Recovering From Water and Fire

3/26/2019 (Permalink)

A flooded home due to a fire is a devastating event for any homeowner or business-owner. It has the ability to ruin many of your possessions in addition to your property itself. Due to the fact that water damage can quickly become permanent if not addressed as soon as possible, if you do suffer flood damage to your home, it is important that you call the professionals at SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh East to help restore the home or business. We recommend having the professionals take care of your property. However, there are some things that you can do before they arrive. Here are some things you can do immediately after to start the restoration process.

Call Your Insurance Agent

Regardless of how bad water damage has hit your home, it has likely done some significant damage to some of your possessions and to the structure of your home. After you recognize the damage, you should call your insurance agent. Most water damage is covered by insurance policies, however you will want to contact them to make sure since there could be exclusions.

Proper Protection

Regardless of how well you think you can clean up, you should call the professionals at SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh to ensure that as much of your property is salvaged as possible. If you decide to start the cleanup process before they arrive, it is important that you are properly attired. Wear long sleeves, pants, gloves, and boots when dealing with flood water to ensure your safety.  The below tips will help you remain safe.

Check Before Entering Home or Business

Before you re-enter your home or business after flood damage, check for any structural damage that may have occurred. Severe flooding or water damage has the ability to compromise the integrity of the structure. If you enter the home without closely inspecting what you are walking into, the building could potentially collapse, trapping you inside. Once you have entered the home, you should be very careful about where you are walking, especially if you are moving from carpeting onto a hard surface.

Document Evidence

Once you have entered the home, document the evidence of damage that has been done by taking photos of it. If there are any questions, particularly by your insurance company about the validity of your claim, you will have evidence to show them.

While you document the damage, save any items that you can. Some items, such as porous materials, may have been damaged beyond repair. When the SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh East crew arrives to restore the home or business, they will save as many items as possible. But if there are items that have not been damaged, you can take them out to avoid any further potential damage.

Take Inventory

While you are examining the damage that has occurred in your home or business, make a list of the damage or lost items in the home. Make sure to include the date they were purchased and their value with any receipts you may have. Inventory of your possessions before the flood will be helpful. If any of your possessions must be disposed of, which some may, make sure you have photographs of the items.

Turn Off Power

After the flood damage occurs, turn off all power, especially to the affected rooms. Also refrain from using any electrical appliances as you could electrocute yourself if you are standing in water. Keep the power to the home off until an electrician can come and thoroughly inspect the system to ensure it is safe to turn back on again.

Prevent Mold

Mold thrives in environments where moisture is present which makes flooded parts of a house ideal for mold growth. The existence of mold in a home can be hazardous so it is important to prevent the mold from growing if at all possible. Removing any wet contents from the home as soon as possible will help to prevent such mold growth around the home.