The worst happens when you least expect it. Your home flooded. Whether it’s from rain, sewage backup or leaks, your home is underwater. Because you don’t live in a flood zone or you just never thought this would happen to you, maybe you are without flood insurance. What should you do in this type of situation? What do you do if your property floods and you don’t have flood insurance? JGB has a few tips for you when you’re facing a flood in your home without the proper insurance to help out. Here are four steps you can take:
- Take pictures of the damage and make notes of how much each repair will cost.
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the flood and let them know what happened.
- Clean up any mud or other debris from your home as quickly as possible so that mold does not grow inside of it!
- Contact your local government agency (or ask your neighbors) about local programs that offer assistance to homeowners who need help repairing their homes after a flood.
With these tips, you might be able to save yourself from breaking the bank after flood damage to your home.
Keep Records of the Damages
First things first, you should whip out your smartphone and begin taking pictures of the damages immediately. Take pictures of everything - all the water damage and any other damages in your home that were a result of the flood waters! Document everything you possibly can so you have proof of the incident. This will come in handy in the long run. Restoration companies and insurance companies want to see documentation of the flooding, including any images you might have taken. Even if you don’t have flood insurance, if you have any kind of home insurance, your insurance company wants the documentation. They use these images to assess the damages and provide information to the insurance adjusters.
Restoration companies or anyone who is willing to repair the damages want to see the documentation as well. They need these images and pictures to figure out the severity of the damages and how to fix up your home. Any form of documentation you supply to the restoration team is used and appreciated!
Contact Your Insurance
Even if you are certain you didn’t get flood insurance, you should still call your insurance agent as soon as you can. If you have any type of home insurance or renter’s insurance, they definitely want to know what is going on with your home. These damages should be reported to them. Your agent might even be able to find some way to help you if you give them enough documentation and information about the flood. Don’t avoid calling your insurance company! You never know how they might be able to help you out during a disaster.
Cleanup What You Can
In the unfortunate circumstance of not having flood insurance and experiencing a flood, it is hard to find a cleanup crew and the money to pay for one. Without flood insurance, you might have to begin the cleanup process on your own so you don’t break the bank.
If you know you are without insurance, start the cleanup process immediately after documenting the damages. This means removing the water, cleaning up the dirt and grime, and drying the affected areas. You want to start the cleanup process quickly to avoid any further damage like mold. If you experience mold damage because of the flooding, you have to hire a professional restoration team to do that job. Mold damage restoration is serious business and requires trained professionals. If the mold happens because of the flood, it most likely isn’t covered and you’d have to pay for the restoration out of your own pocket. Start removing and drying flood waters immediately to avoid this!
Find Government Assistance
If you expect the flood damages to be too much for you to pay for, there are ways to get financial assistance. Local government agencies sometimes have financial assistance for emergencies and disaster relief. Ask around! Contact your neighbors and loved ones to see if they know of any type of grant or assistance you can apply for. You can even call your local government and ask about any financial assistance applications you could fill out. FEMA offers some grants for disaster relief, too! Before applying, make sure you are qualified to receive the grant or financial aid. Read the fine print and do your research! There are ways to get the help you need financially after an unexpected flood disaster.
If you experience unexpected flooding and don’t have insurance, follow these tips to help! JGB Restoration is also here for you to answer any questions about flooding and restoration. Our team is always ready to help when you face flood disasters.
