Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspapers to retain shape. Leave suitcases open. Leather goods should be allowed to dry in a well ventilated area away from direct sun or heat. Use of a polish or saddle soap on smooth leather items can restore necessary lanolin and oils. Suede items can be brushed with a light steel wool, fine wire brush or fine sandpaper. Books can be dried by placing them on end, following by pressing the book together - when reasonably dried, alternate drying and pressing to help prevent mildew until thoroughly dried. Sprinkling cornstarch or talc between the pages will aid in drying of very damp books - leave powders on for several hours and lightly brush off. If drying of books will be delayed place in cold storage to delay mildew from forming. Consult a dry cleaner for heavily stained leather garments. Locks and Hinges: Take apart, wipe with kerosene and oil. If they cannot be removed, squirt machine oil through bolt opening or keyhole and work knob to distribute the oil. Mattresses: Reconditioning an innerspring mattress at home is very difficult, if not impossible - replace or take to a company that builds or repairs mattresses. It is impossible to remove smoke odor from pillows, replacement is best. Money, Coins, Savings Bonds: Handle burned money as little as possible. Attempt to encase each bill or portion of a bill in plastic wrap for preservation. If money is only half-burned or less (if half or more of the bill is intact), you can take the remainder to your local Federal Reserve Bank for replacement. Ask your personal bank for the nearest one. Or you can mail the burned or torn money via FIRST CLASS REGISTERED MAIL to: US Treasury Department Mutilated or melted coins can be taken to the Federal Reserve Bank, or mailed via FIRST CLASS REGISTERED MAIL to: Superintendent, US Assay Office If your US Savings Bonds have been mutilated or destroyed, write to: US Treasury Department Include name(s) and address(s) on bonds, approximate date or time period when purchased, denominations and approximate number of each.
Walls, Furniture and Draperies: To remove soot and smoke from walls furniture and floors, do the following. Mix together: 4-6 tablespoons of TSP 1 cup Lysol or any chloride bleach 1 gallon warm water wear rubber gloves when cleaning. Wash articles, rinse with clear warm water, and dry thoroughly. Walls may be washed down while wet, use a mild soap detergent, wash from the floor up, rinse immediately, wash ceilings last. Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry. Wallpaper - contact the local wallpaper dealer for more information. Loose wallpaper can be reattached with a commercial paste. Wood Furniture and Fixtures: Smoke and soot will often travel to areas where the fire has not reached. Therefore, for smoke and soot damage as well as water damage, care must be taken when cleaning wood furniture and fixtures to prevent surface scarring: Wipe off all finished surfaces with a soft cloth dampened with a mild cleaning solution Remove all drawers and open cabinets so they can dry thoroughly. This will prevent sticking. Clean friction surfaces (tracks and guides) with a stiff brush and cleaning solution. Dry thoroughly; wet wood can mold and decay. Open doors and windows for ventilation and if necessary, turn on a heater or air conditioner. If mold is present or forms, wipe the area with a cloth soaked in a mixture of water and kerosene or Borax dissolved in water. Do not dry furniture in the sun. The wood may warp and twist out of shape. To remove white spots or film, rub the surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup of household ammonia and 1/2 cup of water. Wipe dry and polish with furniture wax or a solution of 1/2 cup turpentine and 1/2 cup of linseed oil. You can also rub the wood surface with a 4/0 steel wool pad dripped in liquid polishing wax, wipe with a soft cloth and then buff. For draperies damaged by smoke or odor, a reputable drapery cleaner should be contacted for a free estimate. CAUTION: Most furniture polishes and the turpentine-linseed solution are flammable. The cloth used in applying them is susceptible to spontaneous ignition, so hang the cloth outdoors to allow to dry. |
|
After the Fire Considerations |
Salvage Tips |
Things to Do and People to Contact |