Post Disaster Tips for Homes
Returning safely:
If you were evacuated from your home during an emergency, care should be taken when re-entering your home. Remain safely sheltered, outside the evacuation area, until told by authorities it is safe to return.
- Stay tuned to local radio and TV stations for advice and instructions from municipal officials about medical help, emergency housing, clothing and food assistance, ways to help yourself and your community
- Drive only when necessary and be careful as streets may be obstructed by debris or loose/dangling power wires (report them immediately to the local power company)
- Report broken gas, sewer or water mains to your local municipality.
- When you arrive home, check refrigerated food
- Throw out perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish, cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers) after four hours without power or a cold source like dry ice; if you are unsure whether an item is spoiled, be food safe and throw it out
- If raw food has leaked during thawing, clean and disinfect the contaminated areas; do not reuse the cloths you have used for clean-up until they have been disinfected by washing in hot water
- Be aware of potential dangers and watch your step as debris, broken bottle, and boards with nails could be scattered.
Contact your insurance company. Document everything both written and photographed.
View the Alectra Outage Map to see which areas in Guelph are affected by power outages.
Post Disaster Tips For Businesses
Do you have a Business Continuity Plan? Do a risk assessment of your business. What are the biggest threats? Then create a plan. Don’t know where to start? Contact the City of Guelph’s Emergency Management Coordinator.
Safety First
Prioritize the safety of your employees and customers. Ensure the damaged premises are safe and free from hazards before allowing anyone to enter. Do not enter the property if there is damage to the physical structure — floors and roofing may be unstable, and hazards may be exposed.
Notify Necessary Contacts
If your business operations are halted as a result of damage, you’ll need to quickly communicate with key contacts, including emergency services, utility companies, your insurance agent, employees, tenants, clients, suppliers, repair companies and others. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, it is critical to have access to a list of these important contacts, so everyone can be informed of the situation in a timely manner.
Retrieve Important Records
Retrieve key business documents such as financial records, insurance papers, receipts and warranties. As part of your disaster recovery plan, make sure to store offsite receipts and warranty information for equipment and high-value technology.
Secure Your Property
Take steps to secure your business property to prevent further damage or theft. This may include boarding up windows, repairing damaged roofs or installing temporary security measures.
Evaluate the Damage
Once your facility has been deemed safe to enter by the proper authorities, carefully assess damage to your business, equipment and infrastructure. Take photos and detailed notes for both insurance claims and recovery efforts, and to obtain estimates for repairs.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Notify your insurance provider promptly and start the claims process. Review your policy to understand what is covered and the steps required for filing a claim. Your insurance agent will play a key role in your recovery and will work with you to explain and answer questions.
IT and Data Recovery
Restore your IT infrastructure and data. Ensure that critical systems are operational and that data is securely recovered.
Inventory Assessment
Document inventory damage and losses for insurance and restocking purposes. Dispose of damaged inventory properly.
Financial Assessment
Evaluate your financial situation and create a budget for recovery expenses. Consider financial aid or loans for immediate costs. Find out what disaster relief assistance may be available from government resources.
Employee Support
Address the needs of your employees, including their safety, salaries and benefits.
Temporary Location
If your business location is severely damaged, explore temporary locations to maintain operations, even at a reduced scale, while restoration work is ongoing.
Utilities and Services
Arrange for essential utilities such as water, electricity, gas, internet and phone lines to be checked for damage and restored. Ensure all safety systems — such as fire alarms, sprinklers, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are functioning properly.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensure you meet all regulatory requirements and obtain necessary permits before reopening. This may include building inspections, health department approvals and compliance with local zoning regulations.
Reconnect with Suppliers and Vendors
Contact suppliers and vendors to discuss timelines for resuming deliveries and services. Ensure you have a plan for restocking inventory.
Communication
Maintain frequent communication with staff, clients and other stakeholders throughout the recovery process. As timelines may change, update your business listings on search engines and social media to indicate when you’ll be back to business as usual. Consider promotions or special offers to attract returning and new customers.
Emergency Preparedness
Learn from the disaster and update your emergency preparedness plan. Take steps to improve resilience against future disasters.
Community Involvement
Engage with your local community and consider participating in relief efforts or initiatives. Building goodwill can have long-term benefits.
For more information
Eric Lucko
Community Emergency Management Coordinator
Corporate and Community Safety, Operations
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 3885
[email protected]