Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, costing U.S. taxpayers up to USD$800 million every year. Smaller towns in rural areas take the brunt of the wave of financial and emotional destruction brought about by disastrous floods.
Dealing with a flooded home is no small matter. It can quickly cost you thousands in property damage and bring on major health risks due to unsanitary water and possible mold growth.
Your property may have been flooded because of a natural calamity, like a hurricane, or some damage to your water system, like a major pipe burst. Your priority now is to get rid of the water and deal with the excess moisture before mold grows and causes more problems.
The Dangers Of Mold
Mold poses serious health risks, and prolonged exposure can cause the following:
- Skin rashes
- Stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Coughing and wheezing
Immunocompromised people often experience more severe complications and develop an infection from mold exposure. After a flood, mold tends to thrive. For your health and well-being, here's a thorough guide to help you clean up and prevent mold after flooding.
Assessing The Aftermath
As soon as you can, inspect the extent of the damage. But safety comes first—ensure it's safe to enter your home. Ensure your power supply is off, as water and electricity can be a deadly mix. Since you're dealing with possible mold, bacteria, and other harmful elements in the water, wear the following protective gear:
- Rubber boots
- Rubber gloves
- Pants and long-sleeved tops
- N95 mask
Once inside, document everything by taking photos, videos, and notes—these will be useful for your insurance later. Open your doors and windows to let more air in and start drying.
It's important to remember that floods bring more than just property damage. You may be too overwhelmed and emotionally distraught to tackle such a big project right after the disaster. Know that you don't have to deal with the cleanup alone. You can visit https://www.arsidaho.com/ or other service providers specializing in cleanups after disasters, such as floods, fires, and other calamities.
Otherwise, get some help from family and friends and start cleaning.
Cleaning Up: What To Do
Mold can cause severe health complications and structural damage. To avoid mold growth, you have less than 48 hours to do a thorough cleanup. Here's what you should do after your visual inspection:
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1. Contact Your Insurance Provider
First things first: notify your insurance provider of the flood right away. Different home insurance policies cover various levels of damage. You may be able to claim the following:
- Cost of damaged items
- Cost of professional cleaning
- Temporary accommodations if your home is unhabitable
Communicate with your provider and ask when the loss adjuster can do their assessment. If the flood is widespread in your area, it might take a while before they get to your house. In the meantime, document the damage in your home. Use a permanent marker to mark the height reached by the flood waters.
While waiting for your insurance provider, start cleaning.
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2. Dry Out Flooded Areas
Remove all remaining moisture from your home to get ahead of the mold problem. Mold thrives in damp, humid environments, so limiting its access to water should render them unable to thrive. As mentioned earlier, open up your doors and windows and get to drying.
There may still be standing water in low areas like the basement, making your carpets and upholstery soak in water. You can use pumps or vacuums to drain out the water, albeit gradually, to avoid any major structural damage to your place. For larger areas and deeper floods, it's best to get the help of a professional cleanup company, as they have the equipment to dry your home quickly.
If you can, use fans to circulate the air within the space. Make use of dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture and dampness in the air. You may need to do this for hours or even days on end.
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3. Sort And Dispose Of Your Items
Take all flooded items outside your home. If they've been in floodwater for more than 48 hours, it's likely that they're already contaminated with mold and must be discarded promptly. Still trying to decide what to throw? Here's a list:
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Porous Items
Some examples of porous items are fabrics, wood, paper, particleboard, cardboard, and more. They are susceptible to mold and are often not worth saving. Even your ceiling tiles, drywall, carpets, furniture, and mattresses are probably contaminated; removing them from your home is necessary.
That said, rip out your carpets, cut them into smaller squares, roll them up, and place them in labeled trash bags. Rugs and other absorbent items must also be discarded. Drywall, paint, and wet insulation are more extensive projects, though, and may require the expertise of a cleanup crew.
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Medicine And Food Items
If they've been touched by flood water, throw them away. They are deemed contaminated by mold and other filth found in flood water, rendering them unsafe to eat. Flood water can seep into plastic and cardboard packaging, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
What about the contents of your refrigerator? If the power was out for less than four hours and the fridge remained unopened, food should generally be safe to eat. If power is out for longer, inspect each food item individually and throw away anything warm to the touch. The USDA highly discourages tasting food to see if it's safe to eat.
Again, it's vital to document everything you discard for your insurance claim. Assign a friend or family member to write down specifics and take photos of the items you intend to throw out.
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4. Disinfect Surfaces And Things
The CDC recommends this cleaning solution for tackling mold: 1 cup of household laundry bleach for every gallon of water. In a pinch, even detergent can work wonders. Use a heavy-duty scrubber or bristle brush and scrub the following:
- Floors
- Countertops
- Bathroom and Kitchen Tiles
- Shower curtains
- Walls
- Plates
- Cups
- Cutlery
- Garbage Bins
- Metallic items
- Tools
Rinse these items and surfaces with clean water, and dry them thoroughly after disinfection.
A word of warning, though. Be careful not to mix your cleaning chemicals haphazardly. For example, mixing bleach with ammonia produces poisonous gases. The water and bleach solution is often enough to tackle mold before it gets out of hand.
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5. Inspect Your Electronics
You may be wondering what to do with your flooded appliances and electronics. Water can cause major, and sometimes irreparable, damage to your gadgets. You are not advised to turn them on because of the high risk of shock or fire. Do not use or turn on any of your flooded electronics until they have been inspected by an electrician and thoroughly cleaned.
6. Have Your HVAC System Checked
Only turn your HVAC system on once your technician inspects it thoroughly, especially if flood water seeps into your ducts and vents. Turning it on may spread mold and other bacteria around your house. Stick to your portable fans and other climate control methods until it gets inspected. You are also highly discouraged from cleaning your HVAC system alone, as most household cleaning supplies are not enough to ensure total disinfection and may cause more damage.
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7. Observe High Moisture Areas
The kitchen and the bathroom are constantly prone to water. Even days after the flood, you must check your appliances for any sign of mold growth. Inspect your toilet tanks as well and disinfect them as needed.
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8. Fix Leaks And Other Damages
Strong flood waters may have caused damage to your pipes. Check for leaks around the house, even in the exterior, to mitigate the moisture and ensure no additional water gets in the place as you dry it out.
After Cleaning
You've discarded waterlogged items, disinfected your house from top to bottom, and dried everything thoroughly, but the work is still ongoing. Be on the lookout for signs of mold and mildew growth. Watch out for the following:
- Warping, peeling, or cracking on surfaces
- Musty smell
- Discoloration
- Spots that seem to grow in size
- High levels of humidity
Keep close attention to high moisture areas in your home, like the kitchen or the bathroom, and the closed-off parts, like the basement, attic, and crawlspaces.
Mold spores are usually not visible until they grow out of hand. If you notice the signs mentioned above, it's best to engage the services of professionals. Homeowners should tackle only up to 10 square feet of mold damage, a relatively small area.
Conclusion
While a flood is already an overwhelming incident, acting quickly to avoid further damage is essential. Remove excess moisture from your home as soon as possible and begin your cleanup to inhibit mold growth. If it all proves to be an impossible task, engage the services of a professional cleanup crew for your peace of mind.
