Salvaging belongings damaged in a disaster - general |
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Fire, water, dust and mould can all badly damage collection materials. While a damaged item may never look new again, often it is possible to preserve what remains.
Please feel free to print, copy and distribute AICCM fliers. The sooner you can attend to damaged material the better, but never try to save possessions at the expense of your own or others' safety - evacuate as necessary, and wait until danger zones have been cleared by emergency personnel. Be aware that there can still be many health and safety hazards present after a disaster has "ended" - flood waters can contain waste matter and diseases, burned structures may contain asbestos and chemical residues, and mould may be growing in areas that were recently wet. If attempting to salvage possessions, wear protective clothing, gloves, eye protection and masks to minimise risks to your health and safety. Minimise handling of damaged materials, to prevent driving dirt further into fragile surfaces, and support weakened items in plastic containers or cardboard boxes. Keep dirty items separate from other materials, as soot, dirt and mould can easily be transferred to uncontaminated materials. See also the following pages for links to further information: |