These actions do not take much money or time and may help you lessen or avoid flood damage. Some of them don’t cost anything at all. They can also help you and your family rebuild your lives more quickly if a flood damages your home and belongings.
It is very important to have a record of what you own and the condition and value of those things. That’s because you will need this information when you file a claim with the insurance company to help you pay for replacing or repairing the items.
You should document your belongings in two ways.
Photos are a good way to prove to the insurance company what you own. They also help show the condition those things were in before the flood. This can be very important when filing claims for flood damage. These photos also should include:
For each item, your list should include:
Be thorough with your list. Some items that do not cost much individually can be very expensive to replace collectively. For example, it would not cost you much to replace a pair of pants and a shirt. But it would cost a lot to replace all the clothing you and your family own. The same may be true for towels, linens, and other household items.
When in doubt about listing an item, include it. There is no harm in listing too much.
Water can leak into the inside of your home if the ground gets too soaked near the home’s foundation. There are several ways you can help keep this from happening.
Rain barrels are placed at the bottom of downspouts to collect water. This is another way to keep the water away from your home’s foundation. A rain barrel also has other benefits:
Some cities and towns offer rain barrels for free or at a discount. Check with your local government before you buy one from an online retailer or a home or garden supply store. Be sure to ask an expert for instructions on the best way to install them.
Floodwaters can easily move and rupture outdoor fuel tanks such as propane and heating oil tanks. This can pose serious threats to people, property, and the environment. There are two options for anchoring them in place:
You also should anchor indoor fuel tanks using a concrete slab.