This was on the Rowlett site from a Joplin, Missouri resident:

So many people are asking what they should do now and I know that it is hard to think with a clear mind right now so hopefully this will help. I am from Joplin, Missouri. In 2011 an EF5 destroyed most of my hometown. I just moved to the area in July. Tomorrow you need to call and cancel all credit cards or banking documents that could have been strewn from your home. Sometime within the week you need to put fraud alerts on your credit. You can do this by contacting the credit agencies and putting a password on your social security number.

Then you need to call and put in claims with your home insurance and car insurance. Both of those companies will likely have representatives stationed in the area within days to help residents, but having a claim in will get you top priority.

Then you need to go to the Red Cross station and notify them. They will help you with food, supplies and get working on temporary shelter. If it's declared a federal disaster area, FEMA will help you pay rent at a new place and probably bring in trailers for people to live in while their homes get repaired. They are not glamorous by a long shot, but they are a place to rest your head. They come fully furnished. A lot of people purchased RV's and sat them on their property while they were rebuilding. Many insurance companies will pay for hotels and rent while rebuilding.

After you put in claims everywhere, you need to gather close friends and family to help you go through all of your belongings. It's going to be hard to salvage much because of the rain, but there will be lots of volunteer restoration companies that will work with you to restore old photos and things of importance that you can not get back.

After all of the important things are collected, have volunteers start making piles of trash in your yard. In Joplin, all of the debris had to be separated by type. For example: wood, furniture, metals. And trucks came by to pick it up. People will come help! Make sure everyone wears gloves and has plenty of water.

Once you are ready to rebuild you need to check, double, check, and triple check that you have a reliable contractor. There will be lots of scammers trying to take your money. Don't fall victim.

Most importantly. Keep your head up. Don't be afraid to cry, but know that you will have a community full of help supporting you through this. Don't be afraid to ask for help because you will need it! And people want to give it! Remember there is hope. It's hard to see it right now, but I promise there is! Things can be replaced, your life cannot be. <hugs> I know it's hard, but get some rest tonight.