Tennessee's historic floods last weekend are hitting poor Tennesseans the hardest. Many lost nearly everything they own when the Cumberland River came rushing through their homes. Now that the waters are starting to recede, flood victims are salvaging whatever they can. But they need a place to put the things they salvage now that their homes have been destroyed -- or at least rendered unliveable.
In response, self storage facilities all over the state of Tennessee are offering a month of free storage to flood victims. Most self storage facilities also offer free storage to tornado victims whenever there is a need. Some companies, such as Extra Space, always offer a month of free storage to first time renters.
Facilities offering free storage to flood victims include:
This list is not exhaustive -- Tennessee residents should phone their local storage companies to find out if storage is being offered.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), at FloodSmart.gov, has advised home and business owners not to rush to put items into storage, however. NFIP advises homeowners to take the following steps before beginning the process of salvaging belongings from a flooded home:
- Call your insurance company if you plan to file a claim for damage.
- Check for structural damage and verify that the home is safe before reentering it.
- Do not use electric power until an electrician has inspected the home to verify that the system is safe.
- Do not drink water in a flooded home or use it to prepare food -- boil any water that you plan to ingest.
- Take photos of damage and of any remaining floodwater. Take photos even if you do not have homeowners or renters insurance, because the federal government has begun the process of declaring some counties to be disaster areas. If you live in a federally-declared disaster area, you may be able to apply for federal assistance if you can document the extent of your losses.
- Consider having a licensed home inspector document the condition of your home or business. You can submit the inspector's report with your insurance or disaster assistance claim later.
The NFIP also suggests that as homeowners pack items to be placed into storage, they should check to make sure that nothing is wet. Wet things placed in storage may start to mold. Before putting possessions into storage, it is recommended that homeowners clean and disinfect anything that needs it, using pine-oil cleanser and bleach. Dry everything completely. If possible, monitor belongings for a few days before storing them, to verify that they are not becoming moldy.
Sources used:
Associated Press. "Flood recovery worries poorer victims in Nashville." Chattanooga Times Free Press. May 5, 2010.
Anderson, David. "Flood assistance." The Leaf Chronicle. May 5, 2010.
Floodsmart.gov. "Preparation & recovery: after a flood."
"Free storage offered for flood victims." The Daily News Journal. May 3, 2010.
"How to help victims of the Tennessee flood." USA Today. May 5, 2010.
"Local businesses offering relief for flood victims." The Murfreesboro Post. May 3, 2010.