6 Steps to Rebuilding After a Flood

By theadmin

Rain may be good for Texas’ drought conditions and lake levels, but it can also prove devastating to many homeowners who sustain significant damage due to persistent rainfall and subsequent flooding. When you’re facing down flood damage, here’s a step-by-step recovery process.

First, file your claim.

“The first thing to do is call your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to file a claim,” says Erin Hartgrove, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Harris County. “If you have flood insurance, an adjuster will be assigned to your home to settle your claim. Meanwhile, organize the information you need: Take photos of the damage, find receipts or proofs of purchase, and separate your damaged from your undamaged belongings.” Download a home inventory evaluation to make sure you have everything itemized. Canceled checks, invoices, receipts, or other documentation could assist the adjuster in determining the value of the destroyed property.

Ensure the safety of your home.

Hartgrove also advises switching off the power until a licensed electrician can inspect your electrical system and suggests using bottled water for drinking and preparing food until authorities confirm the water is safe.

Patch things up.

Depending on the extent of your damage, the rebuilding process may take time; so go ahead and make temporary repairs to prevent further destruction; save the receipts for any supplies and materials you need, because in most cases you will be reimbursed. You should also keep a record of all expenses, such as hotel and restaurant receipts, if you are displaced from your home.

Plan your repairs.

Hartgrove suggests a “Don’t just build it back; build it back better” philosophy. This involves hiring reputable contractors who provide references and guarantees in writing. “Have these contractors flood-proof your home by remodeling or rebuilding it using materials and methods that will prevent or minimize damage from future floods,” Hartgrove says. Make sure you get a detailed estimate from your contractor and share it with your adjuster; it should include the proposed repairs, repair costs, and replacement prices.

Build for the future.

Chances are, if it’s flooded before, it will flood again. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency provides details at FEMA.gov on the five flood-proofing strategies builders can use to safeguard homes: elevation, relocation, floodwalls, dry flood-proofing, and wet flood-proofing.

Avoid buying flood-damaged cars.

Inspect the trunk for floodwater that may pool in the spare tire compartment.
Smell the interior to check for a musty odor, which could be a red flag.
Check for rust on the interior screws and components.
Lift up the carpets and check for dampness.
Search for mud or silt inside the glove box and under the seats.
Purchase a title check from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. All you need is the VIN information.

Get coverage for the future.

The financial toll even a small amount of water can take on homeowners with inadequate insurance coverage can be surprising. A mere 2 inches of water in a 2,000-square-foot home can cause an estimated $15,870 in damage just to finished floors, not to mention loss of personal items (estimated at $500) and cleaning costs (about $1,750), according to the National Flood Insurance Program. This is why it pays to have flood insurance.

“It’s not a matter of if but of when a major rainstorm will hit,” Hartgrove cautions. “Flood insurance is too inexpensive not to have, especially when you look at the big picture of what you have at risk when a claim happens.”

Schedule a 360 Review with your local Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent today to find out if you have the flood coverage you need.