Five Things to Do After a House Flood

A house flood can turn your life upside down in a matter of hours. Whether it’s a burst pipe, heavy rain or a natural disaster that’s blown on through, dealing with the aftermath of a flood can be very confusing and also stressful.

Acting quickly will help you to reduce the damage and keep your house and your family as safe as possible. So let’s take a look at 5 important things to do right after a house flood.

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Turn the power off before you do anything else. You need to make sure that it’s safe inside your house. If water levels are higher. If there’s a chance the electrical system is compromised because of the flood, you shouldn’t go inside. If it is safe and you can reach a fuse box without stepping in any water, turn off the electricity to prevent any shocks or fires. If you’re not sure, it’s important to call the licensed electrician or emergency services before you enter the building.
Start getting rid of the standing water. The faster you remove water from your house, the better. You can hire or buy a wet vacuum, a mop, or even buckets to get out as much of the water as possible. If the flood was severe, you may need to call a professional water damage restoration service. Quick water removal helps limit further damage and stops any mold from forming inside the house.
Start mold removal. Floods of moisture create the perfect environment for mold to grow, and it can start within a day. Begin mold removal as soon as you can. Throwing away any porous items like soaked carpeting, insulation, and drywall is important because that usually can’t be dried out completely. Cleaning any hard surfaces with disinfectant and drying everything thoroughly is also important. In larger floods or cases where mold has already appeared, it’s best to hire mold remediation experts to clean the space safely.
Document all of the damage. Clear photos of videos of the affected areas in the house will help before you start the clean up process. It’s important for insurance purposes this particular step because making a list of everything that’s been damaged will help you to save later on. If you have flood insurance, contacting your provider straight away at the start of the process of the claim is a good start. Many insurance companies require prompt reporting and clear proof of damage.
Dry out the area. Once the standing water has gone, the next focus should be on drying out the house. Using fans, heaters and dehumidifiers you can speed up the process. The goal is to get your moisture levels way back to the normal amount and prevent any further mold growth. Keep an eye on the walls, floors and ceilings over the next few weeks when you move back in because if anything starts to smell musty or you see signs of mold you have to act quickly to fix the issue.