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A resilient home can be quickly restored at minimal cost to a healthy, comfortable home after a disaster. Take control with these resilient home improvements.
Here are some toll-free numbers set up to provide disaster assistance:
Unfortunately, hurricane season does not end with the busy start of school each fall. There are LSU Ag Center on-line resources available to aid you in planning and preparing your family.
Steps to take to file an insurance claim following a disaster.
The flood insurance policy provides limited coverage for expenses you incur trying to protect insured property from flood damage.
In this table-top, hands-on activity children will become aware of the importance of elevation to prevent flood damage.
A flood-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion.
Sandbags can be used to fill gaps in a permanent flood protection system, to raise an existing levee or to build a complete emergency levee.This publication contains information on filling and stacking sandbags and on using them for short walls and full levees.
A floodwall is a self-supporting barrier to floodwater. It may look like a garden wall or privacy fence, but it has more internal reinforcing and a more substantial foundation. This heavier construction keeps the wall from tipping or sliding. The foundation also blocks seepage of water under the wall. This publication includes information on the cost, considerations and construction of floodwalls.
When you return to your home, make sure you assess all food and food preparation areas and equipment carefully.
When disasters happen, dedicated volunteers and professionals swing into action to help those affected by the tragedy. But who takes care of the "helpers"?
Disinfecting a well can sometimes be done by the well owner; however, for some wells it can be difficult to get the disinfectant into the well or other parts of the system that need disinfecting. If professional help is not available for cleaning the well, follow these procedures.
FEMA released a Levees Brochure during the Spring 2011 Floods, explaining NFIP coverage behind levees, for protective measures and the waiting period. This page is copied directly from that brochure and includes a PDF of the original document as an attachment.
Elevating or moving slab-built structures has been practiced for many years in a handful of states.
After a major storm or flood, you must assume that all water sources are contaminated until proved safe. Food that has been contaminated by floodwater also should be handled carefully. Information includeshow to disinfect water, flooded foods that should be discarded and foods that are safe to use. (PDF Format Only)
It’s time to pull out your family disaster plan. Even if you don’t have one, there are still things you can do!
Each year, hundreds of thousands of consumers complain to their state attorneys general about home repair ripoffs. The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, in fact, says home repairs are second only to car repairs on the nation’s complaint list. (PDF format only)
The phrase “wet floodproofing” may sound like a contradiction, but it is the label used to refer to a collection of methods intended to reduce damage to a building when flooding occurs. This publication explains how wet floodproofing lets water into the building but protects the structure, contents and building systems independently. (PDF format only)
Emergency generators become popular after disasters. They can help save food in freezers and refrigerators, but they also may be dangerous if not used properly. Follow these tips for using your generator safely. (PDF format only)
Chainsaws are popular tools for both homeowners and professionals because they have so many uses – tree trimming, cutting firewood, cleaning up after storms, etc. Although chainsaws are handy, they are potentially dangerous and must be used carefully to avoid serious injury. Information on protective equipment, kickback, fuel safety and cutting is included. (PDF Format Only)
Elevation is the most reliable method of reducing damage from floods.
Storms can bring high winds, heavy rains and lightning strikes that cause trees to lose branches, split, break and uproot. Find out what to do after a storm and before the next storm approaches. (PDF Format Only)
Hiring a qualified contractor for mold remediation is not required but generally is safer and more effective than a "do-it-yourself" approach because of the use of specialized equipment. In either case, you should carefully follow safety precautions to reduce exposure to mold. This publication provides guidance on safe and effective mold remediation practices and how to select a qualified remediation professional.
Guidelines to help you safely and effectively clean and restore your damaged home.
If your home’s roof was ever damaged by a storm, it doesn't have to happen again! This describes roofing products and installation methods that can survive.
Frequently asked questions about flooded home restoration, and science based answers to help owners and contractors make informed decisions.
Floodwaters commonly contain microbial contaminants and can directly affect public health.
A back-flow valve in the common sewer line should allow sewer water to flow from the house to the sewer system, but prevent flow toward the house. To provide best protection from a flooded sewer system, the valve should provide a good seal and operate automatically.
A resilient home can be quickly restored at low cost to a safe, healthy, comfortable home after disasters -- more important now than ever during the pandemic.
Keep your home safe and secure with these five "S" home improvement projects that can prevent costly hurricane damages.
(05/26/20) The 2020 hurricane season could bring new challenges as Louisiana residents also navigate the realities of COVID-19.
(05/22/20) The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will begin on June 1 and now is the time to prepare your yard, gardens and landscapes for bad weather.
Jefferson Davis 4-H A-Team planned a wind and rain proofing project for the school board building during a one-week summer camp.
Vermilion Parish formed the first A-Team. This is the story of what they learned, the mitigation project they proposed, and some of their accomplishments and adventures.
The LSU AgCenter is introducing hazard mitigation planning as an opportunity in the 4-H Youth Development program.
St. John the Baptist Freshman Success Academy designs safe rooom for pairish emergency operations center.
If you’re ready to make improvements or need to make repairs to your home’s exterior, why not make hurricane-ready upgrades to the exterior?
(06/06/17) Hurricane season started June 1, and while Louisiana doesn’t often see storms this early in the season, it is important to be prepared.
If your family has a plan for what you’d do in case of a hurricane or other disaster, now is the time to pull it out and review it. If you don’t, there’s still time to write your plan, LSU AgCenter disaster preparedness specialist Pat Skinner says.
A flood-damaged home needs special care to remove mold safely and effectively.This fact sheet provides do-it-yourself mold cleanup steps.Pub 2949-B
Overview of steps that need to be taken if there is a flood in your pesticide storage unit.
(05/19/16) With hurricane season set to begin soon, it’s a good idea for Louisiana residents to make preparations for possible storm damage and recovery.
Plastic sheeting is a versatile flood barrier. Using plastic sheeting in a sandbag levee improves the levee’s performance significantly. This publication includes information on several ways to use plastic sheeting correctly.
After Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2005, the AgCenter quickly began to assess the damage caused to the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries. Since those initial estimates, the AgCenter has refined its projections and now pegs the total economic impact due to losses in revenue and additional production costs at slightly over $1.0 billion.
It’s time to pull out your family disaster plan. Even if you don’t have one, there are still things you can do! Find tips on what to do when preparing for a hurricane and Emergency Management Office telephone numbers for selected Louisiana parishes (most affected by hurricanes and tropical storms). It is designed to print on legal-sized paper. (PDF Format Only)
Based on the information known at the time of the storm, and given the historical value of these industries to the state, the AgCenter was able to provide preliminary estimates on losses of revenue due to production losses.
If you protect a building with a floodwall, sealant, plastic wrap or any other barrier, you will need to pump water during floods. This publication includes information and tips for designing and constructing your flood protection system when using pumps.
River Stages and Forecasts - Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley
It's best to get professional cleaners to work on carpets and floors, but this may not be possible. In any case, begin cleanup as soon as possible.
Whenever a disaster strikes, volunteers are often the first to respond. Because the needs vary with each disaster, volunteers must be flexible in responding to a disaster. This document helps prepare volunteers to work with disaster victims as well as meet the needs that arise as a result of the disaster.
Precautions to take to avoid dehydration while cleaning up after a disaster.
The LSU AgCenter soon will begin comprehensive tests for salt contamination in areas of Vermilion Parish hit by Hurricane Rita’s storm surge, but officials this week said the problem may not be as bad as originally feared.
Certain insect problems increase dramatically after flooding, windstorms and other disasters, according to entomologists with the LSU AgCenter.
When disaster strikes, people everywhere want to help those individuals in need. To ensure that this compassion and generosity are put to good use, it’s important to know what stages victims go through disaster recovery.
A scourge of New Orleans and South Louisiana could find its way to other parts of the state and country if people move wood that’s infested with Formosan subterranean termites.
Sound stewardship of urban and community trees includes employing the services of arborists to help maintain their health and vitality. This article provides the homeowner tips on finding and hiring a tree care professional for your residential tree care needs.
Cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep surviving Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are vulnerable to several diseases, including infectious diseases and toxicities, according to a veterinarian with the LSU AgCenter.
Farmers attending workshops in Acadia and Calcasieu parishes Tuesday (Oct. 25) learned about assistance for dealing with hardships caused by two hurricanes that struck the state this summer. Similar sessions, organized by the LSU AgCenter, were planned for New Iberia, Hammond and Raceland over the next few days.
Fire ants can be a serious problem after hurricanes – particularly in flooded areas, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.
St. John 4-H A-Team
Photos from Vermilion 4-H Youth Mitigation project.
The basic steps to make sure your well water is safe is have your water tested at a certified lab, find out if those test results indicate a health risk and if there is a health risk, what needs to be done.
