Community Programs

What do I do now?

Take Care of Yourself and Your Family

The Tifton Fire Department commonly contacts American Red Cross on behalf of the occupants of the home after a fire. Although, it is also common for the fire department to provide the occupants with American Red Cross' contact information so the occupants can reach out themselves if desired. The American Red Cross will assist with finding a place to stay and finding food, clothing and even medicine. Although they assist with these aspects, the assistance may not be immediate and therefore please try to find or be aware ahead of time of a temporary safe place to live until the assistance is available. There are multiple aspects to come that involve returning to normal after, do not be afraid to ask for help and do not try to do it all alone.

Contact Your Insurance Agent

Contact your insurance company immediately. Ask them what to do about the immediate need of your home; including pumping out water, covering doors/windows, debris removal. Ask your insurance company what to do first.

If you do not have insurance, your family and community might help you get back on your feet. Organizations that may help include: 

• American Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Religious Organizations
• Community Groups
• Public Agencies (i.e. Public Health Department)
• Non-profit crisis-counseling centers

Finances

Get in touch with your landlord or mortgage lender as soon as possible. Contact your credit card company to report any damaged or lost credit cards and request replacements. Save all of your receipts for any money spent as a result of the fire. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company. You may also need the receipts to prove any losses claimed on your tax return.

Security and Safety

Do not enter a damaged home or apartment until the fire department determines it is safe for you or your family. A fire can start again in your home, until the fire department has completed their job and ensured that they could not find any further indication of a fire reigniting please stay out of the home or apartment. When re-entering, be cautious of damage caused by the fire or firefighters. Be careful with any interior finishes from the walls or ceiling falling. Be cautious of any flooring damage from the fire. The fire department will ensure that the utilities (water, power, and/or gas) are shut off and/or safe to use. If the utilities are shut off, it is due to them not being safe to use after the fire department leaves. Do not try to turn them back on yourself. The Tifton Police Department can be contacted in order to be made aware of being away from your home. If necessary you may need to board up openings so no one can gain access to the home when you are not present.

Help Your Pets

If you had pets during the time of the fire, try to find them and comfort them. It is common for pets to escape during a fire and hide in buildings or vegetation nearby. It is common for pets to scratch and bite when they are found after a fire, try to be patient and caring when trying to coax them out of their hiding spot. Try to leave pets with family, friends, or even veterinarian while visiting and cleaning up the home. Try to keep pets and animals out of the home until the clean up process is complete.

The First 24 Hours of Recovery

Who to Contact

1. Contact your local disaster relief service to help with your immediate needs
   • Clothing
   • Eyeglasses
   • Food
   • Medicine
   • Temporary Housing
2. Notifications: The Following included who should be notified after experiencing a fire
   • Insurance Company/Agent
   • Child's School
   • Delivery Services
   • Employer
   • Family & Friends
   • Fire & Police Department for reports
   • Mortgage Company
   • Post Office
   • Utility Companies

Essential Items

If it is safe to do so, try to locate the following items

• Eyeglasses, Hearing Aids, Other Prosthetic Devices
• Identification (Driver's License & Social Security Card)
• Insurance Information
• Medication Information
• Valuables (Credit Cards, Bank Books, Cash, or Jewelry)

Replacing Valuable Documents and Records

You will want to replace many of the following documents if they were destroyed or lost in the fire

• Driver's License / Passport / Citizenship Paperwork / Social Security Cards
• Insurance Policies / Warranties
• Income Tax Records / Stocks & Bonds / Credit Cards / Bank Books
• Birth, Death, and/or Marriage Certificates / Divorce Papers
• Titles or Deeds / Mortgage Papers
• Wills or Prepaid Burial Contracts
• Medical Records / Medicare Cards 
• Animal Registration Papers

Damaged Goods

Do not throw away any damaged goods until a thorough inventory has been completed. All damages are taken into consideration in developing your insurance claim. If you are considering contracting for inventory or repair services, discuss your plans with your insurance agent/company first.

Replacing Money

Handle burnt money as little as possible. Try to place each bill or part of a bill in plastic wrap to help preserve it. If money if partially burnt (half or more is not burnt) you can take the part that is left to your regional Federal Reserve Bank to get it replaced. Ask your bank for the nearest one, or you can take the burnt or torn money to the post office and mail it by "registered mail, return receipt requested" to:

Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Currency Standards

P.O. Box 37048 Washington, DC, 20013

Damaged or melted coins may be taken to your Regional Federal Reserve Bank or mailed by "registered mail, return receipt requested" to: 

Superintendent U.S. Mint

P.O. Box 400 Philadelphia, PA 19105

To replace U.S. savings bonds that are destroyed or mutilated, get the Department of Treasury Form PD F-1048 (I) from your bank or at www.ustreas.gov and mail to:

Department of the Treasury Bureau of the Public Debt Savings Bonds Operations

P.O. Box 1328 Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328

Checklist for Steps After a Fire

• Contact your local disaster relief service, to assist with finding a place to stay and to find food, clothing, and/or medicine.
• If you have insurance, contact your insurance company/agent. Ask what should be done first in order to keep the home, yourself, and family safe until repaired and housed. Ask about cleaning up and restoration. If not insured, contact community groups for aid or assistance.
• Check with the fire department to make sure that your home is safe before entering. Be very careful when inside the home.
• The fire department may have the utilities (water, power, gas) turned off for theirs and your safety. Do not try to turn them on yourself.
• Contact your landlord or mortgage company about the fire.
• Try to find valuable documents and records.
• If you leave your home, call the police department to inform them the site will be vacant.
• Begin saving receipts for any money spent related to the fire loss. The receipts may be needed later for the insurance company or for tax purposes.
• Check with an accountant or the IRS about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss.