Sometimes things go wrong at home. The washing machine may throw a tantrum, or the radiator might leak. Maybe the freezer stopped working and all your food turned into a soggy mess. These things always seem to happen when we are really busy too. It means we’re stuck in the middle of a disaster trying to juggle a lot of things. And we simply don’t know what to do. But what if things got even worse? The weather, burglaries and vandalism can all cause disasters that render your home unusable. How can you cope with a home disaster on that scale?
Emergency Procedures
Having a plan of action should disaster strike will make you better equipped to deal with it. Most families have a fire escape plan. They may even practice it from time to time. But do you have a plan for dealing with a flood or an act of vandalism? A go-bag, like your baby’s change bag, could make an enormous difference to your family in the aftermath of a home disaster. A change of clothes for everyone and some emergency cash means you can find accommodation, food, and freshen up if your home can’t be lived in.
Aftermath
If you’ve come home to find the property underwater, chances are you won’t be able to live there for a while. The trouble with flooding isn’t the water. It’s the sewerage and other contaminants that pollute your home long after it has dried out. Find a company like http://restorationeze.com that deals with the type of disaster you’re confronted with. The quicker the professionals can get there, the quicker you can have your home back.
Long Term Accommodation
Staying in a hotel for the long term isn’t always practical, especially with a baby. If you can stay with friends or family, this can feel less frightening and disruptive for small children. Remember, the kids will still need to be in school and completing their homework. And you and your partner will still need to head into work each day. This means you’ll need access to freshly laundered clothes every day as well as healthy home-cooked meals.
This pic is from Flickr
Putting Your Home Back Together
You may have lost a lot of your possessions. Some may be irreplaceable as they were so personal. Be sure to give yourself time to grieve over these losses. It’s OK to feel devastated. As your home is repaired, you can start to get involved with the restoration. You might want to start with the kids’ bedrooms so they can feel more at home when you go back. If you weren’t fully insured, it could get quite expensive. Doing it yourself can save a lot of money.
It’s not easy to get on with life when you can’t live in your own house for a while. And losing so many precious items will always feel raw. But this is also a chance to bring your home back to life. Look to the future with a fresh coat of paint and a celebration for moving in day.
