Are You Ready For A Flood?

Flood Safety Awareness Week

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has named March 16-20, 2009 as Flood Safety Awareness Week.

Flooding is not an issue limited to one geographic area, and can happen at any time. Please contact me if you are interested in interviewing a Columbus area Allstate agent about flood recovery and the differences between flood insurance and your home owners, condo or renters policies.

Allstate offers the following tips on flood safety that have been accumulated from past experiences and from a handbook entitled “Repairing Your Flooded Home”, published by the American Red Cross and FEMA:

Before entering a flooded house, walk around the outside and check for gas leaks and loose power lines.

If you can safely get to your electric box and gas meter without walking through water, turn them off first.
Go inside carefully.  If your door sticks, your ceiling may be ready to fall.  You can force the door open, but stand out of the way a few minutes to see if it is safe.
Do not walk through flowing water and watch out for snakes, nails and other dangerous debris that might be covering your floor.
Do not use gas lanterns or other open flames in your home.  There may be explosive gas still in the air.
If your ceiling is sagging, it might be ready to fall as wet plaster and wall-board are very heavy.  Stand back and poke a small hole at the edge of the sag with a nail on the end of a stick.  Do not start in the center of the sag because the ceiling might collapse.  Any trapped water should start to drain.  Repeat this process working your way to the center of the sag until all of the water has drained.
Open (do not force) all windows, doors, cabinets and drawers during the day to ventilate.
Cover holes in the roof, walls, or windows with boards, tarps, or plastic sheeting to prevent more water damage.
Remove any tree limbs or other trash that may have floated into your home.
Shovel out as much mud as possible.
After making sure the electricity is off, unplug all appliances and lamps, remove all light bulbs, and remove the plates to wall switches and outlets that got wet.
Hose down and disinfect the entire flooded area including outlets, wall switches, light sockets, and any furniture or other muddy contents.  If you have an attachment that sprays soap, this would be helpful.
Completely hose out and disinfect air ducts to prevent contaminated air from flowing through your home.
Take pictures as you clean up for your records.
Make an inventory list of all damaged contents.  Keep in mind that not all contents are damaged by water and may be cleaned up.
Keep a sample of items such as carpet and upholstery for your claim adjuster.
Remove trapped water in the walls by taking the baseboard off and poking small holes about two inches above the floor.  If water drains out cut or drill holes big enough for water to drain freely.
Remove covering from flooded floors to allow to dry.  Most floor coverings will need to be replaced so be sure to take pictures and keep a sample for your adjuster.   

John Heid

Sr. Communications Consultant

Southeast Region

Allstate Insurance Company

3100 Interstate North Circle

Atlanta, GA 30339