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AVOID THE

When disaster strikes, so do the scammers.  They pray upon well-intentioned people who want to help or worse yet, those impacted, at their most vulnerable time.

For those being asked to open their wallets:

  • Check the charity out!  Reputations of charities can be verified at Charity Navigator or GuideStar
  • Avoid using email "links", unsolicited phone calls or door-to-door solicitors to make donations
  • Examine the website.  Often scammers will use sly misspellings or alternate domains like .biz

For those impacted:

  • Don't be rushed into signing a contract.  Get written estimates from several contractors.
  • Be wary of contractors wanting large sums of money upfront or for temporary repairs.
  • Investigate the reputation of the person you are considering hiring.
  • Before hiring a public adjuster or attorney, attempt to settle the claim directly with your insurance company.

 

Doug Peterson Nebraska Attorney General

Nebraska's Attorney General Doug Peterson cautions

Donate with Care in Response to Historic Flooding

MUCK CLEAN UP SUPPLIES CHECKLIST

  1. ​Kneeling Pad (much better than knee pads (for any low height work project) - you can lay on it, sit on it, crawl on it and get to work!)
  2. Collapsible Trash Bag Holder (any light weight can for large contractor bags will work)
  3. Largest, most powerful "wet/dry" shopvac you can find
  4. Extra shopvac filters (wash and/or bang the dust out outside often and wear a dust mask)
  5. Shopvac crevice attachment for getting into tight spots exposed around the wooden floor plates under the studs (sill plate)  NOTE: straight round tubes work best to collect large debris
  6. Flat long handle shovel for scooping up large piles of sheetrock crumbles
  7. Heavy duty floor scraper makes quick work of prying up baseboards AND removing carpet tack strips that are nailed to the concrete
  8. Five gallon tool bucket (standard operating equiment for any project)
  9. Nitrile Gloves (for scooping out soggy insulation)
  10. Heavy duty crow bar
  11. Wonder Bar (its a small pry bar and one of the most versatile tools for all projects - especially muck outs!)
  12. Hammer
  13. Utility knife (some prefer this method of scoring a horizontal line on the sheetrock at the highest breakoff point)
  14. Flashlight
  15. Heavy leather work gloves
  16. N95 rated dust masks or greater
  17. Ear / hearing protection
  18. Large flat blade screwdriver (much larger than a normal screwdriver - works great to dig out sheetrock in tight places and down behind cabinet and wood floor plate under the studs)
  19. Safety glasses
  20. Drill with large aggressive hole saw (1.5" to 2" diameter to open base of cabinets)
  21. Rotozip (great tool for removing sheetrock and/or wood boards in tight spaces (you set the exact depth so you just barely cut through the wall material- without hitting electrical wires or plumbing in the wall)).  Best to use in bathrooms around sinks and toilets where lots of pipes are behind the wall.
  22. Reciprocating saw with a very aggressive blade.  Try a blade called "The AX".  It cuts through wood, sheetrock and nails!  Great for ripping out the back bottom area of cabinets.
  23. Heavy duty / large contractor bags
  24. Extension cords
  25. Wheel barrow (a solid tire without air is best)
  26. Bleach or Mildewcide
  27. Pump up sprayer (1 gallon is a good size)
  28. High velocity fans (about 2 per room are usually required)
  29. Dehumidifiers are a great addition