Flooded homes can be caused by weather-related incidents, unusually high tides, and even from a water heater bursting. Whatever the reason for the flood, it can be a costly and time-consuming headache to make right.
What you do immediately after your house gets flooded is going to determine how much cleanup is required. Waiting too long to resolve the problem will lead to more problems later. Things like mold will do a lot of further damage if you let it grow.
In this article, we will go over several of the things you need to do right after your house gets flooded.
1 – Turn everything off
As soon as you realize that your house is flooded, even a little bit, you need to turn off the water supply and the electricity. Turning off the water if your flood is coming from within the house due to a broken water heater or even burst pipes is going to limit further damage.
Shutting off the electricity is going to prevent injuries or worse. Since water and electricity don’t mix, you are risking electrocution if you enter the house with water and the electricity is still on.
A short circuit caused by the water hitting electrical panels can also spark a fire and then you risk losing your house completely.
2 – Make some calls
You’re going to need to get the water out of your house as soon as possible depending on how much there is. Before doing so, you need to call your insurance company and explain the nature of the flood and how much there is. They will direct you on how to proceed so you can be covered by your policy.
The next call is going to be to a cleaning company like Woodard restoration that specializes in deep cleans when there are things like water damage. If your home is flooded severely from a natural disaster like a flood or hurricane then you’ll need the water to subside first before cleanup can be done, however.
3 – Document everything
It is very likely that you are overwhelmed at this point and want to be working to fix the situation as soon as possible. However, you need to take some time while you are cleaning to document the process. Take lots of pictures before the cleaning begins so you can show your insurance company the extent of the problem.
Also, make sure to take notes of who you call, what time and date the call is made, and what was discussed. All of this information will also be helpful when you are making a claim.
4 – Be careful about mold
Mold can be very dangerous and can also develop very quickly. It’s important to remove anything wet or damp that can be moved or removed. Even a bit of drywall that has been soaked through should be removed so it can be replaced later. Mold can develop unseen behind it and then spread through your walls.
