What to do After Your Home Has Flooded by Snow Melt

Dreaming of warmer weather and what is to come is exciting, especially if we have experienced a long cold winter. For areas with large amounts of snow fall, the rise in temperature can also lead to panic and uncertainty. No matter how much we prepare our home for the potential of flooding after a snow melt, it may not be enough and can lead to serious water damage.

If you are away from your home while your area is experiencing a massive snow melt check to see if a neighbour can keep an eye on your house to help prevent any damage. Upon your return home, check for any structural damage before you enter your house. If you suspect there may be damage, especially to any gas, electric, or sewer line, contact the proper professionals to ensure it is safe for you to enter your home.

If your residence is safe, try to remove any wet items right away. If possible, clear away wet rugs, furniture, bedding, clothes, or anything that can develop mold in a short period of time. Even an inch of water on the floor can cause tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home. Soak up as much water as possible and disinfect everything that was affected by floodwater.

Being aware of the upcoming weather trends and making your home ready before flooding occurs can save you a lot of time and money. Having Quick Dam Flood Barriers or Sandbags in place before melting begins can decrease the risks of damage to your home. These dams will absorb a significant amount of water that may just be enough to keep your house safe and dry. There are things to be aware of and ways to protect yourself if you are home when flooding occurs. If flooding is solely due to snow melt and you are not required to evacuate your home, keep some simple things in mind to help protect you and your home:

Stay away from anything electrical, and turn off power sources if possible
Remain on an upper level
Bring valuables to a higher level in your home
Pull anything you can into the centre of the room where flooding is less likely to occur
Stay tuned in to the radio to see if there are evacuation alerts
Assume that floodwater in your home may be contaminated

Keeping a home inventory, cost of each item, and pictures, will create less headache should you have to make a claim. Knowing all of the items in your home and what was damaged is essential if you need to go through your insurance company.

Preparing yourself is the best plan of action. Whether it is your own residence, the home of a family member, or your business, knowing the risks, how to prevent them, and what to do after the fact is true peace of mind. Don’t let the weather catch you off guard, be ready and prepared before it’s too late.