| Before you ever suffer from flood damage, you need | | | | plumber or service technician to make necessary |
| to be sure you're prepared with the proper insurance. | | | | repairs. |
| The worst flood damages usually occur because of | | | | It's best to wear boots and rubber gloves to minimize |
| extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes. And | | | | the danger of infection from contaminants in the water. |
| those floods are NOT covered by regular | | | | Before moving or cleaning anything, take pictures of |
| homeowner's insurance. You need a special flood | | | | the damage. If some furniture or personal property is |
| insurance policy. | | | | unharmed, move it to another room. Standing water will |
| Types of Water Damage | | | | breed mold within 48 hours, so you need to remove |
| Water damage comes from two sources: internal and | | | | excess water as soon as possible. A wet and dry |
| external. Internal damage may come from a broken | | | | vacuum can be helpful for removing water on floors, |
| water pipe or a malfunctioning dishwasher or washing | | | | while you can use dry towels to remove excess |
| machine. This type of damage is usually covered by | | | | water from surfaces. |
| your homeowner's insurance as long as it isn't the | | | | Opening windows and using an air conditioner or fan |
| result of your neglect (as in failing to repair a small leak | | | | can speed the drying process. |
| before it becomes a big one). External flooding is | | | | Take up area rugs and hang them to dry. You will |
| usually the result of severe weather, such as a | | | | need to take down wall art if walls are damaged, and |
| hurricane. | | | | remove cushions from furniture. Set cushions upright in |
| Steps in Cleaning Water Damage | | | | a warm, dry area. If furniture has wooden legs, |
| No matter which type of water damage has occurred, | | | | wetness may cause carpet stains. To prevent stains, |
| your first steps are the same. Try to determine the | | | | use plastic or foil "coasters" to protect carpet. |
| scope and, if an internal leak, the source of the | | | | If a ceiling is sagging due to water trapped inside, you |
| damage. Do whatever you can to stop further | | | | can drill small holes to drain the water into a bucket or |
| damage (like shutting off the water main if the problem | | | | pan. |
| is a broken water pipe). If flooding was severe, make | | | | One of the biggest dangers after a flood is growth of |
| sure the house is structurally sound before entering. Be | | | | mold, mildew, and bacteria. Mold can grow inside walls |
| cautious about electricity and electrical appliances | | | | where it can't be seen, and mildew can cause a bad |
| when standing on wet floors, especially if the floor is | | | | smell. |
| concrete. If power is off, you may want to have an | | | | Either condition can affect your home's value and your |
| electrician check to make sure it's safe to turn back | | | | family's health. |
| on. | | | | Cleaning up after a flood is a big job. You may prefer |
| Call to report the problem to your insurance agent. Be | | | | to call a professional water damage restoration expert |
| sure to clarify the claims procedure, and whether or | | | | with the equipment and knowledge to get the job done |
| not it's okay to dispose of damaged items. If the | | | | thoroughly. |
| problem is due to the internal type of flooding, call a | | | | |