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Irene has died the death of all hurricanes - light rain showers over the north Atlantic - but if her legacy lives on as water in your basement or a tree blocking your driveway, here are some things you should know.
Even when you're desperate to clean up the mess and everyone you know is busy on another job, take precautions when hiring people to help, says Keith Gerstenmaier, owner of Coger LLC, a home renovation and remodeling company.
"Proceed with caution when someone knocks on your door and offers to help," he says. Gerstenmaier says it's important to check the references of anyone you hire, and make sure he or she has workman's compensation insurance. In this economy, he adds, even reputable builders might have let their insurance lapse. If a worker is hurt on your property, you don't want to add a lawsuit to the cost of cleaning up after Irene.
Gerstenmaier says the first thing you should do if you've suffered property damage is call your insurance company. "They deal with disasters and have connections to companies that perform clean-up operations," he says.
Additionally, town fire departments will often pump out the water from your basement. If your boiler or furnace was flooded, make sure you call the appropriate utility before trying to start them up again.
Was your home damaged by Irene? How are you coping?
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