Rebuilding and recovering from the 2017 hurricane season is going to be ongoing. Here are a few tips and resources to help you and your loved ones:
- FEMA has a lot of good online resources. You can learn how and where to apply for assistance and can get information and statistics about the affected areas. There is even a page about “rumor control”. It has a lot of information that will help you determine the truth or untruth of what you may hear or read.
- Don’t forget about your local area websites, including your county governmental sites and Facebook pages.
- If you have it in your neighborhood, the NextDoor app helps neighbors stay in touch.
- Consider exchanging cell phone numbers with your neighbors in order to help each other through the rebuilding, and also stay in touch in the future. Consider giving the important people in your life a list of each other’s phone numbers and email addresses.
- If you lost documents and records in the flood, try not to stress. Many of these are replaceable. Your bank can help you replace lost records and receipts. Your CPA, lawyer, realtor, doctor, or other professional may have copies of your records as well. If you have been to court and need copies of a final order in a case (or paperwork from an on going case), you can request copies from your county clerk, district clerk, justice of the peace clerk, or federal court clerk.
Above all, stay safe. Stress takes its toll and can make you sick. Don’t neglect your health during this time.
