Hurricane Ike: After the Storm

We in the Houston, Texas area are just now starting to recover from the effects of Hurricane Ike.  There are not too many people who were not affected in some way by the hurricane though the damage done varies significantly by area.  Almost everyone lost power in the city and surrounding areas.  Unfortunately, it also took anywhere from days to weeks to restore that power depending on where you lived.  For us it took several days.  Friends I know, though, had their power out for a few weeks and I even know a few who are still without electricity and this is just within Houston and the surrounding areas.  Galveston is even worse off.

In addition to loss of power there was loss of water, loss of Internet services, loss of telephone and cellular reception and loss of television.  It made for a pretty boring and a very frustrating existence for some people during this time.  Then we can get to the debris, crushed cars, destroyed fences, rooftops torn, siding removed, windows broken, flood damage and everything else that occurred because of the storm.

But now we are slowly on the mend and rebuilding.  Here are a few tips on how to do it:

·         Start cleaning – Remove debris from your home and yard and pile it on the curb as neatly as possible.  Make sure to separate the live debris from downed trees and shrubs from other materials such as siding, roofing and fencing materials that may have been blown off.

·         Help your neighbors – If you have a chainsaw to help remove the fallen tree from your neighbor’s yard, go over there and let them borrow it or help them directly to remove it.  Now is the time when the community should pull together and do what we can for one another.

·         Assess your damage – You should start making a list of all the damage that occurred due to the hurricane.  Take pictures or videos if at all possible as this may help with your insurance or FEMA claim when the time comes.  Do not be too hasty to complete your assessment as things may still crop up over the incoming weeks that you did not notice off the bat.

·         Gas when you need it – There is an ongoing gas shortage in Houston.  For those of you who have to go back and forth to work, use the gas you have and then fill up completely.  For those who stay at home mostly, then keep doing that.  Try to economize as much as possible when it comes to fuel expenses.  Do not top off your gas tank all the time.  Everyone is in the same boat as you are so let’s not get greedy.  If you have over a quarter tank of gas in your car wait until you are at about a quarter then fill up.  You may be taking the last gas someone else may desperately need.

·         Food – Stock up slowly.  Everyone’s refrigerators were down for awhile and a lot of food was wasted.  This means everyone needs to restock perishable items.  Of course you need to eat but so does everyone else.  Get your essentials a little at a time.  This will not only help you budget but will assist the grocery stores in keeping items on the shelves to serve everyone.

·         Show a little kindness – There are traffic lights not working, companies still closed and inconveniences abound.  Because of this tempers may flair and there can be an overall sense of frustration.  Keep in mind that you are not alone and you likely got off pretty easily comparatively speaking.  Keep calm and tempers at a minimum.  Let people in when you are driving, hold the door open.  You know, common courtesy?  I have personally seen some of that lacking a bit lately. 

·         File insurance claims – Once you have a sound assessment of the damage, contact your insurance company to file for assistance with the damage.  You may need to attain quotes for repairs and submit paperwork.  Your insurance agent will be able to assist you with the specifics.

·         File FEMA claims – FEMA can help supplement what your insurance does not, including deductibles.  You can start the process of filing a FEM claim on the Internet or at one of the local offices set up.

It is still going to take a long while before everything gets back to normal in the area but with a little cooperation and hard work, it can be done.