If you’ve been affected by a flood, the devastation and debris afterward can be overwhelming. Where do you even start when it comes to flood damage cleanup?

Cleaning up this type of mess is never fun. You may not even know where to begin. Take a look at these 6 tips for dealing with flood damage.

Check with Insurance

In some areas, you are required to carry flood insurance. This is common in locations that are in flood zones. Check with your homeowner’s insurance to see if you are covered for flood damage.

You should do this as soon as possible when you know you’ve been impacted; that way, you can get a claims process started if you are covered. Your insurance company may have a recommendation for finding a restoration company to help you out as well.

Move Things Out of Water

Depending on the water levels in your home, you should attempt to move furniture and belongings out of the water. If you can move them to higher ground, go ahead and do so.

The sooner you can move furniture and belongings out of the water, the more likely it is you will be able to salvage some of these items. There will still be a drying process and not everything can be saved, but it may help you in the long run.

Try to Remove Excess Water

As floodwaters recede and you can start cleaning up, things will still be wet. You’re going to find water everywhere. One of the first things you can do is work to start drying things out and removing excess water.

This will definitely take some time. Grab mops and buckets and even rags and towels to blot up and soak up water where you can. You might even be able to use a wet vac to help remove water.

Hang things that can be hung to dry. Turn on fans to direct them at wet areas like carpets, rugs, and furniture. Set up dehumidifiers to help reduce moisture as well. You can work with a professional flood damage cleanup crew for this process.

Clean Up Loose Items

Right away, you can start cleaning up small loose items. Separate the trash from items that can be salvaged. Anything like magazines, books, and even rugs that have color in them should be moved as quickly as possible so their colors don’t bleed elsewhere.

This could be a tedious process as you might have extra debris and trash laying around, so just work on one small area at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Avoid Using Electronics

Even though you can re-enter the house, things will still be wet. The power may be on, but it’s much safer to avoid using electrical items while the drying process is still happening.

Water and electricity simply don’t mix well, so this is really a safety precaution more than anything else. Don’t risk shock or sparks by using electrical items and outlets that may have water around them.

Use a Professional for Flood Damage Cleanup

Finally, you should know that you are not alone in this process. Many others have experienced flood damage. You can use these tips to help you out, but you can also bring in flood damage professionals who can help with cleanup and restoration.

When you’re ready to bring in the experts, Restoration Xperts are here to help! Give us a call or use the contact form on our website!