What To Do If Your Home Floods

A flood can happen at your home because of the weather, burst pipes inside, or an overflowing river outside. Wherever it comes from, flood water can cause an enormous amount of damage that can be very expensive to put right. A lot of your things can be badly damaged too, which can be very upsetting. Here’s what to do if your home has been flooded.

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Stop the Water at Its Source

If the flood has been caused by nature, such as a nearby river bursting its banks or bad storms, then you know where the water is coming from. If the water is coming from somewhere inside, you need to find out what the source is. The easiest way to stop the water is to turn off the main water valve to the house. Make sure you know where the main water valve is, so you can turn it off promptly in an emergency before too much water can get into the house.

Turn Off the Electricity

When you’ve stopped the water, turn off all the electrical systems in your home to stop the water from causing dangerous electrical damage. Don’t walk through the water to reach your fuse box. If you can’t reach the fuse box without going into the water, call an electrician, who will be able to manage your electrics in a safe way.

Leave the House

If the flooding has been caused by a sewage leak or a burst pipe, leave the house and find somewhere safe and dry outside the house. You could wait in the backyard or in the home of a neighbor or a friend. Make sure everyone who was in the house, including any pets, is present and unhurt. If the flooding has been caused by a natural disaster, find a temporary shelter by listening to the local news or asking the authorities. Get everyone relocated to the shelter as soon as you can.

Call For Help

When everyone is out of the house and safe, call for help. Call emergency services if anyone needs medical attention. No matter what’s happening in the house, the damage has already been done, so worry about the family’s needs first. When you now everyone is safe, starting making calls to handle the flood.

If you’re a renter, call your landlord and let them know what has happened. If you’re a homeowner, call your insurance company and explain the situation. Find out if you need someone to come from your insurance company to survey the damage before you can start the clean-up process.

Document Everything

Your first instinct is probably going to be to start the clean-up. Before you do this, document everything so your insurer can see the extent of the damage. Take pictures and film some videos of the damage. Be very careful not to touch the water, as there might be sewage or other dangerous materials in it. Before you go home, put on some appropriate protective gear, like waders or waterproof boots.

Start the Cleanup Process

Cleaning up after a flood is a long process with a lot of hard work. You need to remove the water, salvage any personal items that you can, get your home dry, and disinfect any areas that the water has touched. Make sure you do this while wearing property safety gear so you can avoid getting into contact with any bacteria. To save you having to deal with this difficult clean-up yourself, call a professional company to help you, such as Utah Flood Cleanup.

Prevent Mold Damage

Floodwater can cause loss of personal property, thanks to the water damage, but a second problem can also occur. Mold can often be a big problem after a flood. This is a big problem, as you end up with toxic or black mold, both of which can cause major health issues. To avoid having a problem with mold, try to get and keep the flooded area as dry as possible. When everywhere is dry, treat any potential problem areas with a strong cleaner. A bleach solution can work well for this.

Remember that a flood can happen in any home, even if you don’t live near water, so be prepared. Lots of homes are affected by urban flooding thanks to heavy rainfall, and overflow from rivers, streams, and coastal areas. Your home can also flood thanks to failed plumbing systems. Materials can wear out, which leads to pipe leaks or bursts.

Water damage is destructive and expensive, and cause health problems, so you should know how to manage a flood.

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