Did you know that Florida currently has 2.09 million worth of properties at risk of flooding, according to Riskfactor, which is expected to increase in upcoming years? Floods are one of the most costly and destructive natural disasters, posing a tremendous threat to both human life and property, not just in Florida but in nearly every part of the world. Fast-moving flood waters can be dangerous and unpredictable.
Even if the risk of the flood itself isn’t severe, it can still cause extensive damage to your property. Just two feet of fast-moving water is strong enough to carry away any vehicle. While natural disasters cannot be prevented, there are flood safety tips you can follow to protect yourself, your family, and your property from the Florida flood damage.
In this blog post, we will discuss how you can take safety precautions for floods. We will explain how you can take these steps before, during, and after the flood, helping you safeguard your home and loved ones in times of flood damage.
Before Flood
Stay Informed
Flood mitigation steps start with staying informed and updated. When you hear about floods, quickly locate if your area comes under the risk areas. You can check it from Flood Maps, FEMA. Stay updated on weather forecasts and flood warnings in your area and ensure flood safety.
Sign up for emergency alerts, follow local news channels, and utilize weather apps or websites to receive timely information about potential floods. Being aware of the situation will allow you to take appropriate action quickly. Be cautious and follow local news or authority guidelines to know when you can ensure flood safety for your family members.
Prepare An Emergency Kit
Apart from staying informed, it’s wise to prepare for the worst. Assemble an emergency kit containing essential supplies to sustain your family for at least 72 hours or more. Florida floods can be unpredictable.
That’s why preparing an emergency kit is a crucial flood safety step. Include items such as non-perishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, cash, important documents, and a battery-powered radio just in case the calamity happens, and you have to stay without power. Keep the kit in an easily accessible location.
Protect Your House
After being informed, you should take flood safety preparations to protect your home. Even if the water doesn’t come in, your property can be damaged extensively, causing costly repairs. The first thing you can do is disconnect your electrical appliances so that you can avoid any sort of electrocution.
You can grade your yard so that water doesn’t hit directly in the home and mitigate its effects. Building blocks or barriers is an essential flood safety step to prevent water from entering your home. Consult a professional remediation company for a free inspection of your home.
Consider what you can do to protect key assets and have proper flood house protection. For example, at a minimum, regularly clean gutters and drain pipes of your home. If your buildings have basements, determine if anything stored in it is particularly valuable. If so, either move it or have a plan to retrieve key items that should be safeguarded.
If your fuel tanks are in the basement, be sure they are installed correctly following the local code. Sump pumps are handy in proper flood house protection. It’s a good idea to purchase these and keep them onsite before flooding is on the horizon and stores are out of them.
Rearrange Your House
Even if you don’t have a budget to make structural changes to your property, rearranging your house can be a good safety precautions for flood. Rearrange your home so the bulk of your living space or high-value items are located in the upper stories of your home.
If you live in a single-story home, move valuables to higher surfaces where possible to help protect them from possible water damage. Following this simple flood safety tip can save you from extensive extend of flood damage.
During Flood
Don’t Move Out
You should not head out during the threat of flood. Even if it seems obvious, some people are reckless and don’t consider it as risky. But most of the people who drown in floods are found driving their cars in flood waters. Vehicles often get dragged downstream, and those inside can’t get out.
Even if they do, swimming in fast-moving waves of water is almost impossible. If you’re already in a car, abandon it immediately. Avoid driving after a flood, as floodwaters and unsafe may dangerously weaken roads to navigate.
Don’t Walk in Water
Avoid presence to any standing or moving water. As we mentioned, just six inches of moving water can topple an adult. After a flood, downed power lines may electrically charge standing waters. Coming across them will get you electrocuted. So don’t leave your house until you’re advised it’s safe.
Flash Floods
According to Statistica, flash floods caused damage over three billion U.S. dollars worth of property across America in 2021.
A flash flood is a surge of water that comes from nowhere and can turn a dry strip of land into a raging river. If you’re warned of a flash flood, immediately move to higher ground.
If you live or work in areas prone to flooding, it’s crucial to remain vigilant during heavy rainfall. It’s even more important to be cautious at night since it’s challenging to identify flood hazards. Never attempt to drive your vehicle into a water road of uncertain depth.
After Flood
Call Your Insurance Provider
If you live in an area with frequent flooding, purchase flood insurance. If you already have flood insurance, then the first thing you should do is call your insurance provider. Ask for directions on how to file a claim so you can have extra money to pay for much-needed flood damage repairs.
Your insurer will send an insurance adjuster over to assess the damage caused by the flood, so make sure everything is untouched. Take many pictures and videos; documentation is critical when filing an insurance claim. This will help you in repairing and flood mitigation services.
Remove The Water
Since flood damage can only worsen if you leave the floodwater, you must do whatever you can to remove all the water as soon as possible. Use any means necessary, including dippers, buckets, mops, and pumps, to get all that water out of your home. If your entire family is helping out, make sure everyone wears safety gear, too.
If this seems too much, you can contact a professional restoration company in Florida to take care of the flood damage.
However, you have to wait for your insurance company to greenlight any effort on your part to remove the water. Proceed only once you get that go-signal to ensure that your insurance claim won’t run into any issues.
Dry Your Home
With most of the water gone, the next step would be to dry all affected areas. You can use mops, rags, and sponges for the task. To speed up the drying process, bring in some industrial fans and turn them all on at full blast. It would be best if you also opened all windows and doors to let in the sunshine.
Your home also needs to be completely dry to reduce the risk of mold buildup. Mold and mildew growth is a serious issue affecting your health and belongings. Check out this blog on black mold to find out how to inspect them and what to do if your home gets affected by mold after flood damage.
Call A Water Damage Restoration Specialist
The last step in flood safety is to repair all the water damage and restore your home. You can take on the job yourself or put that flood damage insurance money to good use by contacting a water damage restoration company. But we won’t recommend any DIY method as flood mitigation requires quite some experience and expertise.
With their training, experience, and equipment, water damage restoration professionals can deal with any kind of damage caused by a flood. You’ve already done the preliminary cleanup to mitigate the water damage; let water damage restoration specialists do it professionally and finish the job. By the time they’re done, your home will look just like it did before the flood.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flood is a dangerous natural disaster that can cause extensive damage to our lives. While we can’t do much to avoid it, we can certainly follow flood safety tips to take precautions before, during, and after the flood.
Flood safety is essential when it comes to protecting ourselves, our families, and our properties from the destructive forces of flooding. By staying informed about potential flood risks, preparing an emergency kit, and fortifying our homes, we can significantly reduce flood damage and ensure flood safety. It is essential to heed warnings, evacuate when necessary, and never underestimate the power of a Florida flood.
During and after a flood, caution is the most important factor of flood safety tips. Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, as they can be deceptively dangerous. Once the floodwaters recede, it is crucial to contact your insurance provider, document the damage, and remove the water promptly to prevent further restoration. Seeking professional assistance from water damage restoration specialists can ensure that your home is restored effectively and safely.
Remember, flood safety is a continuous effort. Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay vigilant. By implementing these flood safety tips, you can mitigate the risks associated with flood damage and protect what matters most to you. Let us stand resilient in the face of floods and ensure the safety and well-being of our family.