By: Gordon Williams, American Red Cross Volunteer

It should be obvious what to do if your home catches fire — get yourself to safety and call the fire department. But what do you do when the firefighters finish the job and leave? How do you recover from the emotional jolt of a disaster? How do you start the job of restoring your home to pre-disaster condition? 

Fortunately, there is plenty of advice available on how to get past a disaster from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA, for instance, is quick to warn that danger lingers long after the last fire unit pulls away.

“The soot and dirty water left behind may contain things that could make you sick,”” FEMA says. “Be very careful if you go into your house and if you touch any fire damaged items.”

Since firefighters often end up smashing windows, your home may be littered with broken glass. Wooden trim may be ripped off walls, leaving molding strips with protruding nails. There may be a hole ripped in the roof. Stairs may be undermined by the flames. Ceilings can come crashing down. To further complicate things, power will almost certainly have failed during the fire, leaving things not only dangerous but dark as well when you return home. 

Even if you think you know how, don't try to restore electrical and gas lines on your own. That’s a job best left to trained utility workers. Don’t enter the house until you are certain the power and gas are turned off. If you have pets, keep them safely out of the house until toxic water and dangerous debris have been cleared away. 

Recovering from a disaster can drain you physically and emotionally, so seek help wherever you can find it. A good first stop, says FEMA, is the American Red Cross. “They will help you find food, clothing, medicine and a place to stay,” FEMA says.

If it was a house fire, chances are that a Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded and provided emergency supplies to help through the first difficult post-disaster hours. Once you are registered in the Red Cross system, trained caseworkers will help you make long range plans. 

One of your first calls, after you have alerted friends and family that you are safe, should be to your insurance company. “Ask them what to do first,” says FEMA. There are practical reasons for getting advice from your insurance company, but there are legal reasons as well. You can't undo the damage caused by the disaster, but you are obliged to protect your dwelling from further damage — from the weather or from vandals. That means boarding up windows and putting a cover over that hole in the roof. You obviously will need to work closely with your insurance company through the claims process, but the insurance company can do more for you. “There are companies that specialize in cleaning and restoring your personal items,” FEMA says. “Ask your insurance company for recommendations of companies you can trust.” The insurer should be able to summon companies that will help seal up your house after the fire department leaves. 

More suggestions from insurance providers:

• File a claim and address immediate need.To help your claim along, get a copy of the fire report.
• When it is safe to do so, take pictures of your damaged property.
• Keep documents like passports, birth certificates and marriage licenses in someplace safe and fire resistant.
• Check to make sure the documents survived as soon as it is safe to do so. 

It’s hard to prepare for the emotional toll disasters can take — traumatic for all but especially for children. If you or others in your family are having difficulty, seek support. That could be a government agency or a church group. One of the first places to turn, of course, is the nearest chapter of the American Red Cross.