WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER A FLOOD
5 Steps to Take
February 3, 2022
February 3, 2022
Flooding is, unfortunately, a common form of damage in homes. Hurricane Ida recently dumped a historic amount of rain in the New York metropolitan area. Homes that had never flooded before suddenly found themselves with water in their basements or the first floor of the house. Flooding causes extensive damage in your home, especially if you have a finished basement.
Sheetrock and insulation have to be removed to prevent mold growth. Boilers and hot water heaters may have to be repaired or replaced. All your personal belongings have to be cleaned or possibly discarded. It’s a real mess! Here is what you should do immediately after the damage is done.
The most important thing is to keep yourself and your family safe. Even if the water looks clean, it might have sewage or other toxins in it. Stay out of the floodwater and turn off all your gas and electricity. You should have your home checked for structural damage by a professional before going back inside of it.
You’ll need to have photos of the damage, so it is important that you take them as soon as possible. Do so with a cell phone or other digital camera, that way you’ll have time stamps on all of your images. Get video as well. The more evidence you have, the better you’ll be able to support your insurance claim.
Talk to your insurance company as quickly as possible after the damage is done. Depending on the type of insurance you have, it can be a quick or long-lasting process. You’ll need to work with your insurance company to figure out the best plan moving forward.
Before you can clean up, you’ll need to remove the flood water from your house. Depending on how much there is, you can either do it yourself or bring in a flood cleanup professional. If you have a sump pump, it just may need time to clear out the water. However, if your power was affected, the sump pump will not run, and the water will have to be pumped out. Small amounts of water can be removed from a hard surface with a wet-dry vacuum. However, if there is carpeting on the floor, it should be removed so mold does not grow underneath or in the carpet padding.
Once the water is removed it doesn’t mean that everything is fine. There is still a lot of moisture in the air and your home is at risk of mold growing everywhere. Mold damages paint and wallpaper, and can grow on the inside of your walls where you cannot see it. Besides being unsightly, mold can cause health issues and severe respiratory problems. It is important that you bring in professionals to clean your home and make sure that any mold is removed, and surfaces treated so the mold can’t grow.
Flood cleanup can be very stressful, but there are ways to make the aftermath easier. Calling a professional water damage restoration company can provide immediate clean up services, handle all aspects of your insurance claim and restore your property back to its original condition or better.
For more information about water damage clean up and restoration or to schedule a home damage assessment on Long Island, NY and the surrounding areas, contact Madison Ave Construction at 844-760-9303 for 24/7 Emergency Flood Service or tips@madisonaveconstruction.com
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