Department of Public Education and Safety
RELEASE
DATE: February 23, 2006
TOPIC: After a Fire
Private
organizations that help with disaster relief include the American Red Cross and
the Salvation Army. Your church or synagogue can put you in touch with your
denomination’s helping group. Local civic organizations may be sources of aid.
Some state
and local government have emergency aid programs. Check with your state or municipal
emergency services office or the state department of social services for
information on what help is available.
Your
insurance will be the most important single component in recovering from a fire
loss. A homeowner’s tenant’s or condominium owner’s insurance policy is really
a package of a number of coverages.
Most
insured individuals are requested by their agent to make a pre-fire household
inventory. Almost no one does. A pre-fire inventory, or even photographs taken
before the fire, can help immeasurably in the claim estimating procedure.
In most
localities, a fire report is a public document and is available at the Fire
Department Bureau of Fire Prevention, or Fire Marshals office.
Here is a checklist of documents you
will need to replace if they have been destroyed and who to contact for
information on the replacement process.
|
Item |
Who to Contact |
|
Animal Registration papers |
Society of registry |
|
Auto registration title cards |
Department of Motor Vehicles |
|
Bank Books |
Your bank, as soon as possible |
|
Birth, Death, Marriage
certificates, Divorce papers |
State Bureau of Records in the state
of birth, death, or marriage Circuit court where decree was issued |
|
Citizenship papers |
The Immigration and Naturalization
Service |
|
Credit cards |
The issuing companies as soon as
possible |
|
Driver's license |
Local motor vehicle department |
|
Income tax records |
The Internal Revenue Service
Center you where filed or your accountant |
|
Insurance policies |
Your insurance agent |
|
Medical records |
Your doctor |
|
Military discharge papers |
Local Veterans Administration |
|
Passports |
Local Passport office |
|
Prepaid Burial contracts |
Issuing company |
|
Social Security or Medicare cards |
Local Social Security Office |
|
Stocks and bonds |
Issuing company or your broker |
|
Titles to deeds |
Records department of city or county
in which the property is located |
|
Warranties |
Issuing company |
|
Wills |
Your lawyer |
Smoke odor
and soot can sometimes be washed from clothing. The following formula will
often work for clothing that can be bleached:
4-6 tbsp.
Tri-Sodium Phosphate
I cup
Lysol or any household chlorine bleach I gallon warm water
Mix well,
add clothes, and rinse with clear water. DRY WELL
Your pots,
pans, flatware, etc. should be washed with soapy water, rinsed, and then
polished with a fire-powdered cleaner. You can polish copper and brass with
special polish, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar.
Food
Wash your
canned goods in detergent and water. Do the same for food in jars, if labels
come off, be sure you mark the contents on the can or jar with a grease pencil.
Do not use canned goods when cans have bulged are dented or rusted.
If your
home freezer has stopped running, you can still save the frozen food:
Keep the
freezer closed. Your freezer has enough insulation to keep food
frozen for at least one day.
Move your
food to a neighbor’s freezer or a rented locker. Wrap the frozen
food in newspapers and blankets, or use insulated boxes.
Do not
re-freeze food that has thawed.
To remove
odor from your refrigerator or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of
baking soda and water, or use one cup of vinegar or household ammonia to one
gallon of water. Some baking soda in an open container, or a piece of charcoal
can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to absorb odor.
Walls and Furniture
To remove
soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, do the following:
Mix
together…
4 to 6
tsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate
1 cup
Lysol or any chloride bleach
1 gallon
warm water
Wear rubber
gloves when cleaning. After washing article, rinse with clear warm water, and
dry thoroughly.
Walls may
be washed down while wet. Use a mild soap or detergent. Wash a small area at
one time, working from the floor up. Then rinse the wall with clear water
immediately. Ceiling should be washed last. Do not repaint until walls
and ceilings are completely dry.
Money Replacement
Handle
burned money as little as possible. Attempt to encase each bill or portion of a
bill in plastic wrap for preservation. If half or more or the bill is intact,
you can take the remainder to your local Federal Reserve Bank for replacement.
Ask your personal bank for the nearest one. Or you can mail the burned or torn
money via First Class Registered Mail to:
U.S.
Treasury Department
Main
Treasury Building, Room 1123
Washington,
DC 20220
Mutilated
or melted coins can be taken to the Federal Reserve Bank, or mailed via First
Class Registered Mail to:
U. S.
Treasury Department
Bureau of
Public Dept.
Division of
Loans and Currency
537 South
Clark Street
Chicago,
IL 60605
Attn: Bond
Consultant
Include
names and addresses on bonds, approximate date or time period when purchased,
denominations and approximate number of each.