When your home floods you are understandably anxious to clean up and get things back to normal. Take care to observe safety rules first. Common post flood hazards involve electricity and gas. Be sure these utilities are turned off before you enter the home. Flooding can damage the structural integrity of your home as well as cause household items to shift. Proceed with caution to avoid danger from unsecure objects. What should you do once you are safely inside? Here’s what FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends:

• Salvage what you canRemove valuables from flooded areas and store safely in dry areas. Discard everything that cannot be salvaged and circulate fresh air throughout your home. Clean and disinfect all surfaces that have been in contact with flood waters. Wear protective clothing/gloves as you work. Flood waters often bring in mud and other contaminants.

• Dry out your home and begin repairsInspect and repair pipes to prevent further damage from breaks or leaks. Give special attention to sagging floors, ceilings, holes and roof damage. You will need to drain and dry any ceilings or walls holding water. Water causes significant damage to your home including warping, rotting and swelling. As you might guess, it also damages wiring, which can lead to fire. Mold and mildew are also of concern. Again, circulate fresh air. Open windows, closets and cabinets. Use fans and dehumidifiers to help dry things out quickly. Visit the Crawlspace Depot catalog for clean-up supplies. We offer a variety of drainage, odor control, cleaning and dehumidifier products to ease flood recovery.

• Get adviceFlooding can cause major damage. The best way to minimize that damage and protect your home is to complete repairs with great care. Consider contractors carefully. They should be fully licensed and insured. Learn first-hand about past customer experiences to minimize risk of scams or shoddy work before you sign a contract. If you are doing the work yourself get advice about any questions you have. Let Crawlspace Depot help you with the supplies you need. We offer fast shipping on products you can trust. Call or come by today.