Floods can cause untold damage. Damage from flooding in the United States exceeds $10 billion per year, according to AmericanRivers.org. This is why you must ensure that you are in a safe area during a flood. You should also know how to go about things after the floodwaters recede. Read on to find out what you can do immediately after it's safe to move around.

Take Pictures

After a flood, the first thing you must do before water damage cleanup is to take some pictures. This is important so that you can have fully documented evidence that you can present to your insurer. The best way is to have digital evidence that can be backed up. If you start cleaning up before you take pictures, you might risk decreasing the extent of your coverage.

Protect Your Health

Even if it seems like the floodwater is clean, it might be contaminated by chemicals or microbes. This means that you must protect yourself when doing the water damage cleanup. The best you can do is wear rubber gloves. You must also get rid of all food that would have been contaminated by the floodwater.

Check if Your Neighbors Need Help

Your neighbor might require special assistance with water damage cleanup after a flood. For instance, if you live near elderly people or people with disabilities, you should check on them after a flood. Even if they have people who normally help them out, they will probably need additional assistance. As you are doing so, you must also make sure that you keep safe by avoiding disaster areas. Your presence could disturb rescue operations if you are not experienced in handling emergencies.

Inspect Your Home

Immediately after the floodwaters recede, you must inspect your home to find out if anything has been damaged. The roof is one of the areas you must focus on. Floods caused by extreme storms can lead to dislodged shingles and even missing sections of the roof, causing water leaks. For a more comprehensive inspection, you should hire a professional roofer.

It's important to make sure that your home is safe after a flood. If any water has entered your home, you should collect the necessary evidence to support your insurance claims. You must also find an inspector to check out your home and find out if there is any significant damage. If you need help with home repairs or inspection after a flood, get in touch with us today.