It’s normal to feel a little lost after your house has flooded, but the steps are simple. It’s important that you first take photos of everything so you can make an accurate claim to the insurance company. That being done, start repairing your home with the following projects.

“We must make the best of those ills which cannot be avoided.” - Clarence Day

Remove Standing Water

Remove standing water right away.
Remove standing water right away. Image source: The Spruce

Standing water can cause so much trouble, from structural damages to health risks. It’s of extreme importance to call someone as soon as possible to remove standing water, including:

  • Cleaning out ducts
  • Using sump pumps
  • Using professional dryers

The job will vary according to your necessity, so be sure to have a professional come and help you out. If standing water has been in your property for over 24 hours, you will want to call a pro and test for mold too.

And talking about mold, the next thing you need to do is:

Avoid Mold Build Up

Avoid this scenario at all cost.
Avoid this scenario at all cost. Image source: Disaster Readness Portal

Since mold develops in 24 to 48 hours of/after a flood, you will need to deal with the water as soon as possible. Remove all wet contents, from carpeting to bedding - and if it’s past 48 hours, you might want to discard that item because chances of saving it are not good.

Remember to check with the insurance company before getting rid of anything, sometimes what you’re throwing out may be on their coverage. Just make sure to take photos!

One more tip for you:

Clean surfaces with non-ammonia detergent and disinfect it with a 10% bleach solution. That helps avoiding mold growth.

Drywall Protection

Water damage needs to be restored as soons as possible.
Water damage needs to be restored as soon as possible. Image source: The Boston Globe

There are two case scenarios for drywalls after a flood:

  1. Dry it
  2. Replace it

If there’s a chance your drywall will survive, you can call a professional service to dry the space and surfaces out. You’ll also need to have the drywall repainted!

However, if the drywall is too wet with no more chances of being saved, you can have it removed and replaced.

Call an Electrician

Avoid using electrical power until a trained electrician comes and inspects.
Avoid using electrical power until a trained electrician comes and inspects. Image source: VA Sciences

When water gets in the house, whether the power when down or not, it’s best for it to remain off until an electrician comes and inspect the house. There might be a gas leak somewhere, risks of electrical shocks, and there are chances of electrical equipment being damaged and dangerous to use - don’t hesitate in getting a professional come to your house!

More than that,

Since you’re getting an electrician, consider having them install an electric generator in your house. That might come in handy the next time you’re trapped at home with power outage.

Roof Inspection

Avoid further damage by inspecting the roof right away.
Avoid further damage by inspecting the roof right away. Image source: FEMA

Getting a roof inspection right away can prevent further damage with water leaks, damaged gutters, and missing shingles. Make sure to have an inspector come and do a thorough job so you don’t need to invest even more money down the road.

If your house has been flooded, get professional help as soon as possible! These pros are among the best and will provide you with free quotes:

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