09/28/2024
Copied and pasted from a friends page-- EXTREMELY GOOD ADVICE/STEPS FOR FLOODED PROPERTY, FROM SOMEONE IN THE INDUSTRY TRYING TO HELP!!! PLEASE, PLEASE READ!! If you’re dealing with or know anyone dealing with any flooding after HELENE, please share this with them. Some great advice here. Copied this from a group I saw the post in earlier.
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Hey guys - Florida licensed mold assessor here. this would be my to do list.. 💦
BEFORE YOU CLEAN / FIX/ TREAT ANYTHING Pictures- pictures- pictures! Grab a picture of all the water damage. From the inside, the outside, the rooms, the walls, the floor, wet clothes, flooded car interior, exterior etc.
Throw out all saturated porous items that you can bare to part with. * if they are highly sentimental you can bag them and find out later if they can be professionally cleaned. (Not a guarantee)
Clean all non porous surfaces (anything solid) with bleach. If you do not have bleach, your other alternatives are soap and water, white vinegar and even pool chlorine highly diluted at 10-15% chlorine and 80-85% water in a bucket to dip rag and wipe - Wear gloves!!
(For those who still have power - Before next step cut the main breaker to your home - cut all power)
IF the water has receded enough and is not standing or pooled in your home - grab a knife, box cutter or if you have power and tools GREAT - in the wet rooms begin a “flood cut”. This is where you go around the perimeter of the room and cut a foot to two feet above the floor. If the water line is above that, cut until you have no water line. Pull the wet insulation from the wall cavity and bag it for trash. Bleach down whatever visible framing and drywall you can access, allow to dry. Repeat in every water damaged area.
Insurance tips:
Home insurance - covers water damage from water leak, water intrusion. NOT FLOOD.
Flood insurance- covers water damage from rising waters.
You will need to notify BOTH.
Your house WILL LIKELY get mold HOWEVER when you call your HOME INSURANCE you want to use the phrase WATER DAMAGE when explaining your claim.
Insurance is a words game. Saying “I have a mold issue” will lock you into a bucket of 10k coverage IF YOURE LUCKY. Your water damage bucket has the ability to cover up to the full amount of your policy in situations like this. WATER DAMAGE! NOT MOLD.
Once the water damage claim is open - THEN you let the contractor or inspector state that they observe mold and then get that 10k ADDED to the original approved coverage as ADDITIONAL coverage.
I’m trying to load you up with as much as possible and I know it’s a lot to take in so fast, so please reply with questions if you need assistance. If I can help you I will.
I own SafeHome Mold Inspections and Testing here on the east coast and will be heading out there with some friends this weekend with supplies, help and free services.
Hang in there guys!! 🙏
