How To Clean Up After A Storm
After experiencing a storm, thinking about cleaning up might not be one of the first things on your mind. However, cleaning up is an important part of rebuilding and getting your life back on track. There are many key factors that go into post-storm cleanup and the highest priority is safety. Understanding how to safely go about cleaning up after a storm hits is very important information to know.
Step 1: Look at the damages
You can’t begin the clean up process until you have assessed the damages. Storm damage can happen in a variety of different places on a property and doing an in depth analysis of your area can help in finding what needs maintenance and what doesn’t. Some common areas of a house that should be assessed for damages after a storm are damaged shingles on the roof, shattered windows, cracked tile and dented siding. These damages can only be found on the outside of the house and if you’re not comfortable going up on your roof to check on your shingles, it might be best to wait and call a professional.
Another important thing to remember when assessing damages is to know that water damage is common after a storm. It’s most commonly found in the basement, the attic and sometimes even the walls. Once again, if you’re not comfortable or don’t feel safe sifting through a large amount of water in your basement, the best thing you can do is call a professional.
Step 2: Begin the clean up process
Your children might want to help, but it’s not wise to let them near storm damage because they could easily get hurt. The adults need to begin the clean up process by choosing a specific area to start working on first. Trying to fix everything at once won’t be an effective use of your time. If you collect a lot of debris from around your house, contact a cleaning company to come pick it up. If your basement has taken on too much water, call a professional to remove it. One important thing to remember with storm water is that it’s undrinkable and that the area needs to be cleaned by removing the water, drying it out, removing the carpet and then any waterlogged items.
Step 3: File an insurance claim and find a contractor
Setting up a meeting with an insurance claims adjuster can get you back on track to getting the money for restorations after a storm. They will inspect your damage and issue an amount of money that will cover the cost of your losses and repairs. This money is to be strictly used for that. The next thing you’ll need to do is find a contractor who is within your price range and can complete the repairs you need. It’s important to make sure it’s a reputable contractor who has a history of good customers and reviews. It’s also important to never pay a contractor with cash upfront. Some contractors are scammers and will take your money without doing any of the work.
Storm damage can range from mild to severe and sometimes it may be best to rely on the professionals for complete assistance. There can be many different aspects involved such as water, fire and mold damage that are best reserved for those with experience.
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