What to Do When Your House Floods
What do you do if your house floods?
No one prepares you for what steps to take, and suddenly you have a flooded home that you have lovingly cared for has sustained immense damage.
What should I do now?
There are many things that we can help you with, and this blog post will go into detail about what to do after a flooded property after a natural disaster.
"While it doesn’t help to worry about things you can’t control, you can be aware of the actions you should take if you do find yourself in a messy—and potentially toxic—situation like this."
1. Turn off the power to your home at the fuse box
Water and electricity don't mix. Before turning it back on, have it examined. Protecting electrical systems is critical.
2. Call a water damage restoration company and get on the waiting list.
Unfortunately, because so much devastation has occurred in our neighborhood, you may have to wait a while before they arrive.
3. Contact your insurance company to see if you have flood insurance.
Flood insurance is a separate coverage obtained through the US government. As soon as possible, start an insurance claim so that an appointment can be made for the adjuster to come out and inspect.
4. Put on proper safety gear
If you're on your way inside after walking through flooded areas, make sure you wear protective gear, such as rubber boots and gloves. Flood water can include pollutants that are undetectable with the naked eye.
5. Look for structural damage
Flood damage, such as buckled walls or floors, and cracked foundations are critical issues that must be addressed right away.
6. Open windows to circulate the air
A flooded house can be generate toxic mold and mildew that is harmful to your health. Let in fresh air and sunshine so the house can dry out more quickly.
7. Document the flood damage
Take pictures or videos of the damage to your house before you begin cleaning up. During the cleanup, take additional photos to show how things are progressing.
8. Contact Utility Company
Contact your utilities if you suspect damage to any water supply, gas, or sewer lines.
9. Remove any undamaged possessions
Remove salvageable components from the damaged goods. Mold grows fast, so get rid of them as soon as feasible. Remove all food from the home.
10. Sanitize Plates & More
When dealing with food, the necessary precautions must be observed. Plates, glasses, and flatware should all be removed and cleaned. They should ideally be professionally sanitized.
11. Remove wet items from the house
Remove any furniture or appliances that have been damaged by the floodwater, but do not remove anything if it's safe to stay in place. If you can't tell whether an item is unsafe, call a professional before touching it at all.
12. Keep track of your time and bills
If you have flood insurance, you may be eligible for compensation. If you do not have flood insurance, the county has been designated a disaster area, and you may qualify for government aid. You may also be able to deduct the loss on your taxes.
13. Remove water as quickly as possible
To prevent further flood damage, make sure water is removed quickly after a house flood. Put on rubber boots and gloves, use a shop vacuum to remove excess standing water, mop up spills with wet towels or rags immediately after they happen, use fans to dry out damp areas quickly.
13. Pull up carpeting & padding
Your carpet and padding can be a center for mold growth, so pull them up as soon as possible.
14. Carefully Poke holes at floor level to allow water to drain from behind the wallboard
If there was water damage, the restoration business will need to inspect how far up your wallboard the water has advanced. Because those sections must be removed to avoid or eliminate mold,
15. Set up fans and dehumidifiers throughout your house
To avoid mold growth, it's important to keep the humidity in your home below 60%. Use fans and dehumidifiers if necessary. You may also want to setup a sump pump or wet vac in order to suck out the flood water.
16. Do not use a humidifier
Using this device may increase moisture levels in the air of your home and cause further damage, which can lead to more rapid damage from water or even encourage new problems such as mold.
17. Wait for things to completely dry out
Before beginning the restoration process, wait for the floors and walls to dry completely. Mold will begin growing within a couple of days if you try drying things too quickly, so be patient!
Be prepared for a house flood
If you’ve been affected by the recent flooding in Whatcom County, take a deep breath and know that there is hope. Now it’s time to move forward with your disaster plan. This disaster can be mitigated if you have a strong strategy for dealing with water damage restoration services in order to get back on your feet as soon as possible.
Contact Puget Construction & Landscape To Rebuild today so we can help provide guidance through this difficult process of rebuilding from flood damages!
