THE CALIFORNIA DELUGE : Staying Afloat

Here are some suggestions for coping with rain that has fallen or on the way:

WHERE TO GET HELP

* InfoLine Orange County: Provides referrals for emergency shelter and road condition information. (714) 955-2255

* American Red Cross, Orange County chapter: For immediate help, call their hot line at (714) 835-5381

* American Red Cross Service Centers: Families can meet with an American Red Cross case worker for help with shelter, medical food or special service needs. Two service centers now open:

* United Way Service Center

5762 Bolsa Ave., Suite 1, Huntington Beach

* Leisure World Service Center

1661 Golden Rain Road, Clubhouse 3, Seal Beach

STORM EMERGENCY SHELTERS

* American Red Cross Shelter

Rancho Alamitos High School

11351 Dale St.

Garden Grove

* Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter

(714) 631-7213

* National Guard Armories

Hot line: (714) 897-3221

Santa Ana, 612 E. Warner Ave.

Fullerton, 400 S. Brookhurst St.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Orange County was declared a federal disaster area. Flood victims--individuals, families and businesses--may be eligible for assistance including temporary housing, home repairs and unemployment payments (for jobs lost due to flooding) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Call (800) 462-9029 to register, 6 a.m. to midnight daily. For speech or hearing impaired, (800) 462-7585.

ROAD AND SCHOOL CLOSURES

* Orange County Emergency Operations Center: (714) 834-7285

For information on road and school closures, emergency shelters referrals and sandbags.

* California Department of Transportation: (800) 427-7623

* Schools: Call your local school district or school directly for information on closures.

WHERE TO VOLUNTEER

* Laguna Fire Relief Coalition: Needs 50 volunteers to fill sandbags today, 9 a.m. until dark at City Park, Laguna Beach. Bring shovel and gloves. Information: Ann Wood at (714) 376-9288

* Santa Ana Public Works: May need volunteers to fill sandbags. Call Larry Christian at (714) 647-3306 for more information.

* Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County: Will refer callers to storm-related volunteer opportunities. 24-hour line, (714) 647-2600

* American Red Cross: Needs blood donations, all types. Call (800) 448-3543.

INSURANCE COVERAGE

Refer to your insurance policy and contact your insurance agent or company as soon as possible if you have damage that might be eligible for coverage. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s usually covered--and what’s not--under each type of policy.

* Structure: If damage is from rising water, you’re covered only if you’ve purchased flood insurance. But if damage was caused by storm breaking windows or pushing holes through roof, your homeowner policy should cover it.

* Furniture and clothing: If you have flood insurance, you’re covered whether water came through ceiling, window or floor. If you don’t, you’re covered only if storm broke a window or roof, resulting in damage to your belongings.

* Art, furs, cameras: If you bought “floaters” to obtain coverage for high-priced goods such as paintings, cameras, stamp and coin collections or furs, they’re covered no matter how they were damaged.

* Leaks: If result of storm-ravaged roofing, yes, they’re covered. If leak caused by poor maintenance, no.

* Landscaping: Neither homeowners nor flood insurance covers water-related damage to your flora and fauna.

* Fences, sheds, independent structures: If damaged by high winds or fallen trees, covered under homeowners insurance. If damaged by flood waters, only flood insurance applies.

* Cars: If you have comprehensive auto insurance coverage, which is standard, your car is insured whether damaged in an accident or washed away in a flood.

* Landslides: Not covered by either flood or homeowners insurance.

* Mudslides: If you have flood insurance, yes. If you have only homeowners insurance, no.

INSURANCE ASSISTANCE

* United Policyholders: (209) 383-6311 or (818) 407-7446. California-based nonprofit organization advises insurance policyholders and encourages anyone who has had damage to contact their insurance carrier. Even if full loss is not covered, a portion may be. By filing a claim, you are asking the company to look for ways your losses may be covered and to give you a response. Keep a copy of all correspondences and a log of phone calls.

* California Department of Insurance: (800) 927-4357. Trained counselors are available to answer questions.

WHERE TO GET SANDBAGS

* Most Orange County cities are providing filled sandbags or bags and sand separately through public works departments.

* All Orange County Fire Department stations also are passing out empty sandbags. Sand can be purchased at department stores such as Home Base, Home Depot and at various sand and gravel agencies that provide sand for commercial businesses.

* Private firms. Residents also may contact private sand and gravel companies that provide filled sandbags. Companies will deliver and set them up at a cost of about $1 to $1.50 per bag.

* At Saddleback Sand and Gravel in Lake Forest, which has the capability of filling 30 sandbags per minute, company employees have been working 24 hours a day, providing sandbags to cities and public works departments.

* For further information, call Orange County Fire Department at (714) 744-0400.

HOLDING BACK WATER

* Overflowing street gutters: Use sandbags or braced 2-by-12-inch planks to aim flow of water back into street. Divert rather than dam flow. This often requires cooperation of neighbors, because flow may span two or more properties.

* How to use sandbags: Walls of sandbags will not seal out water, only divert flow. They require a lot of time and work to fill and stack. Don’t fill in advance; bag material will rot. Fill with dirt or sand just before using. Fill half full, then fold over empty top to prevent leaking. Stack each bag onto folded-over top of previous bag. Finish first layer of bags before starting second layer. Stagger gaps much like rows of bricks. Stamp down each bag before adding another.

* Sealing garage doors: Nail a plywood strip or an inch-thick board from one side of bottom of door to other. Shape bottom edge to conform to shape of driveway. Place felt or foam rubber between edge of board and driveway, then press down to seal before nailing. Center and side seams in hinged doors may require separate vertical boards to seal. Use materials such as modeling clay, floral clay or children’s Play-Doh to seal gaps around hinges and hasps.

* Emergency seals for entrance doorways: Lock door from inside so seals are not accidentally broken. Use putty, modeling clay, Play-Doh, etc. to seal cracks around door, sill and frame. Plastic sheeting or waterproof building paper can be held in place by electrician’s or waterproof masking tape to seal off entire doorway. Use a good caulking compound if a longer lasting seal is needed.

* Preparing for next time: Get a free copy of “When Water Is Your Enemy” from your local library or by calling Orange County Environmental Management Agency at (714) 834-3388. It shows in detail how to make your home flood-resistant.

UTILITIES

* Southern California Edison:

* (714) 835-5200 if calling from Balboa, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park or Westminster.

* (714) 871-2100 if calling from Brea, Buena Park, Carbon Canyon, La Palma, Placentia or Yorba Linda.

* (818) 967-7411 if calling from La Habra.

* (310) 432-9411 if calling from Cypress, Huntington Harbour, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Stanton or Sunset Beach.

* (714) 581-1213 if calling from Lake Forest, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Leisure World or Mission Viejo.

* Southern California Gas Co.: (800) 427-2200

* Pacific Bell: Call 611

* Downed trees: Call public works department in your city

PETS

Outdoor pets need dry shelter and food that has not been soaked. If you have found a lost pet, call your local animal shelter, listed in phone book under animal control. If your pet is missing, call your local shelter and those in neighboring communities, as it may have strayed.

* Orange County Animal Control: 561 S. The City Drive, Orange, (714) 935-6848 or (714) 935-7158 for emergencies

* Orange County Humane Society: (714) 536-8480

CLEANING UP

* Standing water: Rental businesses have water vacuums for about $30 a day and small water pumps for about $60 a day. For expert help, look in phone book under Fire and Water Damage Restoration. Costs to have water pumped out of a house may range from $200 to $400, depending on the amount of water and size of house. The longer water sits, the more likely it is to cause wall problems such as warpage.

* Wet carpet: Water-logged carpet is best professionally dried, to prevent mildew; the cost is usually from $1.25 to $2 per square foot. Keep your heat off while carpet is drying; it will only cause more mildew. It’s also a good idea to keep lights on in room as mildew also hates light. Other tips: Don’t use colored towels, as color may transfer. Remove your furniture to prevent permanent stains; put foil or wax paper under legs if furniture can’t be removed. Remove clothes from a closet with wet carpet, as mildew will land on fabric and could leave permanent stains.

* Leaking ceiling: Poke a nail hole through area where water is leaking to centralize leak and keep weight from building. Put bucket below leak to catch water.

* Ceiling water stains: In many cases, particularly “cottage-cheese”-type ceilings, bleaching agent will remove discoloration. Other ceiling materials and particularly resistant stains must be repaired, sealed and repainted.

* Drapes: Contact dry cleaner as soon as possible, especially if drapes are muddy or dirty. Cleaning may cost $1 per pleat.

* Clothing: Take to a dry cleaner as soon as possible.

* Furniture: Most carpet cleaners also do upholstery restoration, but the longer you wait the more likely the chance for water stains. Most companies provide 24-hour service.

* Roofing: Must be dry before repair. Check to see if it is still under warranty; reputable roofers will honor guarantee made during installation.

* Pools: Pools clouded with runoff or mud need to be filtered and vacuumed, and the filter may need to be back-washed or cleaned. Chemical balance must be restored. It won’t hurt to wait a few days before doing this.

* Trees and shrubs: Trees should be able to withstand any amount of water. But both may die if mud and runoff build-up remains around trunk. Remove it to restore original soil level.

* Lawns: Capable of taking a lot of water, but avoid walking on them while they’re soggy. Let saturated gardens dry before reactivating sprinkler system. After it dries, aerate lawn so it can absorb more water with next rain.

* Plants and flowers: Three or four weeks of saturation shouldn’t cause permanent damage to established plants. Rain may cause some yellowing and leaf drop. It’s not water quantity, but frequency of watering that kills a plant.

TICKET HOLDERS

If an event for which you hold a ticket has been canceled or you are unable to get to it because of flooding, you may be able to get a rain check:

* Laguna Playhouse: (714) 494-8021. Will honor tickets to Jan. 4 and Jan. 10 canceled performances of “Breakfast With Les and Bess” at any Saturday matinee (2 p.m.) or any show during play’s final week, Jan. 31 to Feb. 5 (except for Friday and Saturday nights). No evening show on Feb. 5. Rain may cancel future shows, so call to verify performances.

* South Coast Repertory: (714) 957-4033. May allow ticket exchanges if rain prevents attendance to “The Misanthrope,” running through Feb. 12. Tickets may be exchanged for same-price seats only.

* Orange County Performing Arts Center: (714) 979-7000 or 556-2787. Will not exchange or refund tickets due to rain, but will offer tax receipt so ticket cost may be deducted as donation to nonprofit center.

* Irvine Barclay Theatre: (714) 854-4646 or 740-2000. No ticket exchange policy but may consider exchange if “legitimately hazardous” conditions prevent attendance.

Sources: Various organizations

Researched by CINDY MURPHY, DENNIS MCLELLAN, STEVE EMMONS, KATHY KRISTOF and ZAN DUBIN / Los Angeles Times