Flood Damage Restoration

There are two distinctly different types of flood damage that can occur to your home, and it is vitally important that you be adequately prepared for both. While regular homeowner's insurance will probably cover flooding due to a burst water pipe (as long as it wasn't caused by your neglect in failing to repair a minor leak), flooding from hurricanes or tornadoes is not usually covered by homeowner's insurance. You need a special flood policy to assure coverage. Flood insurance is available for both homeowners and renters, with varying rates depending on risk.

Before Your Home Needs Water Damage Restoration


The critical first step is to make sure you're adequately insured in the event of a flood.


The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has prepared maps to identify areas that are especially at risk of flooding. One in four homes in Special High Risk Areas will be flooded during the term of the average 30-year mortgage, so these homeowners are usually required by their mortgage lenders to have flood insurance.

Moderate to low risk areas are located outside identified floodplains, but are recommended to have the insurance, while undetermined risk areas may still have some risk of flooding. Rates for the insurance depend upon the risk classification.

For example, in Austin, Texas both hurricanes and tornadoes can cause flooding. The same neighborhood may have different homes in each of the flood classifications, depending on the lay of the land.

Flood Damage Restoration: What You Need to Know


The first thing you need to do if your home is damaged by flooding is to notify your insurance agent. If there has been significant damage in the area, there may be hundreds of other homeowners filing claims for flood damage restoration, so the sooner you call, the higher you'll be in line, and the sooner you'll receive your check.

Before you enter the home, check for structural damage. You don't want to be trapped inside if the house collapses.

Take pictures of any standing water, as well as damaged property. Make a list of damaged property, along with purchase price, current value, and receipts if you have them.

Be cautious about restoring power where there's water damage. You may need to call an electrician.


Once your home has been damaged by flooding, you need to act fast to prevent the growth of mold and mildew which may be detrimental to your family's health. Drywall may have to be replaced to prevent the growth of mold behind it.

Some steps you can take to hasten drying of the dampness include opening all windows and doors and turning on air conditioners and fans. You'll need to wear gloves and boots to clean and disinfect. Even after the flooded area is dried, you'll need to watch it for mold growth and be aware of any musty smells which develop.

On the other hand, you can call a flood restoration company to do the water damage restoration for you. Hiring a professional can save you time and effort, while assuring you of a thorough job.

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