(3.5-min read)
No matter how prepared you feel you are, nothing quite prepares you to deal with a flooded home. Though you’d probably like to curl up in a ball, the circumstance likely needs further attention. Despite the situation seeming hopefulness, there are some actions you can take immediately following home flooding to keep your family safe from additional adversity and your home from further damage.
Preventing Electrical Hazards
Because you hopefully evacuated your home, if you’re returning to inspect the place and retrieve precious valuables, make sure that the power is completely cut off. When power circuits are exposed to water, this can make flooded walkaway immensely dangerous. Damaged electrical connections can also increase the risk of fire within a flooded space.
Stay Safe with Protective Gear & Precautions
If you plan on re-entering your house following a flood, only do so if you’re taking the right protective precautions. Even if the waters in your home are fairly clean looking, there’s a chance that hazardous materials and microorganisms may have found their way into the waters within your home. Before entering your home to recover valuables, essential documents, and to document damage, make sure you are wearing adequate water protection in the form of rubber boots, waders, and gloves. If any of your food has come in contact with floodwaters, make sure to throw it out and boil all water from the tap before use until told otherwise by officials. If you need to leave the property, make sure to lock it up to protect it from looters. If there is any doubt about the safety of the property, seek shelter elsewhere.
Locate and Remove Essential Documents
Filing insurance claims, moving to a new location, or really just conducting your life without the proper paperwork is an uphill battle. Ideally, you should have your most essential household and legal documents (marriage licenses, birth certificates, deeds, titles, policy records, etc.) kept in a case that you can take with you in the event of an emergency such as flood or fire. If you didn’t have these documents before, try to safely locate and remove them once you return to the house.
Safely Document All the Damage You Can
Once your home has been deemed safe to enter once again (meaning the roof won’t collapse and the electricity has been disconnected), document all of the flood damage you can. If you’re using a camera, try to engage the date stamp feature on it for official purposes. If using video, feel free to make notes about all of the flood damage as you show it. Remember to make periodic updates as the damaged conditions worsen after floodwaters recede.
File the Appropriate Claims
If you have flood insurance, you must file claims with your insurance company as soon as possible. Some insurance companies may move slower than others, so the sooner you’ve submitted your claims, the faster you can start to repair, rebuild, or move to a new home. Working with an insurance professional may help answer any questions you have.
Bonus: Rebuild Again With Help from the Professionals
Nobody likes to lose their home. However, if your home has been lost to flooding and you’re contemplating rebuilding, look no further than the home construction professionals at Perry Hood Properties out of Northeastern Oklahoma. When you trust the home construction experts at Perry Hood Properties, you can finally feel at home again.