Flood Clean Up Guide For Saint Paul Homeowners

By Author: Leo Nov
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For many Saint Paul homeowners, the start of the year was not a good one. Water overflowed from a river's banks and flooded low areas, affecting many residences in spite of the installation of emergency dikes. Needless to say, flooding can be as destructive as any natural disaster. It can utterly destroy structures and wash away big vehicles.

While the usual flooding that occurs in Saint Paul is not this destructive, it can still cause damage to homes. Because the above-mentioned flood was not the first time such incident has happened in Saint Paul, residents here would greatly benefit from learning about proper flood clean up.

Using the Saint Paul flood as an example, here are some things to consider when cleaning up your home after a flood:

Before starting flood cleanup, record all damages to your property. This will help determine the overall damage that was caused by the flood. This step is in fact the first action to take if you have flood insurance coverage to facilitate claim processing. Documenting damage simply means taking pictures of the affected areas in your home as well as making an inventory ...
... of your belongings that have been damaged because of the flood. You would also need to determine the age of your damaged belongings as well as their value.

After the flood damage has been properly documented, it is very important to have a professional inspect your home for safety and health reasons before you begin any flood cleanup. There are many risks inside a flooded home such as wet electrical circuits and unstable structures so the best way to prevent further untoward incidents is to make sure it is safe to enter your home and start cleaning up.

Proper ventilation is another thing to consider when cleaning up your home after a flood. The only way to lower the level of humidity inside the house is to encourage air to fully circulate. Since most surfaces inside the house are wet, molds can easily form due to the buildup of moisture.

If you think there is already mold growth in your home and you decide to do the clean up by yourself, make sure to put on protective gear and clothing to keep yourself from coming into skin contact with toxic mold as well as flood water. You may also have to deal with sewage back up if you have a flooded basement so it is best have protective clothing and footwear on before you venture into the area.

Preventing Losses Due to Flood Damage

In many cases, Saint Paul residents who have experienced flood damage use their own money for the flood cleanup even though they have home insurance. This is because regular policies usually do not include flood coverage even in places that are prone to flooding such as Minneapolis.

This is why if you are Saint Paul resident or you planning to live here, you are strongly advised to get flood insurance coverage. Many home insurance providers offer it for an extra cost, one that is worth taking on.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS. To learn more about sewage back up visit our website. Click here for more information on flood clean up saint paul.