Guidance and Recommendations
Recovering from the Damage Caused by Severe Wind-Related Events

What to do
• Keep listening to radio, TV, or NOAA weather radio. Wait until an area is declared safe before entering. Watch for closed roads. If you come upon a bar barricade or a flooded road; “Turn around, don’t drown!”

• Avoid weak bridges and washed-out roads. Stay on firm ground. Moving water only 6 inches deep can sweep you off your feet, and standing water may be electrically charged from powerlines.

• Once home, check gas, water, and electrical lines and appliances for damage. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Never use candles and other open flames indoors. Do not drink or prepare food with tap water until officials say it is safe. When approaching a traffic light-controlled intersection without power, treat it as a four-way stop. Use extreme caution when proceeding.

• Avoid downed power or utility lines as they may be live with deadly voltage. Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.

• Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas or cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way as much as possible.

• If your home has flood water inside or around it, don’t walk or wait in it. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.

• If your power is out, safely use the generator or battery-operated flashlights. Never use a generator inside a home, shed, or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors, and vents. Read the label, your generator, and owner’s manual and follow the instructions.

• Avoid plugging emergency generators into electrical outlets or hooking them directly to your home electrical system; they can feed electricity back into the powerlines, putting you and line workers in danger.

Resources
Emergencies: Dial 9-1-1

Non-Emergencies
Greater Naples Fire Rescue District: (239) 348-7540

Collier County Emergency Management: (239) 252-8444