Muckout: Is the removal of mud, muck, silt, and other typically semi-solid material from a home as a result of water inundation.

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1 Apprved by the Bard f Directrs, May 2013 HOUSING COMMITTEE CLEANUP DEFINITIONS AND PRACTICES Overview The husing cmmittee, in recgnitin f the absence f a dcument highlighting best practices and standard perating guidelines, has created an verview addressing cleanup activities cnducted by Natinal VOAD rganizatins. The intent f this guide is t imprve crdinatin during cleanup activities fllwing a disaster by creating a cmmn fundatin upn which standardized language, definitins, and rganizatinal accuntability can be grwn; with the intended result being greater efficiencies, chesiveness, and increased speed and cnsistency at which cleanup activities are cnducted. Definitins The terminlgy used t describe the cleanup prcess is varied; this variance causes delays, cnfusin, and the duplicatin f services, ultimately hampering assistance delivery t clients. Belw is a list f terminlgy t prvide a baseline frm which all Natinal VOAD member rganizatins, partner, and affiliate rganizatins shuld perate. Assessment: An evaluatin f a request fr assistance that includes an estimate f resurces needed, safety cncerns, and includes a written scpe f wrk and the labr needed t accmplish it. Reclamatin: The salvaging, remving, and cleaning f persnal items frm the hme that can be safely remved, such as family heirlms and nn-prus items reclamatin shuld be dne with and at the directin f the hmewner. Interir Debris/Cntents Remval: Is the remval f fld-affected persnal items, appliances, fixtures, and any ther items that are nt structural cmpnents f the hme that were submerged r damaged by fldwaters. This step is cnsidered cmplete when all items t be discarded have been remved frm the structure and any remaining undamaged items are in a safe lcatin. Muckut: Is the remval f mud, muck, silt, and ther typically semi-slid material frm a hme as a result f water inundatin. Gutting: Is the tearing ut and remval f cnstructin related materials frm a hme that has been damaged by water, including prtruding nails in expsed studs and flring. Gutting is cnsidered cmplete when all damaged cnstructin materials and prtruding nails have been remved. Final Cleaning and Sanitizing (pst gutting, pre-mld treatment): The final and thrugh cleaning f any remaining dried r wet remnants frm the structure after gutting t prepare fr mld cntrl and treatment activities. Cmpletin is typified by the absence f all nails, piles f dust/cntaminates, standing water in the basement/crawlspace, and surfaces having been cleaned and rinsed f any dirt, mud, r ther cntaminants. Mld Cntrl and Remediatin: Is the active and intentinal prcess f using chemicals and ther equipment such as dehumidifiers, fans, and air scrubbers t eradicate abnrmal mld and mildew grwth. Drying the structure, cntrlling humidity and bringing the misture cntent f structural cmpnents t an accept level prir t repairing r rebuilding is als a key element f the prcess. Exterir Debris Remval: Is typified by the remval f unwanted and damaged tree, vegetative, r ther disaster debris frm huse sites, lawns, fields and frests and placing it in cntainers r in piles fr dispsal. 1

2 Safety Practices and Hazardus Materials Apprved by the Bard f Directrs, May 2013 This infrmatin is fr reference nly; this is nt a cmprehensive list. Each rganizatin invlved in cleanup must establish prtcls and prcedures t ensure the safety f their vlunteer wrk frce. General Safety Brief all vlunteers regarding safe practices and safety hazards and g ver site wrk plan Ensure that all vlunteers sign liability waivers Ensure that a hmewner release has been signed Wear an N-95 r greater particulate respiratr Wear nn-vented gggles r ther adequate eye prtectin Wear heavy wrk glves t prtect hands Wear lng pants, a lng-sleeved shirt, and bts r sturdy wrk shes with puncture-prf sles Never enter a flded basement unless yu are abslutely sure the electricity has been turned ff D nt use gasline-pwered pumps r generatrs indrs r in a cnfined space. Gasline engines emit deadly carbn mnxide exhaust fumes Tetanus shts are strngly recmmended when ding any type f cleanup wrk Wash hands regularly, especially befre eating use f additinal bacterial wipes is advisable Wrking with Mld Brief all vlunteers regarding safe practices and safety hazards and g ver site wrk plan Ensure that all vlunteers sign liability waivers Ensure that a hmewner release has been signed Wear an N-95 r greater particulate respiratr (N100) T ensure prper seal, fit tests shuld be undertaken if half face respiratrs are being used Men shuld nt have facial hair Wear gggles (nn-vented) Use face shields if using a faming treatment r pwer washer Wear glves t prtect hands / dispsable cveralls with head and ft prtectin Tyvek suits are recmmended (hded suits prvide mre cmplete prtectin) Rubber bts t prtect feet are als recmmended Asbests Brief all vlunteers n the likelihd f asbests being present n a wrk site. If asbests is identified, stp wrk and ntify site leader t determine next curse f actin Refer t yur rganizatinal plicy utlining the handling f asbests and ther hazardus materials Cntact a certified Asbests remediatin specialist t safely handle the issue Best Practices fr Cleanup Belw are guidelines fr cleanup that respnding rganizatins shuld fllw in an effrt t prvide cnsistency in the wrk dne n private prperty acrss all respnding VOADs, partner, and affiliate rganizatins. The gal is t ensure that there is awareness f and adherence t these practices at all levels f rganizatins invlved in cleanup activities. 1. Crdinatin Utilize a centralized pint f crdinatin fr the acquisitin f wrk requests Match the requests (amunt f wrk and type f wrk) with the resurces that an rganizatin can ffer a cmmunity at any given time This facilitates the maximum utilizatin f affiliated grups with resurces while reducing the duplicatin f effrts in the field 2. Dcumentatin Cnsistency in the paperwrk used and the infrmatin captured will enhance interagency cmmunicatin as respnse transitins int recvery. Thrugh dcumentatin allws fr later referral abut specifics and fr a case histry f wrk dne fr a client t be initiated. Hmewner Dcumentatin: Signed Right f Entry Release f Liability and Indemnity 2

3 Apprved by the Bard f Directrs, May 2013 Infrmatin release allwing the wner s infrmatin t be shared with ther rganizatins willing t assist and t be shared with the federal gvernment t ascertain eligibility in additinal prgramming Vlunteer Dcumentatin: Signed Release f Liability and Indemnity Emergency Cntact Infrmatin Maintain recrds f expenses Maintain a cmprehensive list f wrk requests that includes the status f the jb, in rder t knw if a wrk request is pending r in prcess, which agency is respnsible, and when it is cmpleted. Maintain recrds f vlunteer hurs per site fr ptential federal cst share purpses. 3. Assessment An assessment is a physical inspectin and evaluatin f a structure r site as requested by the client t understand the needs f a given case and dcument the scpe f wrk and labr needed. Determine that it fits the respnse criteria (is it a renter/hmewner/landlrd) Assess and dcument safety and hazard cncerns Determine pririty f need: What characterizes pririty? Vulnerable ppulatins? The elderly? Single parent families? Individuals with special needs? An estimate f resurces needed: labr, tls, time, ther needs assistance A detailed scpe f wrk needs t be drafted and agreed upn by the rganizatin and client. Ascertain if water, electric, gas need t be turned ff if s, turn ff Status f the wrk request (nt started, partially cmpleted, and what is left t be dne, finished) shuld be reprted t the crdinatin pint r referring rganizatin n a regular basis fr hlistic respnse tracking 4. Remving Water frm Flded Basements Befre entering flded hmes, turn ff the main electric supply and any fuel il r gas supply. When pssible call the municipal fire dept. t pump ut basements Examine the exterir f the huse fr signs f structural damage. If structural damage is evident, yu may need t cnsult an expert (cunty assessr) t determine whether it is safe t enter the huse. Basement walls, flrs, and fundatins can cllapse if deep standing water is pumped ut quickly and the utside grund is still saturated. Pump ut with cautin! FEMA advises as fllws: 1. Begin pumping when fldwaters are n lnger cvering the grund utside. 2. Pump the water ut ne ft at a time. Mark the water level and wait vernight. 3. Check the water level the next day. If the level went back up (cvered yur mark) it is still t early t drain yur basement. 4. Wait 24 hurs, then pump the water dwn ne ft again. Check the level the next day. 5. When the water in the basement stps returning t yur mark, pump ut tw t three feet and wait vernight. 6. Repeat daily until all the water is ut f the basement. 6. Interir Debris Remval Be sure the huse is safe fr entry and fr placing wrk teams inside Befre entering the hme, turn ff the main electric supply and any fuel il r gas supply Remve all fld-affected persnal items, appliances, furniture, carpet, fixtures and any ther items that are nt a structural cmpnent f the hme Check with the lcal pint f crdinatin r lcal authrity fr guidance n debris management / debris separatin prir t beginning wrk If there are questins regarding sme persnal items refer t scpe f wrk and/r cntact Client fr additinal directin 7. Mucking Out a Flded Structure Remve mud, muck and silt that was depsited in the huse by fld waters Defer t lcal debris management guidelines n dispsal f muck 8. Gutting a Flded Structure Cnstructin materials damaged by water will need t be remved frm the huse 3

4 Apprved by the Bard f Directrs, May 2013 Gutting typically invlves remving the fllwing materials and leaving the bare stud walls f the huse Trim and mlding Damaged sheetrck/drywall t bare studs Remve 2 feet abve water line Cutting at the 4 ft. level allws replacement f full sheets Paneling Insulatin Pressed bard Plywd Carpet/padding Flring Cabinets Nails frm studs and flr Linleum Electrical fixtures (switches, utlets, breakers) need t be replaced Electrical wiring cnsult a qualified electrician regarding replacement f wiring 9. Final Cleaning and Sanitizing After mucking ut and gutting a flded structure, the remaining structure including walls, framing, and flrs, must be cleaned thrughly. Use a high pressure washer with detergent t wash ff remaining dirt, mud, muck and cntaminants Scrub surfaces with brushes if necessary Use a disinfectant if viral r bacterial cntaminatin is suspected Rinse surfaces with clean water Remve standing/remaining water with a shp vac r pump 10. Mld Treatment This infrmatin is fr reference nly. Natinal VOAD des nt endrse ne methd f mld treatment/remval ver anther and strngly encurages individuals and rganizatins t educate themselves n the apprpriate methds t address mld prblems in hmes. Please see the appendix sectin fr additinal infrmatinal resurces n alternative methdlgies. Minimize cntaminatin f unaffected areas and cntaminant expsure t wrkers: Wrkers must wear apprpriate Persnal Prtective Equipment. Islate areas t be treated frm areas that were unaffected. Ventilate the treatment area with negative air pressure. This can be achieved with a bx fan in an exterir windw. Wet all materials t be remved just enugh t prevent particulate frm becming airbrne. D nt saturate the structure. Immediately bag all materials t be discarded. Mld must be physically remved: It is nt sufficient t kill the mld. Live r dead, mld is a respiratry hazard fr ccupants. Bicides such as bleach shuld nt be used indiscriminately. Remve and discard all prus materials that may be cntaminated with mld Remve mld frm hard, nn-prus surfaces: Clean mld frm hard surfaces by using a nn-ammnia detergent and water D nt put a used rag back in the detergent slutin Use a stiff brush t scrub rugh surfaces such as cncrete Use a HEPA vacuum t remve dust and mld residue Wrk frm high t lw, frm the furthest pint frm the ventilatin t the clsest pint. Use gravity and airflw t avid recntaminatin. Thrughly dry the structure t prevent mld grwth. Mld cannt grw withut adequate misture. Use fans and heaters t remve misture frm materials, and dehumidifiers t extract the misture frm the air r exhaust ventilatin t remve the mist air frm the structure. Misture meters must be used t ensure the structure is dry prir t rebuilding. Defer t lcal guidance n acceptable misture levels. 4

5 Remember, the KEY t mld cntrl is cntrlling the misture level! Apprved by the Bard f Directrs, May Exterir Debris Remval Trees, cnstructin debris and ther items depsited n prperty as a result f the disaster shuld be remved Clean up debris n prperties t prepare fr repairs r rebuilding Remve debris n farm fields and pastures t prtect peple, animals, and equipment Chainsaw peratrs shuld be trained and wear prper prtective equipment If debris is piled fr later remval, srt it accrding t the lcal waste guidelines Check with the lcal pint f crdinatin r lcal authrity fr guidance n debris management prir t beginning wrk 12. Demlitin f Buildings Demlitin permits may be required prir t activity, seek lcal guidance. Be aware f hazardus materials in lder buildings and fllw guidelines fr hazardus waste remval. Traditinally vlunteer agencies d nt engage in hazardus waste cleanup. Asbests and lead paint may need t be remved by certified cntractrs Please see the fllwing resurces n apprved methds f asbests remval if yu cme acrss this hazardus material n-site it is advisable t cnfirm the best curse f actin with lcal EPA representatives. Resurces fr Fld and Mld Cleanup These resurces belw are listed fr further reference. The inclusin f these resurces is nt an endrsement f ne practice r methd ver anther. 1. A Brief Guide t Mld, Misture, and Yur Hme published by the US Envirnmental Prtectin Agency 2. Dealing with Mld & Mildew in Yur Fld Damaged Hme published by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 3. Emergency Preparedness and Respnse: Flds published by the US Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin 4. N95 Respiratr Fit Testing, Fit Checking, and Handling Prcedure fr Fit Testing Technicians and Emplyees, University f Pennsylvania Medicine N95 Respiratr Fit Testing, Fit Checking, and Handling Prcedure 5