1)Prayer
This is your most important tool because you are going to need the Lord's power for everyones safety(and yours) and to have the compassionate,helpful attitude that the people you are helping are going to need to see.
2)Heavy work gloves
There are nails and splintered wood and sharp edged pieces of sheet metal and rough cable and etc. everywhere that you are going to handle.
3)Heavy leather, steel-toed, steel shanked work boots.
Puncture wounds from nails has to be one of the biggest reasons for first aid visits during the cleanup.Make sure your tetanus shots are up to date.
4)Dust masks,safety glasses,etc.
Insulation dust is thick when you clean up the pieces of a totaled house and things are falling/flying everywhere.It pays to have a good set of eyes in the back of your head.Be aware of what is going on around you.
5)Large,good quality bolt cutters and/or a hacksaw
There are also downed cables and wires everywhere.They usually have at least a steel messenger wire amongst them which is why you need bolt cutters and not just copper wire cutters.They wrap around everything including tires and caterpillar tracks.Make absolutely sure they are dead before you cut(or touch) them!!!
6)Heavy rope and chain with hooks on the end
You need to carry at least a short section of rope personally and know how to tie strong knots for the many uses they are necessary and if you can you may want to carry enough rope and a chain with hooks to use when you need to hook to some heavy equipment to move whole sections of wall and such in case the operator doesn't have enough.
7)Indestructable knife
I used my Busse Basic 3 to pry out and dig holes in walls to be able to get a chain on them to pull them.If I had used a hatchet or hammer to make the holes like some did the siding boards break away and the chain pulls thru the wall before it is moved.Be careful though when you are tired because your hand can slip down onto the blade during full power stabs if you're not careful.When you're tired you can hammer the blade thru if your knife is tough enough(like the Busse) and you are careful.Of course a stout knife has a multitude of uses in these situations.
8)Bow(limb) saw
Lots of limbs and other wood to cut that you may not want to use a chain saw on for various reasons(unstable footing,nails and such in the wood,etc.).
9)Hand sanitizer and antibacterial wet wipes
Usually pretty unsanitary conditions after a bad storm.
10)Miscelanious hand tools
Claw hammer,tough hatchet(like Fiskars or Gerber) but use a good sheath,4 way screwdriver,large standard screwdriver,a couple pair of good quality channel lock pliers,side cutters(Kleins) with hardened wire cutters, etc. will all probably get used.
Also remember to bring lots of cold water and food and first aid supplies and safety supplies if you are not sure if there will be some there.
I am not an expert at this(or anything else for that matter) so feel free to add your experiences to this thread.
This is not a complete list and please don't use any tools or do anything you are not completely familiar and completely safe with, you will only add to the problem if you get yourself or someone else seriously hurt.
Be careful and God bless you and those you are helping.
This is your most important tool because you are going to need the Lord's power for everyones safety(and yours) and to have the compassionate,helpful attitude that the people you are helping are going to need to see.
2)Heavy work gloves
There are nails and splintered wood and sharp edged pieces of sheet metal and rough cable and etc. everywhere that you are going to handle.
3)Heavy leather, steel-toed, steel shanked work boots.
Puncture wounds from nails has to be one of the biggest reasons for first aid visits during the cleanup.Make sure your tetanus shots are up to date.
4)Dust masks,safety glasses,etc.
Insulation dust is thick when you clean up the pieces of a totaled house and things are falling/flying everywhere.It pays to have a good set of eyes in the back of your head.Be aware of what is going on around you.
5)Large,good quality bolt cutters and/or a hacksaw
There are also downed cables and wires everywhere.They usually have at least a steel messenger wire amongst them which is why you need bolt cutters and not just copper wire cutters.They wrap around everything including tires and caterpillar tracks.Make absolutely sure they are dead before you cut(or touch) them!!!
6)Heavy rope and chain with hooks on the end
You need to carry at least a short section of rope personally and know how to tie strong knots for the many uses they are necessary and if you can you may want to carry enough rope and a chain with hooks to use when you need to hook to some heavy equipment to move whole sections of wall and such in case the operator doesn't have enough.
7)Indestructable knife
I used my Busse Basic 3 to pry out and dig holes in walls to be able to get a chain on them to pull them.If I had used a hatchet or hammer to make the holes like some did the siding boards break away and the chain pulls thru the wall before it is moved.Be careful though when you are tired because your hand can slip down onto the blade during full power stabs if you're not careful.When you're tired you can hammer the blade thru if your knife is tough enough(like the Busse) and you are careful.Of course a stout knife has a multitude of uses in these situations.
8)Bow(limb) saw
Lots of limbs and other wood to cut that you may not want to use a chain saw on for various reasons(unstable footing,nails and such in the wood,etc.).
9)Hand sanitizer and antibacterial wet wipes
Usually pretty unsanitary conditions after a bad storm.
10)Miscelanious hand tools
Claw hammer,tough hatchet(like Fiskars or Gerber) but use a good sheath,4 way screwdriver,large standard screwdriver,a couple pair of good quality channel lock pliers,side cutters(Kleins) with hardened wire cutters, etc. will all probably get used.
Also remember to bring lots of cold water and food and first aid supplies and safety supplies if you are not sure if there will be some there.
I am not an expert at this(or anything else for that matter) so feel free to add your experiences to this thread.
This is not a complete list and please don't use any tools or do anything you are not completely familiar and completely safe with, you will only add to the problem if you get yourself or someone else seriously hurt.
Be careful and God bless you and those you are helping.