Returning Home After a Hurricane

If you have to evacuate your home during a hurricane, you will likely have concerns about abandoning your home during a catastrophic weather event.

While you may be eager to survey the hurricane damage to your property, exercise caution when returning home after a hurricane, as a storm can produce a few threats for homeowners.

Here are some precautions to take when returning home after a hurricane:

• Never go into a flood zone unless a local official has given you the all-clear to re-enter your neighborhood and home.
• Steer clear of wildlife and animal carcasses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warns that floods can send animals - including snakes - indoors for shelter.
• Do not go into the house if you suspect a gas leak, the structure appears to be damaged or there are floodwaters around the building.
• Bring a battery-operated flashlight and turn it on before you head inside to inspect the damage. A match or the spark from a battery could cause an explosion in the event of a natural gas leak.

Though you will be eager to assess the damage and to begin a cleanup, it is wise to exercise patience and caution after a hurricane. This will help protect the health and safety of you and your family.

To view more examples of our work, visit the Sample Content section of our website. And to learn more about what to do after a hurricane, read our sample article.