Hours 0–6: Stay Safe
- Stay clear of downed power lines. Treat each one as live and deadly. Keep people and pets far back. Call 911.
- Do not enter badly hurt buildings until checked. Watch for shifted walls, sagging roofs, and gas smell. Smell gas? Leave fast and call 911.
- Generator safety: never run one inside your home or garage. Carbon monoxide can kill in minutes with no smell. Keep it outside, far from windows and doors.
- Stay out of floodwater. It can hide junk, chemicals, and sewage. A few inches of moving water can knock you down. Never drive through flooded roads.
Hours 6–24: Shoot Photos, Then Guard the Home
- Photograph all harm before cleanup. Walk the whole site with your phone. Use our photo checklist.
- Stop worse harm. Tarp hurt roofs. Board smashed windows. Shut water to burst pipes. Your policy demands this — see board-up guide. Keep each receipt.
- Move goods out of wet rooms. Start drying: open windows when air allows, run fans. Mold can start in 24–48 hours.
Days 2–3: Claims and Help
- Call your insurer and start the claim — see the Louisiana claim guide. Get your claim number in writing.
- Check FEMA. If a federal disaster covers your parish, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362. More on our FEMA page.
- Food safety: when in doubt, throw it out. Food that sat warm too long is not worth the risk.
- Sign nothing yet. Storm-chasing firms knock fast. Read how to avoid scams before you hire or sign.
What NOT to Do
- Do not toss hurt items before the adjuster sees them. Shoot photos, then store them if you can.
- Do not pay any firm in full up front.
- Do not sign papers you do not fully grasp.
- Do not climb on a hurt roof. Falls are a top cause of post-storm harm.