Day 15 to day 30: recovery

Goal: return to normal without making the typical recovery mistakes: getting hurt while cleaning up, signing with a fake contractor, missing an aid deadline, or leaving the kit empty for the next emergency.

1. Insurance first. If you have insurance, file the claim before asking for federal aid: FEMA doesn't pay losses your insurance already covers and will ask for the insurer's settlement letter.
2. Apply for FEMA aid if there's a disaster declaration for your county: at DisasterAssistance.gov, with the FEMA app, at a Disaster Recovery Center, or at 1-800-621-3362. Have on hand ID, proof that you live there (lease), photos of the damage, a list of what was lost, and the insurance letter. There's a registration deadline, normally 60 days from the declaration: confirm it for each disaster.
3. Rebuild your documents with the copies from the waterproof bag and the encrypted USB drive (chapter 2).
4. Safe cleanup: gloves, boots, a mask for mold; never generators or gas pressure washers indoors (carbon monoxide).
5. Avoid scams. FEMA's services are free: anyone who charges you to "register" or for an inspection is a scammer. FEMA employees and inspectors carry photo ID; ask to see your registration number. When in doubt, hang up and call the official line yourself. Don't pay contractors who knock on your door in advance (chapter 25).
6. Restock the kit before day 30: water, batteries, medicines, pet food, cash. Write down what was missing and add it to the list.
7. Final meeting: what worked, what didn't, what do we buy or learn now? Update the family plan (Appendix A).