50 Things You Need for Disaster Clean Up

While most people prepare for actual disasters (food, water, supplies, etc), they often forget to prepare for after the disaster.  This usually involves a copious amount of clean up--and a need for clean-up supplies just when everyone else in the area is hitting up Walmart and Home Depot because they didn't prepare for the clean-up part either.  Here are the basic items to have on hand to clean up after a disaster...

1. Steel-toed work books with puncture-resistant insoles
2. Rubber boots
3. Gloves: nitrile gloves, rubber kitchen gloves, leather work gloves
4. Face mask: N95 masks, respirator with extra cartridges
5. Safety goggles
6. Baseball cap or other head covering
7. Hardhat
8. Disposable PPEs/coveralls
9. Duct tape
10. Garbage bags: small, medium, and large
11. 5 gallon buckets
12. Large trashcans
13. Paper towels
14. Bleach
15. Household cleaner (never mix this with bleach)
16. Rags/sponges/scouring pads
17. Scrub brushes
18. Broom and dustpan
19. Mop
20. Wet/dry shop vac
21. Shovel
22. Rake
23. Wheelbarrow
24. Cutting tools: utility knife, tin snips, bolt cutters, scissors
25. Basic tools: hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc
26. Repair materials: screws, nails, zipties, staple gun, etc
27. Water/gas shut-off tool
28. Prybar
29. Saw/chainsaw/ax
30. Sledgehammer
31. Rope
32. Tarps/plastic sheeting
33. Cordless power tools with extra batteries: screwdriver, drill, circular saw, etc
34. Flashlights, headlamps, lanterns
35. Ladders
36. Wench/come-along
37. Plywood/assorted framing material
38. Power source: generator, battery bank, etc.
39. Garden hoses
40. Extension cords
41. Fans/portable heaters
42. Caution tape/high-viz safety vest
43. Sanitizing supplies: wet wipes, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, etc
44. Earplugs
45. Spare: gas, batteries, propane if using a propane heater, etc.
46. First aid kit
47. Knee pads
48. Sharpies
49. Worksite amenities: Port A Potty, tent/other shelter, sleeping bags, personal protection (gun, Mace, etc), camp stove, etc.
50. Personal care items: food, water, sunblock, cell battery bank, change of clothing, cash, battery powered radio, etc

And some cautionary notes:

• Do not start clean-up until you have thoroughly documented the damage and have the go-ahead from your insurance company which may want to send an adjuster before any clean-up has started.
• Do know how to safely clean up after a disaster (study this topic BEFORE you need the information).