Flood Barrier USA

What To Do After the Flood

Author: Flood Expert Donna Conneely

Safety is the first priority after any flooding event. There are many dangers that may be present in your surroundings, and avoiding injury is of paramount importance. Hazardous conditions will linger for many days after the flood, and in the event of a truly major disaster, dangers can persist for months or even years.

Moving around should be kept to a minimum after a flood, unless you are advised to evacuate to safer areas. It is very likely that roads and bridges will be damaged or destroyed, and roadblocks may be in place to warn travelers of unsafe routes. If you are walking through a flooded area, be wary of any running water. FEMA advises that swiftly moving water just six inches deep is often strong enough to knock you off your feet.

Another commonly encountered danger is downed power lines, which may be submerged or covered by debris. Many people survive severe flooding only to be killed or seriously injured by electric shock. Be aware that pools of standing water may be electrified by power lines that lie unseen under the water.

It is best to turn off the main breaker at your home or business even if the power is out in the area. This way, you will be able to decide if power can be restored safely in your particular building.

After the flooding seems to have stopped and the waters are receding, new flash floods can occur without warning. For all these reasons discussed above, and to keep the roads clear for emergency personnel, it is best to stay put after a flood until authorities announce that it is safe to move about.

When it has been determined that it is safe to do so, the hard work of cleaning up begins. FEMA offers a publication titled “Repairing Your Flooded Home” that can help you address flood damage after a flooding event. This booklet may also available from the Red Cross and local authorities. In it you will find useful advice as to how to go about the arduous task of getting things cleaned up.

FEMA provides advice about:

• How to enter your home safely.
• How to protect your home and belongings from further damage.
• How to record damage to support insurance claims and requests for assistance.
• How to check for gas or water leaks and how to have service restored.
• How to clean up appliances, furniture, floors and other belongs.

After the cleanup has been completed many business or home owners may feel overwhelmed, depressed, and exhausted. It is important to take care of oneself, to eat well and to rest. When strength and resilience returns, thought should be given to flood protection for the business or home, because any location that has flooded once is likely to flood again. Putting flood protection measures into place before the next flood can help minimize or even completely prevent flood damage &ellip; next time around.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 21st, 2012 at 11:29 pm and is filed under Flood Protection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.