When your home floods you are understandably anxious to
clean up and get things back to normal. Take care to observe safety rules
first. Common post flood hazards involve electricity and gas. Be sure these utilities
are turned off before you enter the home. Flooding can damage the structural
integrity of your home as well as cause household items to shift. Proceed with
caution to avoid danger from unsecure objects. What should you do once you are
safely inside? Here’s what FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
recommends:
- Salvage
what you can
Remove
valuables from flooded areas and store safely in dry areas. Discard everything
that cannot be salvaged and circulate fresh air throughout your home. Clean and
disinfect all surfaces that have been in contact with flood waters. Wear
protective clothing/gloves as you work. Flood waters often bring in mud and
other contaminants.
- Dry out
your home and begin repairs
Inspect
and repair pipes to prevent further damage from breaks or leaks. Give special
attention to sagging floors, ceilings, holes and roof damage. You will need to
drain and dry any ceilings or walls holding water. Water causes significant
damage to your home including warping, rotting and swelling. As you might guess,
it also damages wiring, which can lead to fire. Mold and mildew are also of
concern. Again, circulate fresh air. Open windows, closets and cabinets. Use
fans and dehumidifiers to help dry things out quickly. Visit the Crawlspace
Depot catalog for clean-up
supplies. We offer a variety of drainage, odor
control, cleaning and dehumidifier
products to ease flood recovery.
- Get
advice
Flooding
can cause major damage. The best way to minimize that damage and protect your
home is to complete repairs with great care. Consider contractors carefully. They should be
fully licensed and insured. Learn first-hand about past customer experiences to
minimize risk of scams or shoddy work before you sign a contract. If you are
doing the work yourself get advice about any questions you have. Let Crawlspace
Depot help you with the supplies you need. We offer fast shipping on products
you can trust. Call or
come by today.