Fire and water are two of the most primal elements in our world, and, when they are present in large amounts, they can do staggering amounts of damage to whatever is in their way. Unfortunately, our homes are no exception to this. If you have a home that’s been hit by a fire or a flood, you’re looking at a major recovery process, but there are some common practices you can exercise in the event of either of these forces hitting your home.
Don’t Enter Until You’ve Been Given The All Clear
The first and most important thing you can do after a flood or fire is listening to the advice of experts and not enter until they have cleared you to do so. Depending on the scope of the event, a fire or flood may have inflicted major structural damage. Ceilings could fall on top of you, floors could give out with one step, and there are environmental hazards.
For example, if the electricity in the home is still active, pools of water from flooding may be electrified, or exposed wiring could pose a threat. On the other hand, flooding, especially if sewage drains are also involved, may have brought toxic contagions into the environment that can make people sick through physical contact alone. Let the experts assess the state of the structure before you go in to look at the damage.
Be Prepared For A Multi-Stage Process
Recovering from flood or fire damage is not something that is done quickly or easily, but you will get the results you want if you trust in the process and leave it to professionals. Flooding, for example, is far more than just pumping water out of the home and then being done. Water damage after the fact needs to be considered, as well as an evaluation of what can be salvaged and what is structurally compromised and needs to be torn down and rebuilt.
The same is true for fire damage. Getting burned items out of the home and breaking out a pail and water to wash away smoke stains isn’t enough to undo everything inflicted by fire. Assessment, removal, salvage, and rebuilding all have distinct phases.
Watch For Mold
Whether it is a fire or a flood, one particular health hazard needs to be carefully guarded against, and that is mold infestation. Flooding permeates every aspect of a structure, including the walls, the crawlspaces, and the wooden structures like joists and beams. The same is true with fires when water is used to extinguish the flames.
A combination of wet environment and darkness is the perfect breeding ground for mold, and once mold spreads, breathing it in can become a health hazard that affects every resident. Mold prevention is a critical step in flood or fire recovery.
If you want to make sure that your home is restored and you can start living safely within it again, we can help. Reach out to Disaster Response, and we can evaluate the structure, assess the extent of the damage, and give you a plan of action and timetable for when things will be restored.
