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<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"><img src="http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/My-Post-3.png" width="600" height="600" alt="" class="wp-image-701 aligncenter size-full" style="float: left;" />Floods are the most common natural disaster in </span><location value="LC/us" idsrc="xmltag.org">the United States</location><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">. And climate change is projected to make the problem worse: Future floods are expected to be bigger and more frequent across the region.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Nearby, property owners in </span><location value="LS/us.nj" idsrc="xmltag.org">New Jersey</location><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> and </span><location value="LS/us.de" idsrc="xmltag.org">Delaware</location><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> face some of the highest risks in the nation for flooding over the next few decades, according to </span><org>First Street Foundation</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">. The nonprofit, focusing on flood risk research, says that's thanks to rising temperatures in the atmosphere and oceans causing hurricanes to reach farther north.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">If your house floods, no matter when it happens, you can rest assured you're not the only one dealing with this. Here's what to do about it:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Here's the reality: If you have one inch of water in your home, fixing the damage can cost about </span><money>$27,000</money><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">, says the </span><org value="ACORN:3926532505" idsrc="xmltag.org">Federal Emergency Management Agency</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">. Flood insurance can help. Experts recommend buying flood insurance if you own a home, no matter where you live. More than 20% of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones, </span><org>FEMA</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> reports, and most homeowners and renters insurance doesn't cover flood damage.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">But remember, it's not just weather that causes flooding. Plumbing problems and clogged gutters can cause floods, too. But, the good news: Your homeowners insurance will take care of some of this. Most policies cover sudden water damage, like an unexpected broken pipe. The exception: Damage caused by lack of maintenance, like a slow leak that's been trickling for weeks, isn't typically covered.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Depending on the source and severity of the flood, you may need to relocate immediately and deal with the damage later. In the case of a natural disaster, try your best to contact local authorities, and seek out a temporary shelter if needed.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">When it's safe to return indoors, the </span><location value="LU/us.pa.phldph" idsrc="xmltag.org">City of Philadelphia's</location><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> Flood Guide says that your first step is turning off the electricity to the area that's been flooded. If you can't access your circuit breaker without walking through water, call an electrician. Until the electricity is turned off, the water could cause electrical shocks.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">If flooding is coming from a water source inside your own home, immediately locate your main water valve and turn it off.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Pull out your smartphone or camera before diving into cleaning. If you have insurance, photos and videos will help support your claim when you file. Document both damage to the house and its contents. (If renting, call your landlord immediately.)</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><org value="ACORN:4287339900" idsrc="xmltag.org">American Red Cross</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> has some additional details on what to document for an insurance claim.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Safety remains the priority here. Gear up with rubber boots and gloves before going into an area that's been flooded. Floodwaters can carry sewage and other hazardous materials.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">The first step in the cleaning process: Eliminating any remaining standing water by pumping, mopping, and/or opening clogged drains.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">When pumping out a flooded basement, do it in stages. You also want to wait until there's no standing water left in the yard around your home. Pumping too early or too fast could cause structural damage to your home.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">When you pump water out all at once, pressure from water-saturated soil on the outside of your home may cause your basement walls to collapse. The </span><org>Red Cross</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> recommends pumping about one-third of the water per day.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">After cleaning up the water, it's time to start cleaning everything else. Again, wear protective gear, and open any windows or doors to improve ventilation.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Depending on the situation, floodwater may be contaminated with sewage or other dangerous bacteria. Be prepared to toss a lot, and take breaks when you need them. It's normal for this process to feel overwhelming, both physically and emotionally.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Throw away food, medicine, and drinks that may have come in contact with floodwater. This includes canned goods, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and containers with food or liquid that has been sealed shut. "When in doubt, throw it out," says the </span><org>Red Cross</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Also toss items that absorb water and can't be disinfected, like mattresses, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, and paper products. If you're filing an insurance claim, store everything temporarily outside your home. You want to hang on to damaged items until your claim is processed.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Dispose of all wet ceiling tiles, wet insulation, baseboards, and drywall to a level roughly four feet above the flood water line, says the City's Flood Guide. You may also need to rip up your carpet. You can try saving it by wet vacuuming and shampooing it, but if it isn't able to dry completely, it needs to go.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Then it's time to salvage what remains. Sanitize anything that was touched or may have been splashed by floodwater, including counters, cabinets, work surfaces, utensils, cookware, and toys. The City's Flood Guide recommends using soap and water first, and then wiping down surfaces with a diluted bleach solution, made from one gallon of clean water mixed with 1/4 cup of bleach. Use the bleach to also wipe down wood and metal studs, twice over, before allowing them to air-dry.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">If a flooded area isn't taken care of properly, it will haunt you long after you're finished cleaning up. Mold can harm both your furnishings and your health.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">Mildew and mold develop within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure and will continue to grow until the source of moisture is eliminated, says </span><org>FEMA</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">This makes it important to clean and dry the flooded area as soon as possible. It's also one reason why you have to remove porous, slow-to-dry materials, like drywall, ceiling tiles, carpeting, and upholstery.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">When finished cleaning, use fans and dehumidifiers to speed up drying times.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a;">If mold develops, deal with it immediately. </span><org>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> has advice for getting rid of it yourself. Depending on the severity, and whether or not you're immunocompromised, you may need to hire a professional mold remediation service. The </span><org value="ACORN:1432072899" idsrc="xmltag.org">CDC</org><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"> advises that you also get your heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system checked. If the system was flooded with water or becomes infiltrated with mold, turning it on will spread mold throughout your house, and you'll need a professional to clean it.</span></p>
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<div align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #000000;">To read the full article,</span> <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/343367?stat=316722&amp;socialnet=linkedin">click here</a>.</span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]