Disasters can happen without warning, damaging your home or business and turning your life upside-down. The good news is that prompt action after fire, storms, vandalism or water damage to your home or office can minimize long-term damage. In such emergencies, the first steps you take could mean the difference between a small cleanup and a more costly and time-consuming restoration.
Download our Property Loss Booklet.
Please find tips and tools below that can help prevent property damage before and after a crisis.
Video Tools
The ICLR is developing a series of videos to help prevent disasters. The first, related to basement flood prevention is now available on YouTube and below.
TEDx’s ‘Can we build disaster resilient communities’
In this video, part of the TEDx series, Dr. Kopp shares stories of storm chasing and the results of his ongoing research on how to build disaster-resilient communities. Dr. Kopp is Canada Research Chair in Wind Engineering and is a Faculty Scholar in the Faculty of Engineering at Western. In addition, he sits on ICLR’s Management Committee.
Fire & Smoke Damage Tips
Do…
- Take pets to a clean environment, including changing water in fish tanks
- Provide alternate power sources to freezers and refrigerators. If this is not possible, empty freezers and refrigerators and prop doors open with a rolled-up newspaper or towel
- Introduce fresh air to the contaminated environment by opening windows
- Change the filter if the furnace is still operating
- Wash plants with water on both sides of the leaves and remove the top 1/2–1″ of soil
- Vacuum or blow off loose ashes and soot from upholstery, draperies and carpets
- Pour antifreeze in toilet bowls, sinks and tubs to prevent freezing if the heat is off in the winter
- Drain the heating system if it is off in the winter (if applicable)
- Clean countertops and hard-surfaced floors
- Clean and protect kitchen, bathroom and laundry room faucets, tub fittings, chrome towel bars and/or trims on kitchen and laundry appliances
Do Not…
- Use computers, appliances, TVs, DVD players, PDAs, game consoles or stereos until they have been cleaned and tested
- Use food items that have been exposed to soot or canned goods that have been subjected to excessive heat
- Use upholstered furniture
- Attempt to wash walls, ceilings, unsealed wood, bricks or other absorbent surfaces
- Launder clothes or dry-clean garments that have a strong smoke odour. Improper cleaning may set smoke odours
Wind & Storm Tips
When officials predict that a storm may hit your area:
- Continue to monitor the news
- Purchase supplies; e.g., ready-to-eat food, bottled water
- Refill prescriptions if you fear you may run out
- Fill your car’s gas tank
- Make sure you have fresh batteries, a working flashlight and a battery-powered radio
- Fill a gasoline can only if it can be stored securely
- Charge tools, mobile phones, laptops or any other electronic devices
- Collect important documents (wallets, passports, driver’s license, birth certificates and insurance policy)
- Withdraw some cash
When a storm warning is issued in your area:
- Continue to monitor the news
- Secure your boat, recreational vehicle or aircraft
- DO NOT tape your windows – if a window breaks, it may create glass shards
- Move everything you can out of flood-prone areas
- Clear your yard of loose objects
- Move outdoor potted plants, barbeque and patio furniture to a secure area so that they won’t get damaged or cause injury
- Remove your satellite dish or roof antenna if possible
- DO NOT turn off your natural gas at the main meter – only your gas supplier is qualified to do this
When a storm is imminent; e.g., hours away:
- Continue to monitor the news
- Put on your medical alert bracelet
- Fill your bathtub with clean water
- Shut off your main water supply to prevent contamination
- Secure your valuables
- Move fragile items away from windows
- Ensure that you have emergency numbers handy; e.g., utilities, local hospitals, insurance
- Stay off the roads and remain close to your home – you may have to move indoors quickly
During a storm:
- Continue to monitor the news
- Stay indoors
- Retreat to a secure area of your home if you feel the storm is strengthening
- Don’t use a landline unless you have to; e.g., to call 911
- Avoid using electrical devices if you can
Vandalism Damage Tips
Do…
- Remove large pieces of glass
- Vacuum glass particles from floors, window ledges, carpets and upholstery
- Clean spilled food from countertops, hard-surfaced floors and carpets (do not aggressively scrape)
- Wash off egg debris immediately
- Save spilled paints, cosmetics, etc., which will reveal the ingredients for restoration purposes
Do Not…
- Discard pieces from broken lamps or art objects, or wood chips from furniture
- Use damaged appliances, computers, lamps, stereo equipment, laptops or PDAs
- Attempt to remove ink, paint or cosmetic stains
Water Damage Tips
The damaging effects of water can be greatly reduced by using common sense and quick action.
Do…
- Identify the source of incoming water and if possible, stop it, or call a professional to handle it
- Turn off all electrical appliances and electronics in and around the affected area
- Poke small holes in drooping drywall ceilings to relieve trapped water
- Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping or using a pump
- Place towels (colour-fast/non-bleed) on carpeted floors beneath dripping ceilings
- Place aluminum foil, woodblocks or glass saucers between furniture legs and wet carpets to prevent possible bleeding of dyes into the carpet
- Wipe water off wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items
- Open cabinets, desk drawers, camera and musical cases, suitcases and boxed contents and allow to dry in sunlight if possible
- Move valuable oil paintings and/or art objects to a safe, dry environment
- Empty out closet floors, including shoes and cardboard boxes, which could cause staining
- Open windows to enhance drying
- Call our 24-hour help line for assistance at 1.877.778.6731
Do Not…
- Turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet
- Pull up the carpet and pad — this could cause permanent damage
- Leave non-colour-fast area rugs, magazines or books on wet carpet
- Leave wet clothing in place. Remove and dry if possible
- Attempt to dry carpeting with an electric heater
- Use household vacuums to extract water
- Turn up the heat above normal room temperature until our technicians have installed dehumidification equipment and evaluated the drying procedure
