Water Damage Restoration: Can Carpeting be saved?

Whether water damage restoration can save your carpeting after a flood or not depends on the water source. Carpet is a very absorbent material so whatever it comes in contact with will rapidly be soaked up into the material. If it is soaked all the way through the backing material will become weak, so it is important not to walk over wet carpeting unless unavoidable.

The best chances of water damage restoration saving your home carpeting comes when the water source is clean and toxin free. If it is clean, clear water such a toilet overflow with no waste present or the overflow of a bathtub, it is likely that water damage restoration will be successful.

The first step of water damage restoration is to soak up any excess water that is the carpet. This needs to be done immediately so that the carpet dries as quickly as possible. Anything over twelve hours increases the chances that wet carpet will develop bacteria that could become a health risk to anyone in the home, especially children, the elderly, and pets.

Do not use your regular vacuum cleaner to soak up water. You want to use a wet vacuum that is intended for use on wet carpeting, or you can always hire a professional company skilled at effective water damage restoration to bring your carpet back to life in the shortest time period possible.

To start the drying process of water damage restoration, take the carpet up from the tracks and throw out the wet padding beneath. Bacteria and mold will collect in the padding so it must be replaced with all new material. To help it dry as fast as possible, lift it up as high as possible and use fans to circulate the air in the room.

It is highly suggested that you apply a disinfectant to the top of the carpet, even though the source was clean water.

In the case of unclean waters such as a water bed mattress that is busted open or overflow from a dishwasher in most cases it is best to simply replace the carpet. There are a lot of diseases, parasites, and bacteria in these water sources that could affect the health of your entire family.

If you decide to try water damage restoration on carpeting that was flooded with unclean water, be extremely careful touching the carpet with bare hands until it is sanitized. Make sure to use a disinfectant that is strong enough to kill most bacteria that may have been present in the water. Remember that you have to replace the padding underneath the carpet no matter what.

With any unclean water source you want to steam the carpet in addition to the steps listed for clean water sources. This will help kill off the bacteria that could have been in the water source.

If you are dealing with a sewage backup you really should replace the carpeting. Sewage is highly toxic and can bring very dangerous parasites and diseases into your home and there really is no way to completely sanitize it to eliminate all risk of human sickness.

The Best Steps to Take in Flood Damage Cleanup

Owners can be taken aback by the damage done by a flood. More and more floods are causing increasing amounts of damage to properties and commercial establishments. Water damage can be a surprisingly detrimental thing. Restoration can be the only way to minimize the financial losses incurred during the disaster and the fastest way to put everything back in place. There are some practical guidelines for property owners to follow in order to work on restoration and flood damage cleanup.

Preliminary Work

Before any flood damage cleanup can begin, there are certain safety measures that must be taken place first. You will have to wear the right safety gear throughout your flood damage cleanup. Look for synthetic materials like rubber to protect yourself against bacteria and other harmful substances. You will need overalls, goggles, rubber boots, masks and potentially a hard hat. OSHA-approved items are best since OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration and they specialize in protective gear for all industries.

All electrical and gas power outlets must be turned off. You will have to plug any remaining electrical sockets or remove them in order to prevent electrocution during the flood damage cleanup process. All furniture should be removed from the property in order to give you more room and prevent the furniture from gaining the cleaning materials’ chemicals. Also, any other water-damaged items that are not salvageable will need to be thrown away immediately.

Damage Assessment with your Flood Damage Cleanup

Every home is different and every home can have different layers of damage done to their property during a flood. A big influence on the amount of damage to the home, however, is how long the water has been allowed to stay. The longer a home is subjected to water exposure, the more intense the damage will be. It is necessary to ensure that all parts of the house are checked during the flood damage cleanup, including flooring, sub-flooring, the basement, drywall behind the walls and more.

Take pictures of what damage has occurred. It will be much easier to talk with professional restoration services if you have images of what your home looks like. In addition, your insurance claims will go much faster if you have the visual proof to back up your claims. Taking pictures and video can go a long way in the future restoration of your home.

Remove all standing water immediately. You can use a submersible pump or wet vacuum. Standing water encourages mold, mildew, bacteria and provides a wonderful breeding area for disease-carrying mosquitoes. In order to protect yourself and your family, the standing water is one of the first things to tackle during flood damage cleanup. Air dryers, blow dryers and dehumidifiers are all common household items that can help reduce the amount of moisture in the air but are only possible if there is electrical power. If this power is not available, look for a generator or alternate power source to rid this water and moisture.

Flood Damage Cleanup for Basements

Even if a home is located in an urbanized area, water damage can occur, and most of the time it will come without warning. Water damage is caused by a variety of reasons, but most major incidents resulted from a natural calamity. Flooding can threaten communities that are near rivers, coastlines and waterways, causing considerable damage to home and business establishments. More prone to damage in suburban homes are basements and other sub-level rooms. Homeowners faced with such predicament have no choice but to perform flood damage cleanup activities and prevent further damages and loss.

For any flood damage cleanup to be effective, activities should be done immediately right after the source of the flooding has been controlled. However, if the main cause of flooding was due to a natural disaster like storms or heavy rains, it would be wise to delay activities until these have subsided. Performing flood damage cleanup while natural causes are still active would be dangerous and could put personnel at risk. Flooding that is caused by problems in utilities like burst pipes or malfunctions in the fire sprinkler system should be suppressed by stopping the source of water. Turn the water source off, usually through an inlet valve.

The first step in flood damage cleanup in a basement is removing all remaining standing water. This can be done through the use of submersible pumps. These waterproof pumps are submerged into the body of water that will be removed. Water is then pumped up and forced through the outlet pipes. The stronger the motor, the faster the flow rate would be and facilitate a faster flood damage cleanup. Ensure that the outlet pipes are long enough so water can be dispersed at an area away from the house to prevent any backflow. Another important item to consider is to place strainers in the pumps inlet hose to prevent suction of solid debris from the floodwater and cause damage to the pump.

If submersible pumps are not available, manual hand pumps can also be used. However, this would be a cumbersome process and would require several man-hours to complete the flood damage cleanup. It would be better to rent a submersible pump, or any other sump pump, to perform the floodwater removal. However, if push comes to shove, homeowners should use whatever means necessary to complete the task.

After the pumps have removed most of the water, water remnants can be totally removed by wet/dry vacuum cleaners. Mopping up with super absorbent sponges and chamois cloth can also perform the task. While performing this, air blowers can be introduced into the basement to enhance drying and complete the flood damage cleanup process. Dehumidifiers can also be used to speed up the drying process by removing moisture from the air. Maintaining good ventilation can also help in the cleanup process.

Any restoration resource program would state that time is the most important factor. Mold infestations can take place if these activities are delayed or prolonged, and create health hazards for the family.

Flood Damage Cleanup In Kitchens

Flood damage can affect the home in a variety of ways. This is more evident in basements and kitchens, which are more prone to accumulation of floodwaters. Severe damage can occur if you don’t know some restoration resource and flood damage cleanup is not performed properly and at the earliest possible time.

The following provides basic guidelines in performing flood damage cleanup in kitchens. Floodwaters bring along a variety of bacteria and microorganisms that may be harmful to humans. These procedures are necessary to prevent possible health hazards that may be caused by floodwaters, which could endanger the wellbeing of occupants in the house.

Before starting flood damage cleanup and remediation ventures for a water-damaged kitchen, ensure that electricity in the area has been turned off. If there are still appliances connected to sockets, unplug them and relocate to another area in the house for appropriate repair and restoration.

Flood, aside from all the bacteria floating around in its murky waters, can also bring a variety of creatures that have been displaced from their homes. There is a possibility that some of these creatures, snakes, insects and other small animals have sought refuge in the kitchen. Ensure that none are present before continuing with the flood damage cleanup. Check cabinets, closets and drawers to make sure none of these critters are present.

Dispose of any food left in the kitchen during the flood. Refrigerators that have been water damaged risk contamination of the food inside. Dispose of meats, fruits and vegetables from the freezers and compartments. Exposed food in cardboard boxes should be discarded. Bottled water and drinks, as well as food in jars should be thrown away if these have been exposed to floodwater. Damaged canned goods should likewise be disposed if they show some possible seepage. These should be removed from the kitchen before the rest of the flood damage cleanup activities are to resume.

Tools and other utensils used for cooking may have been exposed to floodwater. To ensure proper decontamination, clean these items with bleach and detergent dissolved in warm water. Separate sub-parts like handles or lids to check for floodwater seepage inside. Rinse these items with water laced with disinfectant. Have them thoroughly dried out.

If there is heavy flooding on the kitchen floor, water removal can be performed by using submersible water pumps. Other water remains could be removed by a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Finish up with the flood damage cleanup by cleaning the area with the detergent and bleach solution. Brush up contaminated surfaces with this solution to remove the accumulated mud, dirt and grime that were carried along with the floodwater. Rinse with water treated with disinfectant solution.

The final step in the flood damage cleanup work is to dry out the kitchen area. Place air blowers or electric fans and direct them to the floors and other wet surfaces. These can hasten the drying process. Opening doors and windows, letting good airflow in, should also maintain good air circulation. If available, use dehumidifiers to hasten the drying process even more.

These practical and simple tips can be used by homeowners in the event of flooding at the kitchen, and in any other areas of the house. Health risks provide the most imminent danger in this situation, so it is advised that flood damage cleanup be performed immediately right after the flood has subsided.

Water Restoration – Recovering from Flood Damage – A Step by Step Water Restoration Process

Understanding the process of water restoration can help you coup with the disaster of being under flood, and prepare you to start the healing process. Water restoration is a step by step procedure. After your home has been flooded, there is a somewhat lengthy procedure dealing with water restoration, which needs to be handled professionally. It starts by:

Visual inspection: Before any meaningful recovery procedure can start, a full survey is needed to determine the level of water damage on the property. Typical material to be checked is: Carpet, walls, flooring material, furniture, electric wiring and outlets, sewage, drainage pipes, water supply lines, pipes, air conditioning units, heat pumps, dry walls, wells, roads, pavements, driveways, cars, and basements. Once the amount and level of damage is determined, one can have an idea of what to expect in terms of cost and time needed for the water restoration.

Water removal: Depending on where the water has gathered, the procedure of removing water needs to begin with the priority being to secure your home and water supplies from flood water. Water needs to be removed from where it doesn’t belong. That’s to say, you need to remove the excessive water from wells. Flood water in wells threatens your water supply. Flood water in your well will act as an open pipe where contaminants can be transferred through this virtual pipe from sewage and from the streets right to your water supply. So you need to pump out your well and restore it to its original shape. Once you’ve secured your water supply (the well), you need to secure a shelter for yourself. The way to do so is by removing the water from your home. If this proves to be too difficult to achieve within a reasonable amount of time, you need to designate one room, where you can rest, catch some sleep, and be safe while the cleaning efforts are taking place by the emergency crews. Using a pump would start the water restoration process in that room, before you can clean it. The next step for water removal is securing your basement and pumping out any water flooding the basement. You can use the same pump to remove water from the basement. Don’t forget to switch off the electricity before going down into the basement.

Environment stabilization: Once excessive water has been removed, you need to use powerful dehumidifiers to stabilize the indoor environment by drawing out humid air and drawing-in dry, warm air. This is a somewhat lengthy process and may take days. But it is essential in maintaining a healthy environment where you can return to your normal life style. Damp indoor environment can be a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and other harmful organisms which can cause you countless ailments. Environment stabilization is an essential part of water restoration.

Monitoring: Once the major steps of water restoration have been established, a regular monitoring of the structure (your home or you office), need to take place to make sure that everything has been restored to the pre-loss conditions. Water floods can cause latent damage which can only show up after a somewhat lengthy period of time.

Lives’ restoration: Once water restoration has been achieved to the pre-loss conditions, it would be time to restore lives as well. Going through a flood experience is a trying ordeal for all. It is important that the head of the household take the time to try and restore the lives around him or her to the way “things were”, in a positive connotation. This will ensure a successful healing process.

Sewage Damage – Solving the Problems Caused by Sewage Damage

Sewage damage presents a great threat to human health. Alas, people sometimes do not recognize, if not, disregard the dangers that sewage can pose to infants, kids, the elderly and those with weak respiratory and immune system. If unchecked and untreated, sewage damage can cause contamination causing bacteria and different types of viruses, infested diseases and micro organisms such as Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Salmonella and Ascariasis enter your home. Exposure to sewage or its contaminants may result in a number of diseases. These are extremely hazardous diseases to any human that need immediate medical attention if infected.

Also, be aware that there are risks from infection with unknown substances or chemicals like solvents, pesticides and from harmful, irritant asphyxiating or flammable gasses in enclosed area.

Your health is the most important factor to be concerned of when it comes to sewage damage. Our hand is very vulnerable with infections. Viruses and micro organisms can be easily passed on by touching contaminated items. Frequent hand washing can save you from this together for the safety measure of your own children. Microbial development in sewage damage grows faster when left longer. So, it is important to remember to clean the damage area as fast as you can. Open all windows and doors to increase air circulation and to reduce mold growths and odor. Use a dehumidifier if you have it in your house or any drying equipment you have inside such as electric fan or industrial vacuum.

Remove all possible objects that could be affected with the damage, such as furniture, loose rugs and carpets. Disinfect every infected area. Remember that disinfection is a must. You should also deodorize your home from possible spread of viruses. Absorbent materials such as carpets, rugs should be thoroughly cleaned or thrown out. Drywall may not be able to restore if it had a direct contact with the contaminated sewage. So, they are better thrown away too. Clean your sink, dishwasher, dishes and utensils. After you think that all is done, disinfect also your mops, brooms and brushes.

Be sure that there are no children and pets staying in the infected area. They must stay away from the contaminated area until it is decontaminated properly.

You can fix sewage damage yourself if the leak is manageable. In case of severe leak, you might as well get the services of a certified sewage damage restoration specialist to aptly disinfect and hygienize the affected to prevent microbial growth. Sewage damage technicians are well-trained and equipped to stop and prevent the spread of contaminants, remove the sewage and help ensure the contaminated area properly disinfected. There is professional sewage damage clean up services available. It is important that all infected areas and anything that has been contaminated need immediate attention to stop the spread of bio-contaminants.

Timing is a very vital factor when it comes to sewage damage. The longer the contamination persists, the greater the potential microbial growth. Giving immediate attention to areas affected by sewage damage and give proper action to repair the problem will lessen the trouble of being contaminated.

Tips for Proper Mold Removal

Mold is extremely ugly and can wreck havoc in any premise that it enters. Therefore its essential mold removal is done at the earliest. Unfortunately most people like to place mold removal as low priority since it doesn’t seem to do much problem. But mold is like the tip of the iceberg, you don’t know what is deep inside. All the more reason for mold removal to take place.

Even if you can’t see mild visually, you can always smell the mold. The musty feeling is actually mold that’s growing. Mold isn’t dirt and is actually a fungus. This means that it’s a living creature. During the process of mold removal, it’s killed with chemicals. Mold is present naturally but grows when there is a lot of moisture content. Also the mold removal should include the mold spores that hang in the air.

Mold removal can be an ongoing process unless you remove the root cause such as leaking pipes, bathrooms, damp basements and attics. If you want to know whether a dirty patch is really mold or not, put some water on the patch, if the patch turns slimy, then you have a mold problem and the mold removal should be done at the earliest. Mold can be seen in various shapes, sizes and colors, but the most toxic mold is the black mold that can cause serious health problems and even death if humans are exposed too long.

Bleach works to a certain extent and most chemicals have become ineffective after a point for mold removal. A great way for mold removal is vinegar. It’s very effective in completely removing the molds and preventing it from coming back again. It’s extremely environment friendly as it doesn’t emit any chemical in the environment during the process of mold removal.

Mold removal is extremely important since it’s been linked to various respiratory and skin diseases such as asthma, hay fever and various allergies. The sooner mold removal is done; the better it’s for everyone.  In fact over 15% of the population is allergic to mold removal. There are a number of mold removal companies that offer their services. Many of the companies that perform mold removal use the fogging process whereby the chemical is disbursed through a commercial fog machine that reaches all the nooks and the crannies of the walls.

It’s important to wear protective gloves, clothing and eyewear during mold removal. Invest in pair of disposable overalls, since contamination of the overalls with other surfaces can make the mold reappear.

If you are planning to remove old wallpaper, then ask the professionals to do it. Since uncovering the wall paper may actually release the mold spores in the atmosphere instead of performing the role of mold removal.

If you are conditions where your home is susceptible to mold, prevention is a great idea. After mold removal has been done, vacuum the hard surfaces and all carpets ion a regular basis. Be vigilant to spot a leak and fix it immediately. It’s better to fix a leak than spend hundreds of dollars on mold removal later.

Fast Water Extraction after a Severe Water Damage

When you end up with a flooded home or vehicle you would want to act real fast. You cannot postpone it to be done over the weekend. You just cannot let the situation be as it is for more than 24 hours. You would then also have to contend with the problem of the growth of mold, mildew and rust. It is therefore recommended that you act real fast with water extraction when you see that you have a water damaged house.

However you would have to be careful before you start working. You would have to check whether it is safe to start removing the water and if the flood is still continuing. If it is that the house has been condemned, has been put under evacuation orders, has the electricity turned on then there is no other option but to wait till it is possible to enter the house for cleaning and water extraction.

After you are certain that it is safe to enter the house, you can begin the clean up process. First you would need to arrange for the extraction of the standing water as quickly as possible. After draining the water you would see that there is a layer of mud and debris that has been collected in the house. The next step involves cleaning those. Get a shovel and start removing all the mud and the garbage that has collected there.

Apart from the house getting flooded you would also have all your belongings, including furnishings, carpet pads, wallpaper, carpets, floorboards, cabinets, walls, insulation, and drapes saturated with water. You will have to check which ones would have to be thrown away and which are the ones that can be treated with water extraction, cleaned and kept for further use.

Cleaning a water damaged home is overwhelming. However it is important that you get down to the job as soon as possible. Open the doors and windows of the house and start to remove the water. If you discover that a plumbing problem has led to the area being flooded you would need to fix it first and then start removing the water. Find out the how did the water enter the basement and inspect the floor and the walls of the basement closely to know about it.

It is very important that you stat work quickly so as to minimize the chances of damage. If it is that the entire locality has been flooded it might be that everybody would be busy cleaning up their own houses. You would therefore not be able to get any help from your neighbors. If however it is that only your house has been inundated you can ask people to pitch in with water extraction.

You can also hire professionals who would be able to do the extraction work quickly since time is of utmost importance here. The professionals come equipped with proper equipments as well as a host of other tools to clean your home in the most efficient way and as fast as possible. There are a number of companies in your area that offer extraction facilities and search your yellow pages to find one.

Water Damage Restoration Tips for Antiques and Wooden Furniture

Wooden furniture in homes may become soaked by water due to a number of reasons such as natural flood disasters, broken water pipes, leaking roofs or the suppressing of fire. Whatever the cause of soaking, appropriate water damage restoration procedures for the wooden furniture should be taken immediately after the disaster, to significantly lessen the damage.

Water damage to wooden furniture typically includes the growth of surface mold, staining of the furniture finishes, the splitting and deformation of wood members and the weakening of the glues on the furniture joints. Improper water damage restoration techniques to wooden furniture may cause them to warp and eventually become useless.

Wooden furniture that has been water-soaked should immediately be handled. Water damage restoration of wooden furniture should be based on (1) the extent of the water damage, (2) the cost of the furniture, (3) the sentimental value, and (4) the cost of restoration. If the restoration of the item will be more expensive than replacing the item completely, then do not bother with water damage restoration and simply buy new furniture. Wooden furniture that is considered an antique is worth the time, effort and the expense for water damage restoration. However, the restoration procedures for antiques should only involve cleaning and drying without the use of chemicals since minor changes to an antique may greatly reduce its price value.

When performing water damage restoration to an antique, it is important to preserve its original finishing. Do not attempt to refinish an antique unless you want to spoil its value. Antique furniture that has been water-soaked should be dried slowly. The slow drying process will prevent the wood from shrinking and deforming which would lead to cracking and splitting. If the antique is appraised to be very valuable, the services of a certified water damage restoration expert specializing in wooden furniture should be obtained to protect the value of the item.

Veneered furniture that has been soaked in water for quite some time may not be worth the effort of water damage restoration unless it has a sentimental value. Veneered furniture is usually made up of cork board and plywood and is not that expensive. If the house is insured against flood and water damage, it is advisable to use the money from the insurance to buy new veneered furniture rather than use it for the repair costs.

If water damage restoration is to be performed for wood and antique furniture, it is best to remember that wood should be dried out slowly. Drying wood under the sun is also not recommended since drying with heat will cause wood to deform and warp.

Drawers and cabinet doors may expand when wet and may get stuck. This is normal because water seeps through the wooden pores. Do not force them out; instead wait till the most of the water has seeped out of the drawers. Check the drawers regularly and once they can be removed easily, remove them and dry them upside down. Check the glue on the wooden joints for weakness and apply glue if necessary.

Document Recovery after Flood Damage

After a water event as critical as a flood, documents are likely to be severely damaged; some even beyond repair. However, a few carefully followed steps could help the flood victim dry and salvage books and other documents from flood damage.

For the recovery exercise to progress well, it is important that the environmental conditions be improved by completely drying out the affected area. In addition, it is important that the number of books to be dried be small enough to fit in a home freezer. For books to be dried at home and salvaged from flood damage, it helps if the books are only damp or lightly wet. Collectibles, antiques and other books with sentimental value might be a bit harder to salvage.

The first step in saving books from flood damage is to remove them from the flood water. When doing so, you must not open or close the books and neither should you remove the covers. The salvage exercise should be properly prioritized so that high value books are removed early together with those books that have lower water resistant covers. When books have been damaged by dirty or contaminated water, you should rinse the papers in tubs of cold running water immediately after you remove them from the dirty water. Stubborn mud and debris should be gently sprayed away using a sponge, making sure that you are not using the sponge to rub mud or debris because this only damages the books further.

To dry books, you could use one of three common book drying techniques by choosing the technique that is most suitable for your situation. Choice of a drying technique is dictated by three factors:
- How important the books are and therefore how urgently they need to be dried
- The strength and stability of the books, as some methods work well for stronger books than they do for books with weak bindings and vice versa.
- The time that you are willing to dedicate to the salvage exercise

One drying method is freezing. This method is ideal when the work is urgent to be saved from flood damage as it allows you to start the drying process faster. Under this process, the book is sealed in a zip-lock bag and placed in the freezer. This stops the deterioration of paper and it is especially effective if a frost-free freezer is used.

The books can also be air dried. Air drying is, however, only used for books that are strong enough and have stable bindings. The process involves gently opening book and placing it on the driest edge to provide support and prevent further flood damage. To promote air circulation and therefore speed up the exercise, fans can be used.

Books are also dried using absorbent materials in which case every 10-15 pages are interleaved with white absorbent paper. After every hour, the absorbent paper is replaced as it will have become saturated.

Finally, books are dried by applying pressure on them once they are no longer wet. To achieve best results with this technique, it is important that books are properly bound.

Do You Need Flood Insurance?

The risks posed by floods are many and include destruction of property, personal injury and even death. Having an insurance cover that takes care of this risk is therefore extremely prudent to speed up recovery from flood damage and help you revert back to normal life soonest.

The first thing you need to know about flood insurance is that it is not covered in the basic home owner’s insurance. Necessity of flood insurance is determined by the geographical zones your property is in. Although everyone lives in a flood risk zone, FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has specific information on the risks associated with various areas and therefore whether there is need for flood insurance to cover flood damage.

Zone boundaries are shown on flood risk maps, with areas classified as low to moderate risk and others, as high risk. If your house is in a high risk zone and you receive a mortgage loan from a lender regulated by the government, you are required by law to get flood damage insurance. On the other hand, people in low risk areas are not required to obtain this insurance.

For those obtaining flood damage insurance, there is a 30-day waiting period from date of purchase before an insurance policy becomes effective. When buying flood damage insurance, it is important to talk to an insurance agent who will advise on the kind of flood insurance that will best serve your interests. Flood insurance cover is provided by the National Flood Insurance Program through some 85 insurance companies. While your bank or insurance company may require you to carry flood damage insurance, it really is your responsibility to maintain adequate cover limits. FEMA’s classification therefore helps new landowners determine flood insurance needs and also provides a useful guide on channels to follow when pursuing flood insurance claims.

Even with FEMA’s classification of risk zones, home owners need to be aware that they do not have to live in high risk zones to get flooded. About a quarter of all flood insurance claims come from low risk areas as a result of storms, melting snow or even dam failure. Flood insurance is also attractive because it is not exorbitant and a landowner will be paying about USD 300 annually for a cover worth USD 100,000. Flood insurance is also attractive because claims are normally paid even when a federal disaster is not declared. Perhaps the real reason why one should obtain flood insurance is the fact that the cost of repaying a disaster loan is 12 times as expensive as paying the annual flood insurance. And such loans are only available when a disaster is declared by the federal authorities, which does not always happen.

Should your home get flooded during a storm, you should immediately assess the flood damage. To assist you in doing this, you should take pictures as these will act as records and proofs of the loss. You should also alert your insurance agent immediately to obtain expert advice on how your insurance policy could help. This is especially important when you appreciate that the basic home owner’s insurance does not cover flood damage.