Recovery

Recovering from a disaster can be a challenging and stressful experience. Having a plan in place ahead of time can make the process more manageable and efficient. The Seminole County Office of Emergency Management offers this simple guide to support you in preparing for recovery and to assist you during the aftermath of a disaster. Roads may be unpassable, cellular phones may be unavailable, and power could be out.

First things first… safety and security:

• Ensure all family members and pets are safe, check on neighbors and friends.
• Assess to see who has communications/cellular/amateur radio
• Contact 9-1-1 if emergency medical services are needed.
• Check for structural damage around the home
• Turn off utilities if needed (gas, electricity, water)
• Place the mobile generator away from the home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Report downed power lines or gas leaks to utility providers

Find shelter, food, water...

• Locate housing (friend or family member's home with no damage) or emergency public shelter
• Secure access to clean drinking water and food – Seminole County Points of Distribution (PODs) may be open with these commodities.
• Obtain hygiene supplies and medications

Damage Assessment

• Take photos, video of the home damage, and create a list of all damaged/destroyed items
• Collect essential documents (ID, insurance information, title to home, etc.)
• Make a claim with insurance company
• Apply for assistance with FEMA or SBA, if available
• Send damage report to damage@seminolecountyfl.gov

Clean-Up / Debris Management

• Wear protective equipment during the clean-up process
• Sort debris into vegetation and construction type debris
• Place debris near the roadway, but not under powerlines or on top of fire hydrants/mailboxes
• Ensure that any repairs made to your property are conducted by a licensed contractor

If you cannot sort/collect debris or place tarp on roof, you can contact the Seminole County Volunteers / Donations team at 407-665-0000 to get help. Seminole County works with non-profit and faith organizations to assist residents who may need these services. Disaster assistance may be available through one of these agencies, FEMA, SBA, or SNAP. Stay informed about local community resources after a disaster by following Seminole County on our social media platforms and signing up for our local alerts at AlertSeminole.org.