Cleaning up after a flood is a tough job. Mold and mildew grow quickly and flood waters bring numerous health hazards, including parasites andbacteria that can easily infect cuts and scrapes; not to mention viruses that come from flood waters mingling with raw sewage. You will want to safely take the steps necessary to restore your home as soon as possible in order to minimize further damage.
Cleaning Up Your Home After a Flood
Documentation
Before you begin the cleanup process, and at regular intervals throughout, make sure you thoroughly document the damage done. Take photos and videos of structural damage and damaged personal belongings. If you have to remove personal contents to protect them from further damage or attempt salvage before mold sets in, document every item you take. Even if the item is bound for the dumpster and you want it removed before any mold or mildew spreads from it to other items, be sure to document it.
Removing Water
After documenting the state that the home started in, the first step in your home cleanup should be removing the water. Water will need to be removed slowly, about one third of the volume per day, as removing the water too quickly could cause walls and floors to buckle under the pressure of saturated ground. Pumps or buckets can remove standing water and a wet/dry vacuum will clean up the remnants.
Disinfecting
Due to the dangerous bacteria in flood waters, you will need to disinfect everything with hot water and heavy-duty cleaner. There may also be contaminated mud leftover once the water has been removed. The most effective way to remove the mud is to shovel it out of your home, then spray down the rest to loosen it from hard surfaces and use the wet/dry vacuum to remove what’s left. When you’re cleaning surfaces after a flood, use only paper towels or rags that you intend to dispose of immediately. Though it may seem wasteful, you cannot risk cross-contamination by trying to wash andreuse the rags.
Ventilation
You will need industrial fans and dehumidifiers to finish drying your house. Once the ventilation process is complete, you should quickly rinse and clean all floors again, then clean interior walls with water and detergent.
Carpet and Flooring
Often rugs and carpeting will have to be completely replaced unless they are dried within the first two days. Once they begin to smell of mold or mildew, they cannot be salvaged.
The flood coverage in your home insurance policy can help you recover. Your insurance coverage should pay for professionals to handle the clean-up of mold and mildew, contractors to repair structural damage, costs for replacementor salvage of anypersonal contents damaged by flood waters, and additional living expenses incurred by displacement from your home.
To maximize your insurance claim, find out how a claims adjuster helps you deal with the insurance company. They represent you and will negotiate disputes with the insurance company over the extent of the damage, whether personal contents should be replaced or salvaged, and how much compensation you are eligible for when it comes to additional living expenses. They can also help explain the different sections of your insurance policy, which expenses could be covered, and how you can maximize your coverage.
A good home insurance policy with flood protection will help you avoid paying out of pocket to rebuild your home and replace lost belongings. Get in touch with a home insurance lawyer or independent claims adjuster to help you navigate the process, and start cleaning-up.