Disaster Response & Recovery Workers
After a storm, flood, fire or quake, workers and volunteers rush in to clear roads, restore power and rebuild. The hazards are often hidden or changed by damage, and many injuries and deaths happen during cleanup, not during the disaster itself.
- Recovery Crews
- Volunteers
- Utility & Public Works
Hazards
- Damaged structures that can collapse. Do not enter without an engineer or authority approval.
- Downed power lines and energized debris, including water. Treat all lines as live. See Downed Power Lines.
- Generators and carbon monoxide. Run them only outdoors. See Portable Generators.
- Chainsaws and tree work: storm-damaged trees have tension and spring. See Chainsaws for Homeowners.
- Floodwater: contaminated with sewage, fuel and chemicals; hidden holes, currents and electricity. See Sewage Exposure.
- Mold, asbestos and lead disturbed in older buildings.
- Heat, cold, exhaustion and long hours.
- Sharp debris, nails and glass; falls from roofs and ladders.
- Animals, insects and snakes in debris.
- Stress and trauma from loss and long deployments. See Post-Incident Stress.
Before you start
- Check in with the incident command or organization; do not self-deploy into unsafe zones
- Receive a site briefing on hazards, shutoffs and the emergency plan
- Wear protective gear: hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, boots with puncture protection, high-visibility vest, respirator as needed
- Get a tetanus shot if you are not up to date, and bring water and food
- Use the buddy system and keep a first aid kit and phone with you
Safe practices
- Turn off utilities where safe and check for gas leaks. See Gas Leaks.
- Assume wet or damaged walls and ceilings are unstable. Use shoring when needed.
- Stay out of floodwater. If you must wade, wear waterproof boots and gloves and wash well afterward.
- Take breaks, drink water and rotate tasks. Know the signs of heat illness. See Heat Illness.
- Lift with care and use equipment for heavy debris.
- Take care of your mental health, and talk to someone if you struggle.
Standards & references
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