Just because it is cold outside does not mean there are no risks of flooding. Ice dams can cause melted snow to accumulate and leak through your roof, while frozen pipes can burst and flood your home. In addition, winter storms can cause rivers and lakes to flood, potentially causing damage to your home if you are near a flooding body of water. If you find yourself confronted with flooding in your home, here are the five things you should keep in mind:
- Be careful when in flooded parts of your home
- If you have flooding in your home, you may want to go in right away to start rescuing valuables. However, this is a potentially dangerous idea, as flood waters may contain toxic chemicals or diseases that can sicken you if you come into contact with them. That is why you should only re-enter a flooded home when authorities say it is safe to do so, and even then you should wear protective gear when moving through flooded areas of your home.
- Take steps to minimize damage
- Once you can safely re-enter your home, you should take steps to minimize further damage to your home. This includes turning off water from a leaky pipe, sealing off holes in your roof, walls, or windows that may let more rainwater in, and otherwise taking steps to prevent the situation from getting worse. This is important for helping with your insurance claim, as many insurers will not pay for flood damage if it was caused by a failure to secure the premises against further damage.
- Account for all your property
- Once you have the area secured, you should take steps to rescue whatever property you can, and account for anything that was damaged in the flood. Anything you can dry out should be dried out, and anything you cannot should be set aside and documented. Having an appropriate accounting of your property is critical for ensuring you get reimbursement for all the damage your home suffered in the flood.
- Take pictures of everything
- Insurance companies will often try to claim that something damaged by flooding was damaged by something else, so they do not need to cover the cost of what was damaged. Taking pictures of everything that happened will provide evidence of the damage you suffered from the flooding, making it harder for your insurer to reduce or deny your claim. This includes damage to your home, as well as any other property inside your home that was damaged by the flood.
- Contact remediation services
- Unfortunately, the dangers of floods do not stop once all the water has been drained. The wet, humid conditions they leave behind are ripe for mold and mildew, which can lead to more damage to your home and a higher risk of mold-related illness. Contacting remediation services as soon as possible is critical to restoring your home and reducing the risk to you and your family’s health.
Anytime your home or other dwelling has been ruined or severely damaged, it is essential that you protect your property and the interest of your investment by enlisting the services of a Rubin and Rosen public adjuster. We can provide the assistance you need by helping you to work through the entire insurance process. If you want to make a property insurance claim and need assistance to obtain fair compensation for your losses, please give us a call at 718-376-6800 or visit our contact page.