Hurricane Cleanup and Recovery Kit

Posted: 15 October 2005

Southern Mutual Help, Oxfam America, and Rural Recovery Task Force have provided this kit to help you remain as safe and healthy as possible when returning to areas that remain hazardous.

You are entering at your own risk.

This area remains a hazardous site, with ongoing health and safety issues. We recommend that you do not return to your homes at this time. If you do choose to do so, we have provided this kit to help you remain as safe and healthy as possible.

If you know you have a weak immune system; have lung problems, such as asthma or allergies; are pregnant; are elderly or under age 18; or have ongoing medical needs, you should consider not returning until further environmental and health assessments have been completed and emergency services are available.
Access to medical services is extremely limited at this time. You are advised to get inoculated for tetanus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B before returning home.
If you begin to have breathing problems, develop a rash or skin infection, or experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or diarrhea, LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
Sewage and water systems have been compromised. Do not drink any water that you did not bring with you and do not flush or use toilets at this time.
Standing water and soil may be seriously contaminated. If you come into contact with standing water and material or supplies affected by the floodwater, you should wash with soap and clean water as soon as possible.
Always wash your hands and body with soap and warm clean water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid putting your hands in your mouth or on objects that could go in your mouth, such as cigarettes or water bottles.
We suggest you limit your exposure to mold and use the protective supplies provided in this kit when entering your house.
To reduce the risk of mold and bacteria, remove wet materials (e.g., wood, paper, clothing) and discard those that cannot be thoroughly cleaned or dried.
Use caution when using a generator. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Toxic gases can build up in enclosed spaces. When returning to a home that has sat closed for some time, open doors and windows and set up fans to ventilate thoroughly before starting to clean.
Please be careful when removing debris and try to minimize the risk of injury. Steel-toed boots or tall rubber boots, work gloves, and goggles/safety glasses are essential.
Illness can result when open cuts or wounds are contaminated. If you get a cut or abrasion, make sure to clean it with soap and drinkable water and apply antibiotic ointment. If the cut or abrasion begins to get red, painful, or swollen, begins oozing, or has a foul smell, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. Do not delay.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. We recommend the use of sunscreen and bug repellent, since standing water can generate huge populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Have a safety plan in place in case you get sick or injured. Make sure someone knows where you are and can check on you to ensure that you are safe. Phones—even cell phones—are not working well, so make sure you have a way to contact someone if you need help.
Please take necessary precautions when hauling contaminated objects or material out of the area to avoid exposing you or others to toxins.
If you smell gas or your home makes creaking sounds or appears to be unstable on its foundation, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY and alert local emergency services of a possible gas leak.

Kit Includes:

hazardous materials suit
duct tape
1 pair of industrial gloves
dust masks
1 bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer
insect repellent and sunscreen
first aid supplies
soap
bleach
trash bags
1 pair of goggles for eye protection
shoe covers
bag for disposal of materials used in cleanup (red biohazard bag)
this information sheet on how to clean up safely and when to seek help

CLEAN UP IS A TWO-PERSON JOB. MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

When ready to begin cleanup, make sure you are well-hydrated and go to the bathroom before you put on the suit.
Once you have stepped into the suit and zipped it up, you will need to put on your goggles, face mask, gloves, and shoe covers over heavy-duty work boots. The second person should then help you duct tape all the seams: at the wrists, ankles, and along the zipper of the suit.
If you need to drink while in the suit, someone else should hold the water for you to drink. Do not handle the water bottle with dirty or used gloves.
Remove all sludge from your home and anything that has evidence of mold or that may have been contaminated by floodwater.
Moldy areas need to be cleaned with bleach as instructed on the bottle. This may not kill the mold, however, so mold-affected areas may need to be removed.
Anything that cannot be cleaned should be discarded. If something has been contaminated by the remaining sludge or floodwater, you should discard it if possible.
When removing debris, always wear protective eyewear, gloves, mask, and work boots.
If you need to step out of the suit, remove and discard the duct tape. Peel the suit off, turning it inside out as you take it off. Do not handle the outside of the suit with bare hands; always use gloves.
Once you are done with the cleaning process, remove the suit as described above and place all protective wear--suit, gloves, shoe covers, masks, duct tape, and goggles--in the biohazard bags for disposal.
If you do not have a hazardous material suit, we recommend you put off cleanup until you can obtain one.