This is a list of tasks we did to MUCK OUT our home after Hurricane Harvey: 1. Get a tetanus shot before re-entering your home
2. Wear a face mask, goggles, gloves, boots, and long clothing
3. Look for wildlife that can bite or strike you (snakes, rabies
4. Circle your yard with yellow 'do not enter' tape and 'no trespassing signs to help insure your legal rights from looters
5. Photograph your home's exterior and interior before beginning any other work.
7. Move out LARGE FURNITURE first, cutting it into pieces to move it if necessary.
8. Move out large appliances, dis-abeling them by cutting cords off or removing doors; contact manufacturer before removing dangerous parts of the appliances.
9. Move out small possessions and contents of drawers, cabinets, and closets.
10. Make SURE you move ALL your possessions to the SIDEWALK and street/car-park area, so the FEMA TRUCK can reach the items for disposal.
11. 'Measure 2' above the wet part of your sheetrock, create a straight/horizontle plum line across all the wall's tops, and use a box-cutter knife to cut the sheetrock on the plum line for straight removal of the wet sheetrock.
13. use a hammer to create holes in the wet sheet rock, then use gloved hands/crowbar to remove sheetrock, also removing nails as you go.
14. Using gloved hands, pull out wall insulation, cutting it off an inch or two above where it is wet.
14. I forgot to mention having new windows put into the home, and this can be EXPENSIVE. but black mold can grow beneath the window frames. Consult your flood insurance agent about this aspect of your Muck Out/Rebuild, and how to sanitize your framework beneath your window frames v.s. having new windows installed.
15. remove counter tops carefully, and save them depending on your insurance coverage
16. Sledge hammer your cabinetry and remove it to the curb; insurance may require you to keep upper cabinetry.
17. Remove all flooring (except tile flooring, which can be cloroxed/sanatized) and discard to curb.
18. Remove wet facilities to curb - tubs, showers, toilets, sinks.
19. you cannot salvage anything, except glass, which may be cloroxed/sanitized. Follow health department instructions exactly.
20. when the home is completely empty/TO STICK FRAME, POWER WASH IT to remove remaining filth.
21. using a sharp object such as a long screw driver, to remove any remaining goopy sheet rock debris, which can cause black mold. Then TREAT ALL WOOD FRAMEWORK WITH A CLOROX/JO-MAX MIXTU
22. Run a/c at 50*F, full time, for 6 weeks, while also running several dehumidifiers and floor fans to dry out home
23. use a humidity detector (Home Depot) to determine when your wood frame has reached 15% humidity or less. Do not rebuild before this.
24. HIre a mildew company to come out and certify that your home is mold-free (but be aware...mold can still grow back and must be treated properly if it does!
25. if mold shows up again, retreat it with clorox/jomax mixture
26. For 'some people' it may be safe to reside in a deconstructed home if there are no dangers (ask your PEDIATRICIAN what they recommend for child safety)
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