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General Steps To Follow During Flood Damage Cleanup

By Evie Parrish
Oct 26, 2008
Flood damage brings about not only physical destruction. It could also lead to severe stress and trauma for unfortunate homeowners who are caught unaware. Adding to this is the exhaustion and disheartening task of doing flood damage cleanup in a flood's aftermath.

Flood damage cleanup, aside from being physically and emotionally draining, is also hazardous so it is important to make the whole process a safe one. Exercising extreme caution at all times is very important.

Let's take a look at some of the more common and effective techniques of doing flood damage cleanup:

Before starting with the flood damage cleanup process, there are various things that need to be done. First, call your insurance broker or agent to inquire about possible claims that you might be able to acquire because of this disaster. Document your activities during flood damage cleanup as this could be a possible requirement for insurance settlement. You can do this by taking photos of your home to make a record of the damages suffered during floods.

Next, gradually pump the water out of your basement if it is flooded in order to get rid of putting any pressure on the outside walls because it can have damaging effect on the foundation of the building which could lead to cracks the floorings and walls.

Once you start pumping, the water level starts drawing away to a safer level to make your home clear from flood water and all kinds of debris or wet mud. This is an essential part of the flood damage cleanup process. It is not ideal to let water stay in your home for long period as inactive water becomes a perfect breeding place for molds and bacteria.

Prioritizing the safety as well as carrying the cleanup procedure of your household and home items is a requirement for flood damage cleanup. To protect you from any possible dangers of flood waters that may contain toxic contaminants posing serious risk to our lives, you should always wear protective gears long with rubber boots and goggles. It is also important to get a tetanus shot through consulting your physician if your vaccination is not boosted and more importantly, do this prior to flood damage cleanup procedure.

Shutting off the electric power from the main power switch of the house should always be a priority to avoid any possible accident or electric shock as you work towards flood damage cleanup of your house. You should also disconnect the main gas pipeline of your home to save any accidental leakage of the gas.

To prevent any mildew or mold from developing as well as to save furniture from getting damaged, you need to dry your carpets, sheets and clothes, and other furniture.

To drive away moisture and humidity, it is ideal to offer adequate ventilation in your flood damaged home by using fans and dehumidifiers as well as keeping all the windows and doors open. As much as possible, keep your place dry to help your home to return back to its normal setting prior to flood.
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