Resources for floods and aftermath

FEMA Fact Sheets

Disaster Recovery Steps: Things to consider before entering your home after a disaster, especially around flooded conditions.
Disaster Survivor’s Checklist: Reference guide on what to do after a FEMA-declared disaster.
FEMA Questions and Answers: Common questions related to filing a claim with FEMA.
Help after a Disaster: FEMA Individual Assistance Can Help You Recover: FEMA informational brochure (English and Spanish).
What Happens at the Inspection: What to expect after filing a FEMA claim.
Replacing Personal Documents: Assistance with replacing personal documents lost in a disaster.

Other Federal Resources

Small Business Administration: After you file a FEMA claim, you may be referred to the Small Business Administration for information about a low-interest loan. The SBA is the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery assistance.

Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: You may be eligible for disaster relief food assistance.

Department of Justice: Members of the public can report disaster relief fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement at disaster@leo.gov or 866-720-5721. Individuals can also report criminal activity to the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: This website provides information on the National VOAD’s member organizations, which share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle—preparation, response and recovery—to help disaster survivors and their communities. All organizations have service-oriented missions and include volunteer engagement as a key component of their operations.

Health and Safety Resources, including Post-Disaster Debris and Mold Cleanup

One of the worst effects of water damage comes in the form of mold, which can cause serious health problems.

OSHA Guidance: Mold hazards during disaster cleanup
OSHA Guidance: Fungi hazards and flood cleanup
OSHA Guidance: Keeping workers safe during disaster cleanup and recovery
OSHA Guidance: General decontamination
OSHA Guidance: PPE Matrix for disaster cleanup and recovery
OSHA Guidance: Flood cleanup
Awareness for post-disaster property debris cleanup - a primer on best practices for cleaning up after a disaster, from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Urban flooding factsheet - This fact sheet provides some tips to help workers and homeowners protect themselves during or after urban flooding events from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Homeowner's and renter's guide to mold cleanup after disasters - a multi-agency resource guide developed by the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force.
Cleaning up after a major storm - This is an AFT factsheet that highlights some of the most important considerations before cleaning up after a flooding situation.
Protecting Yourself While Helping Others, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Recursos en español

Pasos para la recuperacion en casos de desastre
Limpieza después de una Tormenta Mayor
Limpieza de Alfombras (carpetas) y Alfombras de Área dañadas por las Inundaciones - Cuando desechar, limpiar o llamar a un profesional.
Guía del propietario y arrendatario para la limpieza de moho después de desastres
Una breve guía para el moho, la humedad y su hogar

Post-Incident Resources for Mental Health and Well-Being

Trauma counseling program for AFT members only - A free benefit for all active working AFT members to provide help and healing after facing personal or workplace trauma.
Free trauma counseling for AFT members who have suffered injury, disease, or trauma because of a natural disaster.
Tips for survivors of a disaster or other traumatic event - factsheet on managing stress from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – SAMHSA
Tips for talking with and helping children and youth cope after a disaster or traumatic event - A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – SAMHSA
Tips for survivors coping with grief - A factsheet on coping with grief after a disaster or traumatic event from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – SAMHSA
Tips for healthcare practitioners and responders - a factsheet on helping survivors cope with grief after a disaster or traumatic event from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – SAMHSA
The health consequences of chronic stress - an AFT factsheet the consequences of stress with some ideas on actions individuals can take to reduce stress.
CDC Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage with trauma and disaster mental health resources.
FEMA Helping Children Cope with Disaster—This site offers parents, caregivers and other adults suggestions on how to help children cope with the effects of disaster.