Path to Recovery after Hurricane Harvey

“Last year (Spring 2016 in my area and Fall 2016 in south Louisiana) I worked with Flood remediation crews from our church gutting homes, treating for mildew and mold, etc. and in the process met many that had flooded homes. Below is a piece of information to pass along to anyone whose home did flood. Follow it to a “T”. Those flooded were effected emotionally and financially forever. Can’t do much about the emotional damages but doing these things can at least help some with the financial. Bottom line take pics to document each stage, gut the damaged house ASAP (each day you wait the worse the mildew and mold will be) …very tough to completely treat and remove (any spores left within wall, etc can grow later) and arrange for as less expensive housing as possible, no telling how long before you will be able to move back to the home. Most likely many weeks but also very possibly many months.

Purchase a copier with fax options...it will be worth its weight in gold during this ordeal. It will save you time and money. Trust me. Gut your home immediately. Salvage what you can. Establish a daily log on your cell phone using the note app or something similar. With it you can log both written and pictorial records. 

Now will be the time for your local politicians to assist you all and let them know their seat of representation will depend on it. You are in for a long haul. Register with www.disasterassistance.gov immediately. They will assist with temporary rental and storage. Tip. Move in with a friend or relative. Establish a rental agreement and provide them with receipts. We're still recovering from the Louisiana 2016 flood. The above are just a few of the things we found very helpful especially that fax machine. It allowed us to get info to FEMA without delay. Fax with a scan option won't require as much paperwork handling on your part when providing FEMA required documents. Hope this helps someone. This is not second hand nor hearsay advice...hot off the press first-hand experience. Beware of unscrupulous contractors especially out of town contractors. Give no money up front, ever. If they demand then take their pic, get their contact info, get a pic of their driver’s license and plate number and then politely tell them you will be in touch. When they leave, report their AZ to the local board of licensed contractors. There's more but this will get you started. Prayers help and luck is good but money and assistance and wisdom and perseverance and patience is practical.”