After The Storm Is Over, What Do You Do?
No matter where you live in the United States, it’s likely that at some point you will have to deal with the problems that the weather brings. Whether it’s a flood, a hurricane, or severe thunderstorms, you’ll eventually have to deal with storm damage. It’s not as hard as it might seem, although you may have to hire a professional to do some repairs.
If you’re just returning to your home after a flood or a hurricane and the home has been flooded, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the electricity in your home has been turned completely off. Entering a home whose electricity is still on could be a catastrophe if there is still standing water inside. Do not assume that because your neighbor’s power is off that yours is, too. Additionally, if you see any downed power lines in your front yard or in the road, always assume that they are alive and well. Stay well away from them.
Take whatever measures you have to in order to remove any standing water from the floors of your home after the electricity has been confirmed as being off. Do not use an artificial heat source such as a blower to dry things out, since this can actually warp hardwood floors and cause them to buckle.
Take any upholstered furniture in your home that is wet outside. You may not be able to keep some of these things, especially if they have been completely submerged in flood water. Flood waters contain all types of hazardous materials that will seep into the padding and possibly cause you health problems later. Re-upholstering is generally an option, however it can be expensive.
If any of your windows have been blown out due to high winds after a hurricane and the weather is expected to stay clear, you may want to leave them open. This will help dry your home out naturally.
Ceilings have been known to become flooded with water after the roof leaks, so water damage to your ceilings and upper walls could be expected here. Get rid of any insulation that has gotten wet, since it is useless once it has been introduced to this level of moisture. If there is a leak in the roof, go up there (carefully) and attempt to find it. Cover it with a piece of tarp or whatever plastic material you can find until you are able to have it repaired.
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