Detailed long-form disaster recovery message

We’ve compiled tips to help those impacted by the recent rain, wind, and flooding and explain how you can use Nextdoor to find and share local information and to ask for or offer help. Read through this whole post for all the details, and be sure to share with your neighbors!

𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘:

👉 To find trusted information from local public agencies on Nextdoor, go to https://nextdoor.com/agency/feed

🔎 When searching for information, search for commonly used terms such as evacuation orders, road closures, supplies, gasoline, and shelter.

🙋 Do you need help or want to offer your neighbors a helping hand? You can ask for and offer help via the Nextdoor Help Map → https://nextdoor.com/helpmap or go to Discover > Help Map > Ask for Help or Offer Help to find and give support on Nextdoor. 

🛣️ During an evacuation, some neighbors may also need a ride. If you’re comfortable, knock on their doors and post to Nextdoor with your offer. Be sure to check traffic conditions. 

📱 For the best experience, use the Nextdoor app or install it if it is not on your phone.

✅ Invite your neighbors to join Nextdoor so everyone can share updates and resources and ask for an offer to help. 

𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃:

Please only return home when officials say it is safe to do so. Do not enter your home if:

⛽️ You smell gas.

🌊 Floodwaters remain around the building.

🚨 Authorities have not declared it safe to enter.

Also, watch out for these fire hazards:

✔️ Leaking gas lines. Leave immediately if you smell gas or hear a hissing sound.

✔️ Appliances or vehicles exposed to water.

✔️ Exposed electrical outlets & wiring.

When returning home after a power loss, follow these food safety tips:

🤢 Don't taste the food.

🌡️ Use a thermometer to check food temperature.

🗑️ Throw away food that is 40+ degrees Fahrenheit for more than 2 hours.

If there is damage to your home or belongings, document it before you clean it up:

📸 Take photos before you begin to clean up. 

📝 Make a list of damaged or lost items & gather receipts. 

⚡ Do not touch or cut power lines as they may be live.

𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏 🧹 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐘:

🌞 Wait until daylight to clean up.

⚡️ Don’t touch or cut any downed lines.

🌊 Stay away from flooded areas.

🪑 Be sure to take lots of breaks to avoid straining your body. 

🪚 Be very careful with chainsaws and other power tools. 

💧 Stay hydrated and take breaks in the A/C ❄️ (if available).

𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐒:

🙋 You can ask for and offer help via the Nextdoor Help Map → https://nextdoor.com/helpmap or Discover > Help Map > Ask for Help or Offer Help to find and give support on Nextdoor. 

The kind neighbors at CrisisCleanUp.org have activated their Home Cleanup Hotline for Survivors of Hurricane Ian. Survivors can call (see http://blog.crisiscleanup.org/ for current number) - most volunteer groups will work through (DATE) 

Volunteers may be able to assist with the following:

🌳 Cutting fallen trees

🎛️ Drywall, flooring & appliance removal

🏘️ Tarping roofs

🏚️ Mold mitigation

What is out of their scope of help?

🚫 Large tree removal, or removing trees leaning on homes

🚫 Fire cleanup

🚫 Activities requiring permits (plumbing, electrical, rebuilding, etc.)

🚫 Hauling debris to landfills

Is help guaranteed? No. Volunteers only work with non-professional volunteer groups that do not charge money. They exclude for-profit contractors and groups they know with a bad reputation. Volunteer groups are unskilled and may need help to complete all the work. We recommend supervising volunteers to ensure they do a good job. Please let CrisisCleanUp.org know if you know any group needs to do a better job. For more info, see - https://crisiscleanup.org/survivor.

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓:

The National Distress Helpline offers 24/7 emotional support for anyone experiencing distress or other mental health concerns following incidents of mass violence.

Call or text them at 1-800-985-5990 if you need someone to talk to. For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: To connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language, click the "ASL Now" button below or call 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone. ASL Support is available 24/7.

The helpline puts people in need of counseling on the path to recovery. When you call or text, crisis counselors listen to what’s on your mind with patience and without judgment. DDH is staffed by trained counselors from a network of crisis call centers located across the United States, who provide:

👉🏽 Crisis counseling for people in emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster

👉 Information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families

👉🏽 Referrals to local crisis call centers for additional follow-up care and support

👉 Healthy coping tips

There is no need to give any identifying information when you contact DDH. The counselor may ask you for some basic information at the end of the call, but these questions are optional and intended to help SAMHSA keep track of the types of calls it receives.

For more information and resources, please see https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

For resources to help children cope with emergencies, see https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html

If you have other tips, please comment below and 🔁 “Repost” this message to increase visibility.

As always, be safe and take care of each other!