Floods can come without warning–and they can wreak havoc that no amount of planning could possibly control. We hope you’ll never be faced with a flood. But if you are, there are steps you can take to have more control over the outcome. When a flood warning or flood watch is announced, move as much as you can out of the likely path of any water. If possible, remove furniture, electronics, valuables, important papers, and carpets from basements.
Get all such items as high up in the house as possible. Even placing items on a high shelf or table may keep them out of harm’s way. Keep important papers, such as insurance contact information and financial papers, with you. Gas up the car. Always have bottled water on hand, as flooding can contaminate your water system. Make sure you have ready-made, non-perishable food reserves in the house. Even minor floods can cause power outages, so get candles, flashlights, and batteries ready. If you have a cell phone, be sure it’s charged up.
There are two phases to flood recovery, drying and remediation: Drying and Remediation. First, you need to get the water out. Any standing water should be pumped by a professional, as improper water removal can be dangerous. Also, removing water too soon can cause walls to buckle and possibly collapse. A professional has the skills and equipment for proper water remediation.
If the floodwaters went above your ceiling, it may need to be replaced. Check for sags and bulges. Remove any wet insulation in the ceiling to allow the joists to dry.
You will also want to remove any trapped water in your walls. To check, take off the baseboard and stick an awl or knife into the wall about two inches above the floor. If you find water, drill a hole and let it drain. (Caution: do not use an electric drill.) Newer homes may have metal sill plates, which act as gutters at the bottom of the wall. If you need to drain the wall, drill a hole at the floor level. Watch out for the wiring, usually found at the same height as your outlets. If there is wet insulation, you will have to remove it. Repeat the process to drain all the wall cavities. Make a hole between every stud, usually every 16 to 24 inches.
After you dry out, and even if you don’t need structural repairs, there may still be flood damage beyond what you can see: mold. After every flood, it’s important to get your mold risk evaluated by an expert.
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