Whether you live in an area prone to flooding or not, you may not be prepared. You may think it will never happen to you, but it can. A natural disaster can cause flooding or a busted pipe. If it happens, you need to know what steps to take when your home is flooded. Knowing beforehand can save you a lot of time.
Find the Cause
It is important to know and understand where the water is coming from. Is it a hurricane? Is it the sump pump or a busted pipe? You can’t move one until you can identify the source and stop the water from coming in.
Take Pictures of Damage
Now the first thing you will want to do is get the water out of your home. And while this urge is understandable, you need to document the damage first. If it is safe to enter your home, take as many pictures as possible. Make sure you are wearing a mask, gloves, and boots. You can also record yourself going through the home to document the damage. You will need this evidence when you contact the insurance company.
Clean Up Company
Cleaning after a flood is hard work. The house needs to dry out; you need to remove everything from the house and sort through what can be saved. While you can do this yourself, hire a water damage restoration company instead. They’ve done this before, so they know all the steps, and they can disinfect your house probably more efficiently than you can.
Contact Insurance Company
You will need to open an insurance claim with your insurance company. An insurance adjuster will be given your case and, based on what your policy covers, they will decide what the insurance company can do for you. Some insurance companies don’t cover flooding, so you need to know what your policy covers. If you are going to be fully financially responsible for fixing your home, it could make things much more difficult and stressful. You should be prepared.
Take Precautions
When cleaning your home after a flood, certain precautions need to be taken. First, take care of any electrical systems in your house. Water and electricity do not mix. So if your house is flooded, and the electricity is still on, you need to have it turned off.
If you are cleaning your home yourself, stopping mold from happening is a priority. Once the water is gone, you need to open all the windows so they can dry out. Mold can grow wherever there is moisture, so you need to open the walls, remove the flooring and remove the insulation. Anything that could hold moisture needs to be removed.
A flooded home can be a source of extreme stress and anxiety. It is important to know the steps you should take beforehand, so if it happens, you can be prepared.
