With so many areas of the United States facing potential flooding scares, it's important to know how to handle things after flood waters have receded. Floods and flash floods occur within all 50 states and can be extremely dangerous. They are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters next to fire, so knowledge and preparation is extremely important and will help keep losses to a minimum.
Here are some tips that could be very helpful when trying to take care of your home and belongings after a flood:
• If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call the insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance policy right away to file a claim.
• Before entering a building, check for structural damage. Don't go in if there is any chance of the building collapsing.
• Upon entering the building, do not use matches, cigarette lighters or any other open flames, since gas may be trapped inside. Instead, use a flashlight or a lightstick to light your way.
• Flood waters pick up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms and factories. If your home has been flooded, protect your family's health by cleaning up your house right away. Throw out foods and medicines that may have come into contact with flood water.
• Until local authorities proclaim your water supply to be safe, boil water for drinking and food preparation vigorously for five minutes before using.
• Be careful walking around. After a flood, steps and floors are often slippery with mud and covered with debris, including nails and broken glass.
• Take steps to reduce your risk of future floods. Make sure to follow local building codes and ordinances when rebuilding, and use flood-resistant materials and techniques to protect yourself and your property from future flood damage.
18 comments
ResaG
Really appreciate the information, great post. Thank you.
Tiffany @ As For My House
Certainly appreciate this info… We're safe from the tornadoes and the MS River, but a hurricane and flooding is never far away from the Gulf Coast…
Megan
We live in a city right on the banks of the Mississippi river and this years record flooding has been such an eye opener to us. Thank you for the wonderful, important tips!
Mrzitro
In addition to boiling the water, I'd use a water filter (a KATADYN or equivalent) too. Better safe than sorry.
Cowboy
Some people will say that I don't live in a flood plain but forget that they may live in an urban area or someplace that has a lot of concrete forget that they can get hit by urban flooding or flooding due to a broken water pain. Always great to have tips no matter if you think the emergency applies to you or not.
Kaye and Jared
Thanks for all the great ideas!! I love this site!!
craftymommy
I am so thankful to hear real advice and tips about how to deal with real emergencies and not just hear about products. I love how your company is really interested in providing great products and great information to your customers!
Rockwell Family
ALthough I am not in a high flood area, it is always nice to have tips on what to do. You never know. Thanks
Ranay
Flooding isn't an issue with us, but these are great to have since fires are a problem.
Amber
Such a great post! Great ideas since I live in an area with flooding.
Anonymous
All of my documents & important info. are kept in sealed plastic bags. Also, my food stays fresh & DRY with food sealer packaging, oxygen absorbers(food grade), all nestled in airtight plastic buckets!
Joni and Chase
We have had a few problems in flooding in our area and when we first moved here we helped clean up some houses that had been damaged due to flooding. I really did not realize what to do in the event of a flood so these tips are great! Thank you for sharing.
Lisa
You also have to make sure you are current on your tetanus shot if you were in the water at all!
Lavonne
Great ideas! We are constantly hearing "Turn around-don't drown" NEVER attempt to drive across a road that has water running across it.
PaulaMM
We are in an area that is in a state of emergency due to floods. I can not stress enough how important it is to NOT drive through water on the roads, no matter how shallow it looks. We lost a mother and child a couple of years back when her car was swept from the road.
Wretha
These are good ideas… with all the fires burning across Texas and other states, can we have a post about how to protect your home from wildfire and what to do after a fire?
Wretha
harleywife57
thanks for the info , especially for now with all the disasters going on ! glad I found your website !
Sandy:
Great information.