As much as we love Florida, we know living here comes with the risk of hurricanes and water-related damage. When storms come, people are significantly impacted, some lose everything and many end up with a flooded home.
While these natural disasters are unavoidable, there are steps we should take if a home has water intrusion. Your flooded home may be contaminated with mold or sewage so these steps are important to minimize risk and additional damage.
Standing Water
If there is standing water in your home, the power should be turned off. Your first priority should be to safely turn off the main power source from a dry location. If you cannot access the power source from a dry area, contact an electrician. You should never access any power source while in standing in water.
Always have an electrician check the electrical system before turning the power on again. Open doors and windows to let the house air out before staying for any length of time. Have your home tested for mold as it can grow very quickly in this environment. There is also a chance your home may be contaminated with sewage from the flood water.
Drying Process
It is important to dry out your home as quickly as possible. Open doors and windows to provide airflow and help with the drying process. If you have the okay to turn on your electricity or have a generator you can safely use, a wet-dry shop vacuum or pump can remove any standing water. Be sure to wear rubber boots in standing water while using any equipment and don’t operate a gas generator inside the home.
Fans and dehumidifiers can also assist in the process to remove excess moisture. Place fans by windows or doors to blow the air outward so any mold spores are directed outside.
When you re-enter your home, do it with caution and make sure you take precautions to prevent any exposure to environmental hazards. This will probably be difficult emotionally as this is a home that you love and have likely spent most of your time in but I hope following these tips can help you in the process. You can find additional tips and assistance here: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html
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