A natural disaster isn’t something most of us plan on, by its very nature. Because it doesn’t happen often, it can be hard to know what to do when your house floods.

Stopping the water at the source? Turning off the electricity? For most of us, these aren’t things we ever consider, and evacuation routes and insurance companies don’t occur to us right off the bat.

Flooded homes can result from many things, from extreme weather to plumbing issues. Whatever the source of the water, it’s important to know what you need to do to stay safe, dry everything off, and prevent potential future problems. 

Now, before you Google, “house flooding what to do” and go with any old website’s advice, let’s take a closer look at what you need to know.

Safety

Before anything else, you need to make sure you are completely safe during a significant home disaster. Floods can be more severe than you even realize, wearing away foundation and damaging your home in unpredictable ways.

You may have to leave if your home is damaged enough, and make sure you only return once it’s been checked out and okayed. Turning off your electricity so the water isn’t dangerous and checking for floating chemicals are important steps to take.

Make sure to wear insulated shoes and clothing anywhere electricity may hurt you. Watch out for contaminated food that may have grown damp around all the water. With your house flooded, it’s safest to throw away food before taking any risks. 

Dealing With the Water

One of the most obvious things you’ll have to deal with during a flood is all of that water. You’ll have to block the water supply, remove water, and clean up where things have gotten wet and messy.

If your sump pump has broken during the flood, you’ll want to replace it as soon as possible. This helps keep rain levels in and around your home down and prevent damage to your basement, crawl space, and garage.

You may also need to call the city to remove debris from your storm drain. If your hose ruptures, the plumbing will need to be fixed as soon as possible. The faster you stop water from coming in, the sooner you can clean up and start repairing.

From there, you can start removing the water that’s already in your home. Depending on how deep the flooding is, this process may look different for you. Maybe you’ll need to use buckets or a bin to bail water out or pump large amounts of water out of your basement with a hose.

Once the water’s begun receding, you may opt to use a wet vacuum to suck up what’s left from your carpet or flooring. If the stars align and everything works out, you won’t need much more than a stiff mopping to get it right.

Drying Everything Out

Once you’ve successfully removed the standing water in your home, there are good odds of everything staying damp for some time afterward. This goes doubly for high-humidity areas. Once the power is back on, your air conditioner and a few portable fans should be enough to dry out any outstanding wet areas.

Also, take some time to Google “what to do if your house floods” to check your work. The more you know, the better.

Dehumidifiers are your secret weapon during this phase if you have access to one. This is especially true in confined spaces, with your dehumidifier working hard at removing excess moisture from the air.

In terms of what to do after a flood in your house, dehumidifiers are just a supplement for minimizing potential water damage. You’ll need a combination of drying actions to get the job done. 

Call Your Insurance Provider

Homeowner’s insurance varies from policy to policy. Most insurance companies will cover flooding from storms, especially in high-risk weather states. For more on this issue, be sure to check out this article from Betterflood.com.

Your insurance company will send mediators to your house to assess the damage and your eligibility for compensation. If they pay for your losses and damages, you’ll be happy you called early, as you’ll get compensated earlier.

Repairs are expensive, and no one is ever ready for them. Calling in your insurance can help you get things in order, find out where you’re at, and start the process on the best note possible.

The one thing to keep in mind is that your insurer may not be able to come out to your home immediately, especially if your whole city has been damaged. In this case, record absolutely everything you can to show them when they do eventually arrive. Get it all on camera, with as many pictures as possible, as well as any high-quality, well-lit videos you need to accurately record the damage. 

Cleaning

At the end of the day, once the water’s gone and the insurance agency has been and left, you’re going to have some straightening out to do. You might call in a professional cleaner, or roll up your sleeves and start the job on your own.

The whole process starts with determining what is worth saving and what you’ll have to throw out. If the flooding is too widespread, you might need to bring in a large bin to dispose of large amounts of trash and debris. 

You may need to dry out or clean your furniture depending on how bad the water damage is. A company cleaning company that specializes in mold removal could save you a lot of time and cash at this point, so it may help to keep that option in mind. Mold begins growing within 24 hours of a serious flood and can be very difficult to remove properly. 

Now You Know What to Do When Your House Floods

So, you’ve searched “my house flooded what do I do” and you’ve arrived here. Being prepared in the event of an emergency always pays off, so this is the best first move you could have made.

Knowing what to do when your house floods can save you time and money in the event of a flood or serious disaster. More importantly, it can help you stay safe and reclaim your previous way of life, whether it takes days, weeks, months, or even longer. 

Looking for more tips on maintaining your house, from the real estate process to recovering from a natural disaster? Check out some more of our blog content to find out more.