When a home floods due to a natural disaster, the results can be devastating, as we have experienced recently. In this blog, we are going to talk about what to expect when returning to a building that has been flooded.
You should always exercise extreme caution when going back to a house that has been flooded. Depending on the severity of the disaster in your area, there may be a lot of damage. Even if the house looks okay from the outside, it may have sustained structural damage and be a lot worse on the inside. If you suspect this, do not enter until someone has assessed the damage and secured the structure.
Although the area is likely without power, you should still make sure that utilities like electricity and gas are turned off in your home. Safety should always come first, though, so if you have to put yourself at risk to reach the switch-off valves, it is better to wait.
When sorting through your belongings, be aware of the dangers that exist in flood waters and the harmful bacteria and materials it leaves behind. Any items that cannot be thoroughly cleaned like mattresses, for example, should be thrown out. Always err on the side of caution when deciding what to keep, especially if it is food and drink items.
It is never easy to deal with the effects of a natural disaster, but being prepared for one can help us with the recovery process.
