Having your home flood is a horrible experience. Even if you’ve prepared by moving things to higher floors and turning off the power, it can still be devastating. You may want to start seeing which of your possessions have survived, but there are some things you need to do first:
- Make sure you home is safe to enter
- Begin draining your home and taking photos of the contents
- Dispose of damaged items
- Contact a professional to help planning your home repair
When considering the cost of repairs, know that emergency cash from title loans could be useful. What are title loans? LoanMart has many years of experience assisting customers in getting quick funds during an emergency. We consider ourselves experts with years of experience with title loans and financial crisis management. But before we talk about how title loans can help you pay for flood damages, let’s look at when it’s safe to enter your home.
How do I know if my home is safe to enter after a flood?
If you are returning to your home after a flood, it’s important to make sure it’s safe enough to enter. You should avoid entering if it is still surrounded by floodwater. Once the water has receded, it should be checked out before you enter. Normally, you’ll need an inspector to come and do things like look for cracks in the foundation. You’ll also need to make sure that the gas lines and electricity are shut off in your home.
How do I get water out of my house after a flood?
Once you know your house won’t collapse on you, you can enter and start cleaning up. It’s important to make sure you are adequately protected when you finally enter your home. At a minimum, you’ll need:
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- Gloves
- Masks
- Water-proof boots
Once you’re in your house, it’s time to start drying it out. The simplest thing, weather permitting, is to open windows and get air moving through it. In addition, you’ll want to start pumping the water out. It’s important to pump gradually; empty your basement over the course of a few days. This helps prevent further structural damage. You can use a sump pump, which can run underwater and move water out of your house, or a wet/dry shop vac, though you’ll have to empty it manually. You can also use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air. This will make it easier for the water in your house to evaporate.
As you are draining your house, it’s important to take photos of the damage. If you do have flood insurance, having photos of the damage, and ideally photos before the damage, will make the claims process go more smoothly. During this time, you’ll also be able to inspect for other issues, like ruptured pipes or utility lines. Report those to the local municipality as necessary. Once, the photos are taken and the water is drained, it’s time to start cleaning up.
How do I clean my house out after a flood?
Once your home is drained, it’s time to start sorting through everything. You should’ve turned off the electricity and gas lines leading to the house, but now you’ll need to be extra vigilant for things like gas leaks. You’ll also need to be sure you’re adequately protected from mold spores. After you’ve done that, it’s time to start throwing things out.
As you are disposing of things, you’ll want to find a space that won’t be further damaged by having the sodden contents of your house piled on top of it, many people use their lawn or garage space for this. You’ll also need a space to store things that are salvageable. You may want to consult a professional to determine what is worth saving.
Why do I need a professional to help clean up after a flood?
After you have taken all the water-damaged items out of your house, which may have included appliances, flooring, food, medicine, etc., it’s time to start cleaning. Some of the cleaning you can do yourself, on items that are just dirty for example. But anything that might have mold on it will require professional cleaning. The last thing you want it so have a house full of mold. Once you’ve completed all of that, you can have a professional turn the gas lines back on and restore electricity as necessary and get estimates from a contractor to repair your home.
Having your house get caught in a flood can be devastating. When you are finally able to return to it, putting your life back together can seem overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be though. By taking things one step at a time you can clean out your house and get it rebuilt, especially with emergency cash from title loans.
When in need of additional funding to pay for flood damages, title loans may be a favorable option. Car title loans from LoanMart can be a great way to get essential funding without all the hassles that can come with traditional lenders.
One of the best things about car title loans from LoanMart is that they are fast and efficient. You could even receive your car title loan funding as soon as the next business day3!
Check out our application and you may be able to get your fast cash1!
