It’s important for us not only to prepare ourselves and our homes from floods, but also what to do after the incident. There are risks you should be aware of such as the safety of your family and structural damage to the house. Homeowners would also have to take measures needed to make easier insurance claims. Here are some things you should do to save yourself and your family from any future problem.
Give your insurer a call
Contact your insurer immediately after a flood before attempting to do anything to your house. Listen to your insurer whether you should make an emergency repair or wait for an adjuster to inspect the property first.
Document the scene
Take your phone out and capture or record the scene before attempting to make any repair. This will give your insurer an understanding of the amount of damage inflicted. Attempting to alter the state of your house after a flood before documenting it may even decrease the insurance coverage.
Check if you’re in a disaster area
Contact your insurer or FEMA to check if your house is included in the disaster area. If you’re included you may be eligible for public services and financial assistance.
Ensure that your house is safe
Keep an eye on structural damage around your house before entering. Make sure to turn off the water and electricity in the house to avoid short circuits. Find a shelter if you feel that your house is too dangerous to live in after the flood.
Safeguard yourself
Avoid letting the flood water directly touch your skin by wearing protective gloves and boots when handling things around your house. Avoid consuming tap water as it may have been contaminated, unless you’ve received confirmation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it is in fact safe.
Control mold damage
Remove wet carpeting, bedding, rugs, and other items that can cause mold growth. Clean the surfaces of your house and disinfect it afterwards with bleach to further prevent mold from growing.
Prevent further damage
Secure broken windows with boards and temporarily cover your roof with tarp to prevent your house from getting more damage.
Dry your house
Use a sump pump to start removing all the water. Let the doors and windows open to let air get inside your house.
Take note that the average homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover damage from flood so you may want to sign up for a flood insurance instead. Contact one of our agents for more insurance regarding this policy. At Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency Inc, we put our clients first by offering them policies that they can afford. Learn more about our products and services by calling our agency at (409) 945-4746. You can also request for a free quote by clicking here.
Contact your insurer immediately after a flood before attempting to do anything to your house. Listen to your insurer whether you should make an emergency repair or wait for an adjuster to inspect the property first.
Document the scene
Take your phone out and capture or record the scene before attempting to make any repair. This will give your insurer an understanding of the amount of damage inflicted. Attempting to alter the state of your house after a flood before documenting it may even decrease the insurance coverage.
Check if you’re in a disaster area
Contact your insurer or FEMA to check if your house is included in the disaster area. If you’re included you may be eligible for public services and financial assistance.
Ensure that your house is safe
Keep an eye on structural damage around your house before entering. Make sure to turn off the water and electricity in the house to avoid short circuits. Find a shelter if you feel that your house is too dangerous to live in after the flood.
Safeguard yourself
Avoid letting the flood water directly touch your skin by wearing protective gloves and boots when handling things around your house. Avoid consuming tap water as it may have been contaminated, unless you’ve received confirmation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it is in fact safe.
Control mold damage
Remove wet carpeting, bedding, rugs, and other items that can cause mold growth. Clean the surfaces of your house and disinfect it afterwards with bleach to further prevent mold from growing.
Prevent further damage
Secure broken windows with boards and temporarily cover your roof with tarp to prevent your house from getting more damage.
Dry your house
Use a sump pump to start removing all the water. Let the doors and windows open to let air get inside your house.
Take note that the average homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover damage from flood so you may want to sign up for a flood insurance instead. Contact one of our agents for more insurance regarding this policy. At Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency Inc, we put our clients first by offering them policies that they can afford. Learn more about our products and services by calling our agency at (409) 945-4746. You can also request for a free quote by clicking here.