Dealing with flood damage

Dealing with Flood Damage

Whether you have one inch or one foot of water in your house or business, you need to know how to clean up the mess. You should start clean up as soon as the water recedes.

Have a look at the following link:
http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?p=963693

If you know what you're doing, then you're half way there .... if you can, do your bit for the community and help out others who may not be as 'Insurance literate' as you. Advise them to get advice!!!!

For your safety:

Be sure the electricity is turned off. In the case of severe flooding, do not use the electricity until a licensed electrician has checked your home.

When using a flashlight, turn it on prior to entering the house. Do not use matches or any type of flame until you are sure there are no gas leaks, and the area has been aired out. Check to see if the pilot light is out.

After outside flood waters have receded, drain only about 1/3 of the water in your basement initially. Outside pressure pushing against your basement walls can cause the basement walls to collapse. Start by pumping the water level down 2-3 feet, marking the level & wait overnight. If the water level goes up, wait 24 hours, and then repeat process.

Destroy all fresh or frozen food, medicine or cosmetics that have been in contact with flood water, as they may have been contaminated.
If you suspect your water supply is contaminated, have it tested.

If any appliances were touched by flood water, have them checked by a qualified serviceperson before operating them.

Cleaning Up:
Take pictures of flood damage and your clean up efforts. Photographs are extremely helpful in documenting flood damage for insurance purposes. Keep good records, including how much of your personal time was spent on debris removal and cleanup.

If carpets and floorings must be removed, take photos of everything that you are throwing out both before and after the carpet / flooring has been removed. It is a safer bet to ok the removal of these items by the assessor BEFORE throwing them out. REMEMBER - TAKE PHOTOS!!!

Record the amount of time it took you to clean up.

Use a disinfectant, such as 1 part bleach to 32 parts water, to scrub walls, floors, household items and appliances – everything that got wet. Protective gloves and appropriate eye protection should be worn. Test solution on a small discreet location to check for discoloration.

Make sure that heating systems are operable as soon as possible. You can use them to help dry out the basement. I'm hearing of contrasting advice regarding the use of dehumidifiers ... some say to leave things dry naturally as floors may crack if they dry too quickly. I'm not an expert so by all means get advice from those who know

Clean all clothing, bedding, rugs, curtains, etc. as soon as possible, disinfecting if necessary.
Clean and dry furniture and mattresses, using a bleach solution.

For the safety of your own health .... the water may have become polluted with sewerage ... hence pay extra attention to wearing gloves, disinfecting your hands, footwear and washiing all clothing with an appropriate disinfecting washing powder.

Flooded gardens:
If your lawn has been underwater for less than four days, it should survive. To help it along:
Use a rake to clean away as much silt as possible.
Break up the silt crust with a rake or aerator until the grass has recovered.

Take note of the following article to give you an idea as to how things are dealt with:
http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/when-flood-insurance-is-water-torture-1457518.html