Flooded Homes: What Should You Do?

One of the worst things that can happen to your home is flooding since it can harm the structure of your home and your belongings. It is important to understand what steps you should take to get your home back into its original form.

Make Sure You Have Insurance

It is also important to make sure that you have insurance if the area you live in is prone to flooding. This can help keep you and your family safe from serious financial instability. This means that it is prudent to not wait until your house is completely flooded before getting insurance.

Take Safety Measures

After flooding, the house can actually be quite dangerous. Since you aren’t trained to spot the damage to the structure, it is better for you to vacate the premises. Only enter the home if you are sure no harm will come to you and be cautious of the structure.

The most important step to take is to shut off any electrical appliances in the house. However, make sure you are safe from electrocution if you are attempting this. Do not switch off every individual device; instead, you should switch off the main power supply.

Survey and Document

In case of a flooding, make sure that you document the water damage to your house. Even if you can’t spot the actual damage, it is actually better to just go around taking pictures and video footage of the house. This will help you while you make the insurance claim. It doesn’t have to be really professional; however, you can also rely on a flood restoration team to guide you on the damage report for insurance companies.

Filing For Insurance

It is also important to file for insurance as soon as you can. Make sure the disaster has died down and everyone is safe before contacting the insurance company. It can take a while to process the insurance claims, which means it is better to file at once.

It is important to be honest about the damage that you have experienced since insurance companies have means to verify your claim. Make sure that you follow the instructions and policies properly so that the claim can be done quickly.

Belongings

Flood damage can also damage the furniture and belongings in the house. It is important to act quickly so that you can save as many items as possible. The main damage occurs on furniture, drapes, clothes, carpets, and electrical appliances. It is important to protect them from further damage.

Make sure to move the furniture out of the stagnant water, especially anything that is made of wood. Stains can develop on drapes and curtains from rust and water. You may also need to give your mattresses and blankets for dry cleaning since they often retain water. Make sure you clean the house properly to avoid any lingering dampness.

If you have questions about flood insurance, contact C.K. Ash today to speak with a representative.