The last thing any of us would want to experience is having our house getting flooded.
Even if we live in an area that is particularly vulnerable to flooding, we often do not take the necessary precautions. Even after the devastating Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, not everyone in the city is properly protected against possible flooding.
So what do you do if you experience a flooded house? If you did not get the time to prepare beforehand, you need to know how to get through this disaster before you can prepare for another crisis.
In this guide, we will show you what to do right after your house gets flooded.
What To Do in a Flooded House
If you do get into the unfortunate situation where you find yourself in a flooded home you want to make sure you take the right steps moving forward.
Make sure you save this guide as a reference so you can always come back to these steps.
1. Stop The Water (If Not an Act of God)
If the cause of the flooding was not by a natural disaster, also known as an ‘Act of God’ then you need to immediately stop the water at its source.
If the flooding was caused by a running faucet in the sink or the bathtub, it needs to be turned off. If your hose was running and the water overflowed, then you should rush to the valve and turn off the hose.
2. Turn Off the Electricity
Once you have turned off the water sources, you have to now turn off the electricity.
First, you should go to the fuse box and turn off the power.
Afterward, you should try to unplug all wires from their outlets. If possible, lift up the wires from the floor and place them on a raised surface; for example, place your wires on the kitchen counter or on the dinner table or on your bed.
If you cannot reach the fuse box or the wires without wading through a lot of water, you should call an electrician.
3. Leave the Home
Now you need to leave the flooded home and make sure everyone else in the home does so.
If there are elderly, children, or any other vulnerable persons in your home – make sure you assist them in evacuating. They should be the first persons to be out of the home.
Once everyone is out of the home, find a safe spot. If the flooding is not so intense, you may be able to stay in your backyard or in the driveway. If it is more serious, you may need to seek a temporary shelter home. This is often the case when the flooding is caused by a natural disaster.
Report the flooding to the authorities and ask them where you should temporarily relocate for shelter.
4. Medical Help
If anyone in your home requires medical help, you should immediately call for an ambulance. This will likely be the case if you have any vulnerable persons in your home.
Make sure this is done right away before moving on to anything else. If you have sustained any injuries or illnesses from the flooding, you must call an ambulance for yourself.
Medical attention cannot be postponed. You need to think about your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your loved ones before you think about the home!
5. What to Do About Your Home
Once you have looked after your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your loved ones, you have to now think back to your home.
If you are a renter, all you have to do is call your landlord and inform them of what has happened. They will be able to handle the rest.
If you are a homeowner, then you need to call your insurer. When speaking to your insurer, make it clear to them how the flooding started.
You should ask them if you are allowed to clean up the house (after the flooding ceases) before the adjuster comes to inspect or if you have to wait for the adjuster to come first
If you don’t have flood insurance, purchase it before the worst happens. This is one of the necessary precautions that is often overlooked. Get it now before it is too late.
6. Document the Aftermath
Once you have taken the above steps, you should try to return to your home to document the aftermath of the flooding.
When you return to the home, take out your phone and take photographs and videos of the damage that has been caused. Make sure you do not miss any spots when documenting the aftermath.
There should be no damaged corner that does not have a photograph or video showcasing the damage. Make sure you keep these photos and videos organized on your phone and ideally, on your computer or a hard drive as well.
If you have photos of your home (prior to the damage) you should have these handy as you may need to show both sets to the adjuster.
7. Cleaning Up
Once the adjuster has looked at the damage and given you the green light, you can start cleaning up the home.
Make sure you disinfect all areas where water was standing. Remove all personal items from the home and throw away any seriously damaged items.
You may need safety gear and a set of supplies for cleaning your home after the flooding.
You should also be aware of the possibility of mold developing after a flood. The best way to avoid mold is to make sure the home is dry and use a strong cleaning fluid (such as bleach) for cleaning the home.
Tackling mold can be challenging, so make sure you follow the instructions so that you do not have to deal with such issues.
Prepare Yourself
Now that you know what to do in the event of a flooded house, you are better prepared. Make sure you keep this guide with you so that if this unfortunate event does happen, you will have less to worry about.
Be sure to check out the rest of the site for more advice on how to prepare yourself and live a great life.
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