Once the claw takes the sofa, it is gone. “It was a nice sectional” is not a line item. You need a face, a brand if you have it, and a sense of size.
Do this while you are angry and strong. You will not want to restage it later.
If volunteers are tossing faster than you can shoot, put one person on the camera. That is a real job.
Do this now
- Photograph each room before anything leaves.
- Shoot serials and model numbers on appliances and electronics.
- Photograph the curb pile with the house number in the frame.
- Keep dump tickets, 311 confirmation numbers, and hauler invoices in one folder.
A pile photo is not enough
A mountain of wet debris looks like a mountain of wet debris. Carriers want to know it was your mountain and what was in it. Walk the pile and name items on video. “Washer, Samsung, serial here, from the first-floor laundry.” That takes four minutes and saves a month of arguing. If the city already took it, film the empty pad and the timestamped earlier shots.
Who hauled, when
Municipal pass, private hauler, or your brother-in-law. Write it down. If FEMA or insurance later asks whether you already got help paying for haul-out, you want a clean answer. Duplication of benefits is a real phrase. Honest receipts keep you out of that swamp.
Shared dumpsters and roommates
In a fourplex, label bags if you can stand it. At least photograph your items next to a door number. Roommate claims get nasty when everyone thinks they owned the TV. Be boring and specific. Upload the same day. Phones die in wet pockets.
Do this next
- What the city or county will pick up after a flood
- Where to pile debris so trucks can actually take it
- Commercial providers hub
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