Dealing with Flood Water Damage
Having close relatives that lived through the Hurricane flood waters of New Orleans, I know personally how traumatic and heart breaking it is for those who have experienced flood damage to your homes. As you probably already know, flooding is one of the leading causes of home water damage in the United States. Every year,thousands of people find their homes submerged in water, and they all initially feel helpless about it. That doesn’t include the “one off” disasters like hurricanes, mud slides, etc. While flood water damage is a big thing, it’s not impossible to deal with. For those of us having gone through such a devastating event, we’ve learned a lot of lessons, and it’s our hope that we can offer help to others from this experience.
Flood Water Damage – Planning ahead with Insurance
If you live in an area where insurers allow coverage, please, please make sure you make sure your home is covered for flood water damage. Not investing in insurance (when its available) is one of the most common mistakes people make, and its not something you want to be a part of if it can be avoide. We understand that you may have other financial priorities, but imagine how much you’ll need to pay when you suddenly find your house submerged in water. There are areas which are identified as flood prone areas, so make sure if possible to acquire insurance if your home lies in one of these areas. Also, be smart when getting insurance for such circumstances. You might think that you are covered in case of flood, but that fine print you forgot to read may have state otherwise. Remember that most insurance policies state that any damage caused by water from OUTSIDE of the home will not be covered, so make sure that you know what you signed up for.
Planning for the Disaster of Flood Water Damage Ahead of Time
While most experts claim floods can’t be anticipated unless you live in a flood-prone area, there are ways to keep your valuables safe before such an event happens. For example, one way to plan ahead is to have a disaster preparedness kit at your ready. Get a large plastic storage bin and keep documents and other important papers in it ahead of time. Then make sure you also try to put your kit on a high shelf where water can not reach it. Also have an emergency bag ready which you can just grab in case of an emergency evacuation is needed. Make sure to include potable water, jackets, a first aid kit, battery with flashlights, some food and a charged phone in the bag. While some people follow this advice, some of them place the bag or container in a place where it’s difficult to retrieve. That does no one any good. Make sure you can get to the bag in an emergency. Also keep it away from your children or at least have a “family meeting” to let everyone know that this container is VERY important and is not to be touched.
Planning For A Hasty Retreat When Flood Water Damage Takes Over
Think and talk about what to do in case of flooding to the house. Can you go to a shelter or do you need to go to a relative’s house? How about the kids? What do they do in case water enters your home rapidly? Having a detailed plan at your ready, and by even practicing this plan once a year, you might just be able to save your family from dangerous situations. This even includes other natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, wild fires, and others.