What to Do After a Flood in Your House: 5 Important Steps to Take

We want to reassure you that is very possible. There are just a few steps you need to take to get it done. To be exact, we’ve broken it down into 5 simple steps to ease you through this stressful disaster.

So, take a deep breath, calm yourself, then follow these steps one at a time.

1. Stop the Flooding at the Source

If the flood is caused by nature, disaster relief authorities will handle this. But if the cause is a burst pipe or some other plumbing issue, shut your water off, and fast. The longer your home is flooding, the greater the damage will be.

Somewhere in your home (usually by your water heater) is your main water shutoff valve. Turn this off until the plumbing issue can be fixed.

2. Shut Off Your Electricity

Electrified water is a life-threatening hazard. So, next, shut off the electricity in your home, but only if you can do so without setting foot in the water. If the pathway to your fuse box is blocked by water, call the electric company to shut off your power instead.

3. Remove the Water and Dry Out Your Home

The next problem is how to remove the water? If the flooding is minimal, you may be able to handle the water removal with some buckets and towels or a mop.

For extensive flooding, you’ll need to use a sump pump. You should be able to find these at a hardware or home supply store.

After the water’s removed, use a wet vacuum to suck as much water as you can out of carpets, floors, and upholstery. Then, towel-dry all hard surfaces.

Use your air conditioner and dehumidifyers to pull remaining moisture out of the air. Dry whatever else you can however else you can—towels, hairdryers, etc.

One final note: start the process of figuring out what can’t be salvaged now. Any of your things that remain wet for more than 48 hours will cause mold to grow in your home.

4. Take Pictures and Report the Event to Your Insurance Company

But, don’t throw anything out just yet. Take lots and lots of pictures of any and all damage to report to your insurance company. This will help you get back the exact value of what you lost in the flood, or close to it.

Also, call your insurance company right away to start your claim process.

5. Cleanup, Repairs, and Additional Help

Next, find out if the flood qualifies you for disaster relief. That is, the government might consider this flood an official “disaster area.” If so, you might be entitled to recompense and other help from the government.

Aside from this, you may want to enlist a professional cleaning company to salvage as much of your stuff before it molds. Also, have a home inspector or other such professional tell you what repairs need to be made. You want to make sure the structural integrity of your home is still in tact.

Share This Guide on What to Do After a Flood in Your House

Knowing what to do after a flood in your house can minimize your losses or even save your life. As such, please don’t keep this information to yourself. Share this article with people you know so they can remain safe, too.

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