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Final Tips for Water Extraction from Your Home After a Flood

Water Extraction Photo by Skeeze on Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/flood-city-neighborhood-houses-642586/

Flood waters are not sanitary. If a flood hits your home, you must remove most building materials and replace them with new materials, but not before you have everything electrical checked out first. There are multiple steps in the water extraction process, and you must be aware of what to prioritize after a flood.

How to Get the Electricity Cleared

Before anyone can begin the water extraction process, you need to have your home checked for safety precautions. Electrical safety is extremely important in floods. Check for fire hazards and gas leaks. Use battery-powered light sources. Before you enter your home for the first time, turn off all electric and gas services. Exposed outlets or cords could pose serious risks. Additionally, you want to get an electrician to check for grounds and other unsafe conditions before reconnecting the system.

Water and Food

Until your utility or health department declares your water to be safe for consumption, make sure you purify it or buy bottled water. You can become very ill if you don’t purify your water first. Do not eat any food that has touched the water. If the food is in airtight, waterproof material, check for damage or broken seals. If you see no damages, the food should be salvageable. But remember: when in doubt, throw it out!

Carpets, Furnishings, and Walls

As part of the water extraction process, everything must be removed and dried out. You should start by removing all furniture, bedding, and carpeting that you need cleaned and dried or thrown away. Dry the carpet and subfloor thoroughly as quickly as possible, as the mold is a concern and can grow faster than you think. You need to discard all contaminated upholstered furniture and mattresses. If it has a lot of value, you may be able to have it professionally reupholstered. Solid wood, metal, and plastic furniture may be cleaned and restored. Hose off any mud, clean, sanitize, and let them dry out completely in direct sunlight. Open flooded walls — even if they appear undamaged — to prevent mold, odor, and structural decay later.

If you don’t have experience with construction or the proper cleaning process, stop and seek experienced licensed help. By now I hope you have contacted your insurance agent and gotten the ball rolling. A good place to get a checklist for the whole water extraction process is at NEMA.org. The checklist is extensive and will help you keep in mind the dangers you face and prevent injury on the road ahead.

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