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After the Storm: Cleaning Up

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Be careful when cleaning up after a hurricane. Cleanup slowly, taking lots of breaks to avoid straining your body. Be very careful with chainsaws and other power tools. Make sure to stay safe in the heat by staying hydrated, taking breaks in the shade or AC. weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

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Be careful when cleaning up after a hurricane. Cleanup slowly, taking lots of breaks to avoid straining your body. Be very careful with chainsaws and other power tools. Make sure to stay safe in the heat by staying hydrated, taking breaks in the shade or AC. weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

After The Storm: Cleaning Up. 1) Don't push yourself. Straining the body can lead to heart attacks and other serious issues. Perform cleanups slowly, taking lots of breaks. 2) Be careful with chainsaws. Wear protective gear. Keep a safe distance from bystanders. Avoid contact with fallen power lines to prevent electric shock. If you aren't trained to use them, leave power tools to the experts.

 

After the Storm: Hazards Remain

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Hurricane dangers remain ever after the skies turn blue. Watch out for downed power lines and damaged buildings. Avoid floodwaters as they can hide a variety of dangers, and never drive through them, as it doesn’t take much to sweep your car away.
weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

Twitter
Hurricane dangers remain ever after the skies turn blue. Watch out for downed power lines and damaged buildings. Avoid floodwaters as they can hide a variety of dangers, and never drive through them, as it doesn’t take much to sweep your car away.
weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

After The Storm: Hazards Remain. 1) Be careful near damaged buildings. Do not enter a damaged building until local authorities say it's afe. Leave your home if there's shifting or unusual noises. If you smell gas, get outdoors immediately and call 911. 2) Watch out for power lines. Stay far away from damaged power lines, whether they've fallen to the ground or are dangling overheard. 3) Don't walk or drive through floodwaters. They can contain harmful bacteria, chemicals, sharp objects, live wires and reptiles/other animals. It only takes 12 inches of fast-moving water to sweep a car away.

 

After the Storm: Power Outage

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Even after the storm passes, power outages have their own set of hazards. Be especially careful with generators — never use them inside or in garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Use flashlights, not candles, to avoid risk of fire. weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

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Even after the storm passes, power outages have their own set of hazards. Be especially careful with generators — never use them inside or in garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Use flashlights, not candles, to avoid risk of fire. weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

After The Storm: Power Outage. 1) Use flashlights, not candles. This will avoid risk of fire. Turn on flashlights before entering buildings to avoid producing a spark that could ignite leaking gas. 2) Practice portable generator safety. Use outdoors, at least 20 feet away from doors/windows/garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Properly ground, and don't overload. 3) Be careful with food and water. Food in the fridge can start to spoil after as little as 4 hours. Drink bottled/boiled water only, as purification systems may not be working. Use camp stoves/grills outdoors only.