1.  Begin by assessing your home:

• is it safe and secure?
• Check inside, outside and foundation
• Are utilities on?
• What is damaged?
• What can be saved?
• What can be cleaned?
• Can you stay in your home?
• Can you cook and store food safely?

 2.  Identify your available resources

• Call your insurance agent

• Call your landlord or property manager

• Check with friends and family in the area for possible immediate help

 3.  If you cannot stay in your home:

• Pack a few changes of clothing, bedding, essential medications and toiletries
• Kennel your pets or take them to a safe place
• Arrange to day with family, friends, or in a recovery shelter
• Contact family members to let them know where you are that you are OK

    Call the Red Cross at (203) 874-2531 to find the nearest shelter location

 4.  If your home is destroyed or suffered major damage:

• Roof off
• Foundation damaged
• Walls, ceilings, floors damaged
• Essential personal property un-usable

     And you need help right now, call the Red Cross (203) 874-2531 to speak with a disaster recovery worker to discuss your immediate needs.

 5. If you can stay in your home but cannot cook: 

          Meals are available at Red Cross shelters or through mobile feeding vehicles traveling through the disaster area.  Call the Red Cross at (203) 874-2531 to find the nearest shelter or other feeding site.

 

 6. If your ONLY loss is food that was in your refrigerator or freezer while power was out and you require support during the emergency:

The American Red Cross will have mobile feeding vehicles in the disaster area to provide emergency food or call the Red Cross at (203) 874-2531 to find the location of other community resources.

The Red Cross will help ensure your family has meals to eat while the power is out.  However, Red Cross will not provide money to replace perishable items lost due to power outage.