What to do when you return home after storm damage has occurred.

6/20/2024 (Permalink)

FEMA suggests 4 things that you should do after returning home from a flood occurrence.

When storms send floodwater into your home, you don't always know what to do. When is it safe to return to your house? Can you start the cleanup on your own? How you handle a flood will depend on the severity of the damage. It can be helpful to call about storm damage services right after the storm has left your area. It would be best if you also tried to avoid doing the following:

1. Walking Into Standing Water

Did you know that 6 inches of moving water can cause you to lose footing? Because even shallow waters can be dangerous, you should avoid walking into standing water. Your flooded home may be full of stagnant water, but you should avoid entering it. If the electricity is on, the water could be charged. Stormwater could contain dangerous contaminants, too.

2. Waiting To Schedule a Cleanup

Do you want to try to tackle the water damage on your own? Unless you know how to remove flooding and humidity from your house effectively, you should turn to a professional. The sooner you can schedule your cleanup, the better it will be for your home. If you wait too long, you may have increased mold growth in your space.

3. Returning to Your Home Too Soon

While you want your life to return to normal, you must ensure the flood water is completely gone before you return. Going home too soon can make it harder for the cleanup crew to remove excess humidity properly. The cleanup may require replacing building materials, which can leave your home dusty. If you wait until the entire process is finished, you can return to a more normal life right when you move back in.

Storm flood water may cause you to leave your home until the damage can be fixed. Taking the wrong steps after this type of flood can make the restoration process harder than it has to be, so remember what not to do.  You can find more detailed information from Ready.gov.