Tips for assessing property damage caused by hurricane flooding

Assessing the Damage after a Flood

It’s likely that only those who have experienced flood damage can fully appreciate its gravity. Floods can turn a home into a disaster area, and seeing your precious living space invaded and your belongings destroyed amounts to one of the most traumatic events possible. It’s hard to remain objective when flood damage has affected your home, but it’s vital to approach the situation in a practical way for the salvaging process to begin. There are some considerations that need to be kept in mind when assessing damage caused by floods, and remembering them is always the best way forward when you’ve fallen victim to the formidable power of water.

Immediate Hazards

Flood damage can unleash all kinds of hazards in a home. If the building is still flooded there’s the risk of structural collapse. Water undermines foundations and can cause floors to sink or collapse entirely. It’s impossible to assess the damage caused by a flood until the waters have receded, and accomplishing that safely is one of the main priorities. Further flooding could be an immediate hazard, and weather forecasts should certainly be monitored. Floods bring about risks from electricity and gas supplies. Minor shifts in the foundations of a home can cause major disruptions to the pipes leading into it. Electrical shocks and gas leaks can both prove fatal, so experts need to be called in to assess the damage and make a property safe if it’s been affected by flood. Water will often become contaminated, as household liquids and that from drainage systems or septic tanks can mingle to produce a dangerous, noxious mixture. Mold sets in soon after a flood also, brining with all kinds of serious risks.

Considerations when Assessing Damage
It can be extremely dangerous to enter any building that has not been officially declared safe after a flood. This is a lesson too many people learn the hard way, and if a building has not been declared safe, it’s wise simply not to enter it at all. Disaster areas are places where it’s easier to get in the way or to present a risk than to help, and for that reason placing yourself in danger by entering an unsafe building is counter productive. Remember that drinking water may be contaminated. If there is damage to utility supplies then the relevant authorities need to be informed immediately. Always put safety first when assessing damage.