It doesn’t take long for a flood to deal your home a large amount of damage. They can be quick and sudden. It doesn’t have to be the end for your home, however. Reacting to a flood as quickly as it strikes is the best way to avoid any catastrophic damage to your home. Here are some tips on what to do immediately after a flood runs through your home.

1. Dress safely: When a flood comes through, it brings a mixture of water, debris and potentially harmful chemicals. Make sure to wear protective clothing and strong and secure footwear along with something to cover your face when cleaning up.
2. Turn off the power: This is a simple but hugely important tip. Obviously water and electricity don’t mix and you could seriously harm or electrocute yourself depending on how damaging the flood was. Turn off all power to the house before entering it.
3. Get the air flowing: A damp, closed up home can lead to mold and mildew, so it’s best to air out the house. Open the doors, windows and perhaps bring in a fan to get the air moving.
4. Remove everything: And by everything, we mean it – wet carpet, drywall, anything that’s in the damaged areas. Keep two piles for items: salvageable and trash to keep yourself organized. Harder items like cooking pots, wood furniture can most likely be saved after a thorough cleaning.
5. Clean salvageable items: To make sure you leave no trace of disease, use a solution that contains three-fourths of a cup of bleach and one gallon of water to use on all the items you can save. That means floors, countertops, walls, furniture. Stick dishes in an undamaged or friends’ dishwasher and salvageable clothes can be put through the laundry.
6. Sort electronics: Electronics that were stored on high shelves or on cinder blocks above the floodwaters can usually be salvaged. However, any submerged electronics will have to be thrown away.
7. Hire help: Cleaning up after a flood is a big job and you may need help. Some services you can outsource are wet-dry vac services, furniture restoration and carpet and drywall installation.
8. Inspect for safety: After the cleanup, have a professional inspect the air ducts for signs of mold and have an electrician inspect your home’s electric system. Once given the okay, you can return cleansed items to your home.

For insurance purposes, take pictures of flood damage and keep receipts associated with the cleanup process to streamline the claims process.

Floods can ruin your home but coverage can protect your bank account. Call Dave Millet Insurance Agency at (504) 556-0809 for more information on flood insurance.