Information gathered, edited and posted as a result of 2004 Storms Bonnie, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne

Hurricane Lily

Notice from Florida Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry concerning Evacuation of Livestock

Recovering from a Storm: from the UF/IFAS Disaster Handbook (DH series) and other Extension sources | Returning Home | Chain Saw Safety  | Don't Get Taken | Repair Information | Mildew Removal | Maintaining Your Freezer Without Power | Safe Food Handling | Refrigerated Food | Safe Baby Food | What To Do with Thawed Frozen Food | Helping Your Child | Families Coping with Stress | Damaged Trees and Landscape | informacion en espanol |

Additional articles from Extension sources will be included here to help in storm recovery.

Be careful when you first return home after a disaster. Make sure your family is safe by following these simple steps:

• Inspect your home from the outside to see whether it is safe to enter. Before you go inside, make sure that all electricity and gas are turned off  - turn off the main switch and all electrical circuits. 
• Remove all furniture, bedding and floor coverings. Take them outside to be cleaned and dried. While you should try to protect them from the rain, they must not be brought indoors again until they are thoroughly dry. If they are still wet, they will mildew.  (adapted from DH1903)

The chain saws used to clear debris after hurricanes frequently cause serious injuries. To avoid harm, follow these simple directions:

• ALWAYS keep both hands on the chain saw handles.

• Cut below your head. Never cut over your head.

• Cut with the lower edge of the saw blade whenever possible.

• Cutting with the tip of the saw is inviting injury.

• Watch out when cutting limbs or branches, which are bent. They may snap back and hit you.

• Let the chain saw do the work. Don't try to force the saw.

• Wear protective clothing: hard hat, goggles, safety shoes, gloves and trim-fitting clothes.

When the storm has passed, it is time to clean up and repair. This is a difficult period when over-stressed homeowners often fall victim to unscrupulous workers.

Before you have any work done on your home or property, find out about the people you are dealing with.

• Are they licensed? Anyone doing home repairs in Florida must be licensed by the state.  Call the Jefferson County Building Inspector’s office, 342-0223, to find out if they’re licensed locally.
• Ask for proof of liability insurance. Without it, you could be sued by workers if there is an accident.
• Before any work begins, have a written and signed contract.  Make sure all details of the job are clearly spelled out.
• Your contract should state a beginning AND a completion date for the job.
• Make sure you have proof of the mailing address and physical location of the contractor or repairman doing the work.  Get their phone number, too.
• If someone comes to your home asking for work, you have three working days to cancel any agreement you make without a penalty.
• If you call to cancel a job, it is smart to follow-up with a certified letter sent "return receipt requested."
• Never pay for work before it’s done, and never give workers money to buy supplies unless you know them well.
• If supplies must be purchased ahead of time, you buy them and bring them home yourself.
• Never sign a completion statement until all work has been satisfactorily finished.
• If you're paying on credit, know all of the loan details and, if a lien is being placed against your home, be sure that all contract blanks are filled in before signing.  (adapted from DH1904 & DH1905)

from Mary Harrison, University of Florida Professor of Consumer Education

The website <http://www.floridaroof.com> contains information on roofs and shingles that may be of help to you in handling hurricane-related questions.  Kathleen Ruppert of Florida Energy Extension Service assembled this information.
 

By Mary Harrison, University of Florida Professor of Consumer Education

Mildew is mold that can attack cellulose and lignin.  It can ruin paper, cellulose fabrics, wood, paint, glue and leather.  The mildew secretes an enzyme that decomposes organic matter and uses it for growth and reproduction.  It is unsightly, produces an unpleasant odor and often acts as an allergen which can create health problems.

Mold/mildew grows from spores which exist almost everywhere.  Certain conditions must exist for mildew to grow and reproduce. 

• It thrives on organic materials such as leather, paper, and fabric.  They serve as food sources.
• It requires moist, warm air.  It grows best when the temperature is 77 to 86 degrees, however it can survive in temperatures from 32 to 95 degrees F.
• It can grow in dark areas and places where there is not much air circulation.

 Since mildew spores are everywhere the best way to control its growth is to eliminate its food sources, deprive it of sufficient moisture and keep the temperature too low for fast growth.  Keep things clean, dry, cool and have good air circulation.  Don’t crowd clothes too tightly, have closets where air can circulate.  Keep the bathroom, especially the shower, clean and dry.  Reduce moisture when cooking and have good ventilation. 

Prevention is the best way to control mildew.  The severity of mildew will influence what must be done.  If it is severe, ceilings and walls may have to be removed, the beams and other wooden structures re-sprayed with a mold/mildew retardant and new insulation and wallboard installed.  Only your insurance agent and/or environmental engineer can tell about that.  If the mildew infestation is not severe,  Try the following suggestions.

 *          Water will damage wood if allowed to stay on it.  Always test cleaner before using.  Work with small areas that can be rinsed and dried before moving on. 

 **     Trisodium phosphate is available in paint or hardware stores.

 ***   Chlorine bleach damages some roofing materials.  Test before using.

For your personal safety make sure your frozen or refrigerated food supply remains cold. 

• When your power is off, try to keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If possible, wrap foods in newspapers or blankets and bring them to a freezer locker facility.
• If this isn't possible, leave the food in your freezer and cover the freezer with blankets or quilts, making sure not to cover the freezer vent openings.
• Packing any available freezer space with crumpled paper helps it to stay cold longer.
• When the door of a fully packed freezer stays closed, food will remain frozen for 2 days. If the freezer is half full, it will last one day.
• A large freezer stays cold longer than a small freezer. A freezer packed with meat stays cold longer than a freezer full of bread.

For more information, contact the USDA hotline at 1-800-535-4555.  (adapted from DH1918)

It's hard to tell when foods are safe.  If you think a food might be bad, throw it out!

Here are some food safety tips:

• Drink only bottled or treated water until your normal water supply has been certified safe.
• Always wash your hands with drinkable water before touching foods, and make sure counter tops are clean.
• Scrub fresh fruits and vegetables with a detergent solution:  remove all silt; soak items in a solution of 2 teaspoons household bleach per quart of water for 15 minutes; rinse with drinkable water before peeling.
• If possible, cook fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Always wash your can opener with soap and drinkable water before and after each use.
• Do not leave perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours before eating it.

When in doubt, throw it out. (adapted from DH1921)

Once your power has gone off, any refrigerated foods you have will soon spoil and must be thrown away.

• Throw out the following foods if they have been in a closed refrigerator without power — for 12 hours or more:

v      chopped meats, poultry, seafood, dairy products and all cooked foods.

v      any refrigerated foods which have been at room temperature for more than 2 hours must also be thrown out.

• Some foods, such as uncured sausage, must be cooked before they are completely thawed, because they contain no preservatives.
• Cook all unspoiled meats immediately. Large, solid, un-boned pieces of fresh beef or lamb are least susceptible to fast spoilage.
• If custards, gravies, creamed foods, chopped meats, poultry and seafoods reach room temperature, discard them immediately. They are very dangerous. (adapted from DH1924)

Children are often easily frightened by storms or floods. Sometimes their fears - both real and imaginary - can be misunderstood by their parents.

Here are some things you can do to reassure your children and make them feel safe:

• Try to stay together as a family group.
• Don't leave your children alone in new surroundings.
• Talk to them about the storm. Tell them if you were afraid too, but reassure children that you will get through this together.

Disasters can be stressful for children. If the storm struck at night, bedtime is likely to be the most stressful time of all. You may find that your children are suddenly afraid of the dark and don't want you to leave the room. They may have nightmares. They may even wet their beds.  Here are some ways you can help:

• Don't punish them for these or similar behavior changes.
• Explain to them why it gets dark and why we dream.
• Praise them for having helped you that day.
• Agree on a bedtime and be firm.
• Read or tell them a happy story.
• Leave their door open.

If you are still worried about your children, ask for help. Your children's school can assist you.

Here are some suggestions to help your family cope with the stress caused by the recent disaster:

• Remain positive in your outlook for the future.
• Take some time to discuss with your family the things you have enjoyed doing together in the past.
• Plan some pleasurable activities you would like to do in the future.
• Discuss the difficult problems and situations you have overcome together in the past.
• Think and talk hopefully about the future.  (adapted from DH1940)

Broken and damaged limbs of a tree can affect the shape as well as the general health of the tree. Prune the tree properly to avoid additional damage. Do this by removing the broken or torn limbs to avoid unnecessary bark stripping. Cut the limb just above the branch collar or ridge between the limb and trunk. Do not make a cut flush with the trunk or branch, as this can prevent the tree from healing the pruning wound. For large and difficult pruning jobs and to ensure the health of your tree contact an ISA Certified Arborist to do the work for you.

The damage to agriculture – citrus, crop and livestock - caused by Hurricane Charley was great.  We do not have citrus, but significant damage there was to livestock operations.  Trees fell across fences, allowing cattle to get out, often along roads and highways.  Recovery has required removal of downed trees and repair of fences, as well as rounding up stray cattle and returning them to pastures.

The lessons learned from Charley may help Jefferson County cattlemen prepare for a possible storm such as Frances.  1) Move cattle to interior pastures separated from roads and neighbor’s crops by two fence lines if possible.  2) Move cattle to pastures or fenced hay fields with plenty of grazable forages and water supplies that do not depend on wells and pumps.  3) Have a back-up power supply if you depend on electric fencing.  4) Have chain saws, fuel and fence repair supplies on hand and ready to go before the storm arrives. 

In addition, follow these guidelines from the National Extension Disaster Handbook, developed by the University of Florida IFAS.

• When the forces of a hurricane cause flooded conditions, livestock that are not in a confined area can usually take care of themselves. Do not, however, let them become trapped in low-lying pens.

• Provide feed and water for the livestock.  Water is essential.  Thirsty animals will try to break out to get to flood waters. If water is in short supply, limit the livestock's feed intake.

• Block off narrow passageways where animals would be unable to turn around. A few heavy animals in a narrow dead end can be dangerous not only to themselves but also to the buildings in which they are housed.

• Make provisions to block livestock from even remote access to herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and treated seeds. Store agricultural chemicals and seeds where hurricane flood waters will not contaminate livestock feed or water.

• Turn off electricity at the main switch. Livestock could damage electric fixtures, causing fires or electrocutions. 

• If there is a possibility that dairy barns may become flooded, drive cattle out of the barn. During the rapid rise of water, cattle often refuse to leave a barn and may drown if the water rises high enough in the barn.

Notify the County Extension Service (342-0187) and the USDA Farm Service Agency (997-2072) if you have hurricane or severe storm related losses.

Waiver of Animal Health Movement Requirements for Evacuation

Georgia and Alabama will accept animals seeking refuge in their states until such time the danger has passed and animals may be returned to Florida. However, the ALE form or a copy must accompany the animals during their temporary stay in those states.

From FCA Executive Director Jim Handley (Aug 17, 2004)

The Arcadia Livestock Market and Hardee Livestock Markets are shut down due to hurricane damage. Cattlemen's Livestock Market in Lakeland was down this week but they will resume regular business next week. The Okeechobee Livestock Market will be running 3 days starting next week. The normal Monday and Tuesday and they will also be open Wednesday with sale starting at 11am.

All other markets in the state will operate on their normal schedule: Sumter County Livestock Market at Webster, Ocala Livestock Market at Ocala, North Florida Livestock Market at Ellisville, Columbia Livestock Market at Lake City, Townsend Livestock Market at Madison and Tri State Cattlemen's Co-Op Market at Graceville