A flood can cause great devastation to your property. It can be due to falling water, ground water or a malfunction in your home water supply where a pipe has been damaged. It is very important to respond to a flood immediately as this will limit the extent of damage.
Some floods can cause you to evacuate your home. In this situation, there is nothing you can do until you stay safe till you return to the site. Once you return, you first need to secure your safety before you start looking for damage. The first thing you should do is look for any visible damage before you enter the home. Check if there are cracks in the foundation elements or any warping. You should also contact the utility companies before you enter the home just in case there is damage to utility lines such as electricity, sewer, water and gas. Afar ascertaining the safety of going inside the home, you need to turn off the main in your fuse box along with all the fuse connections. Electricity and standing water are a recipe for disaster so you need to make sure that the risks of visiting a flooded property are minimised. You should also turn off the water sources on the property. Make sure you are properly attired with protective wear and a powerful flashlight when you do this.
It will not be possible for you to get an idea of the nature of floodwater. Don’t let clear water fool you into thinking it is safe to wade through. It can still be contaminated by sewage or chemicals. So you need to have waterproof boots up to your waist or hip depending on the level of floodwater along with rubber gloves to avoid touching contaminated items. Make sure that your bare skin doesn’t come into contact with the floodwater at any time. Before you start restoration efforts, you need to take photos and record the devastation caused by the flood. A digital copy is recommended as you can easily share it with your insurance company. If you forget to do this and take photos hallway through the restoration efforts, you will not be able to secure the full extent of your insurance coverage. There are certain institutions you will need to contact such as your insurance company and companies that offer flood restoration Australia. Make sure you have their contact details in your list of emergency numbers.
Traditional homeowners’ insurance doesn’t usually cover flood damage so you will need to determine the cause of the flood and the damage caused. If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, it is best to look for floodwater policies as well so that you will be covered fully in such a situation. You can check if your area has been declared as a disaster area officially by the authorities as this will give you increased access to resources along with financial assistance. You can also ask your insurance company to get more details on this.
