What to Do After Flood Damage
Flood damage is one of the most dreaded events by millions of homeowners across the globe.
Whether it is serious damage like those occasioned by a flooded basement and sewer backups, or minor ones caused by leaking appliances or broken pipes, the damages can be extensive and the restoration process may be time-consuming and expensive.
But in the odd events that you are faced with flooding at home, do you know what you need to do to enhance your chances of restoring normalcy as soon as possible?
Read below to discover what you need to do after experiencing flood damage within your premises.
Mitigate any additional risks
Flood damage may present a myriad of risks that should look out for to avoid making the situation any worse.
Upon flooding, it is recommended that you check for physical and structural damages such as cracked foundation elements, warping on the walls, cracks, and holes on the floor before you let any restoration work commence.
Additionally, turn off all water and electrical sources to reduce chances of further flooding and electrocution respectively.
Take photos
Assuming that every occupant of the house has been taken to safety, start documenting the damages by taking photos and videos.
This should be done even before the after-disaster restoration begins. This documentation is necessary for insurance purposes.
Your insurance adjuster may take a long time to arrive before the restoration, and all you will have to do is simply submit to them the photos and the videos you took to document the damage.
Preferably, have digital versions of this documentation so that you can store and share it electronically.
Call your insurance company
After you have already documented the damages, it is now safe to call your insurance company while you also get in touch with a reputable restoration company to come and help you get things back to normal.
The insurance company will most likely send an adjuster to come and assess the damage and to see if your policy covers any of the losses you might have incurred.
Move in to protect yourself, appliances, and other valuables
After flooding or a water damage event at home, the safety of your family members, appliances, and other valuables is paramount. Consider doing the following in a bid to take control over the safety of your home:
Wear protective gear – if you have to re-enter your home before the restoration crew arrives, be sure to put on rubber boots and gloves to protect you from any injuries or bacteria that might be lingering around the floodwaters.
Protect any salvageable valuables – check to see if there are any valuables you can safely remove from the floodwaters. These may include items such as small furniture, lightweight electronics and appliances, books, and clothes not yet reached by the floodwaters.
Throw away affected foodstuffs – if there are any foodstuffs that might have been reached by the floodwaters, be sure to get rid of them. Since you don’t know the contaminants that might be present in the floodwaters, consuming such foods may come with significant health risks.
Try to remove the water
Think about ways of removing the floodwaters immediately. If the flooding is not excessive and you are feeling confident that you can get rid of the waters without the help of the professionals, then go ahead and remove as much water as you possibly can.
You can use a sump pump or a wet vac that you can get from your local hardware stores. If, however, the flooding is extensive and beyond what you can manage on your own, be sure to get in touch with an after flood damage company in Montreal for professional assistance.
If you are lucky to get a company like KBS Maintenance that offers emergency water damage services, then their crew will be on the ground after just a couple of minutes to start the restoration process.
Mitigate against mold damage
Flooding usually creates the perfect conditions for mold propagation, and if you don’t move with speed, you could be faced with mold infestation after just 48 hours of the flooding.
The best way to stop mold from developing in the flooded area is to get rid of wet contents, including rugs, carpets, and bedding as soon as possible.
Once the wet items have been removed, you should clean all the surfaces with a non-ammonia detergent and other bleach solutions and allow the rooms to dry properly.
It is also recommended that you open all the windows to allow plenty of air to prevent the indoor environment from being humid since this may create the right conditions for mold to develop.
Choose what to throw and what to keep after the flooding event
One of the devastating things about floods is the damage they can cause to your properties. If it happens that the flooding was too much and a lot of things have been affected, you will have to sort through the damage to determine what to throw away and what to keep.
Depending on the time spent on the floodwaters, items such as books and other forms of publications may have to be thrown away.
Rags, mats, and carpets may be salvaged if you can get a professional carpet cleaner to try and restore them. The same is also the case for furniture and some electronics.
When to move back into the house
There are a number of factors that may determine how soon you can get back into your house. The most important thing is for the restoration work to be complete and the house declared safe for human occupation again.
Don’t be in a hurry to get back into the house if it is still not safe. Seek an alternative dwelling place instead of risking your life and those of your loved ones.
Get a quote for flood damage restoration
Are you faced with flood damage in Montreal? Get in touch with us now for faster, safe, and reliable after-disaster restoration services in Montreal. Contact us now for a quote.