Most of us hope we never see the day that our home floods, but as climate change becomes a bigger issue in all of our lives, more of us are going to see our homes flooded in the future than ever before. So, it’s good to know just what to do should a flooding emergency occur in your home.
With that in mind, here is a guide to what you need to do if your house floods:
Stop the water
If your home is flooding because of a burst pipe, then the first thing you should do is stop the water at its source. Obviously, there’s not much you can do about flooding caused by weather conditions but creating a protective barrier around your home with sandbags can really help.
Turn off the electricity
Before you start thinking about doing anything else like cleaning up or calling the house flood public adjuster to deal with any insurance claims (you really should have hoe insurance for just such eventualities) you need to turn off the electricity and do so carefully. As you will know, water and electricity are a lethal combination, so make sure the power is off ASAP and if possible, wear electricity-resistant gloves while doing so.
Leave the home
Once you have turned the water and electricity off, it is a really good idea to get your daily to safety. Even if flood levels are not rising, your family could get sick from bacteria or it could cause the electronics to become unsafe or the ceiling to cave in, for example. Being out of the house is the only way to keep you all safe. Oh, and remember to get your pets to safety too.
Call emergency services
If it is just a minor flood and no one is hurt, obviously, you will not need to do this, but if anyone has been injured or the area has been made unsafe by flood waters, you need to let the emergency services know as soon as possible so they can help you keep your family and other people in the neighborhood as safe as possible. Do not delay in getting help if it is required.
Take pictures
If you are going to make an insurance claim, you will need to take pictures of the flooding and all of the damage it has caused so you can prove your case and get the money you need to help you put things right again.
Clean up
Once you have documented everything it’s time to think about cleaning up. Start by pumping out as much water as you possibly can. Then, you will need to see which possessions you can salvage and which will need to be thrown out, Open doors and windows and turn on heaters to dry out the place, and then you will need to scrub, disinfect, and clean up everything you can. Gloves and goggles are your friend.
Flooding can wreak havoc with your home and make your family unsafe, so it is important that you act fast!
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