Page 644 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 516

We're going to assume that damage was caused by clean water. If floodwater is contaminated with
sewage, chemical or biological pollutants, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules
require personal protective gear and containment. Even clean water should be treated as contaminated
after 72 hours. You may need the advice of an industrial hygienist, as explained the section that follows
on mold remediation.

Start work when floodwater has receded or the leak has stopped. Begin at the exterior. Check the
building perimeter for a gas leak, toxics (such as a sewage spill) or a downed power line. Check for
obvious structural damage: a cracked foundation, supports or framing that have failed, buckling, or
subsidence. Some communities require a sign-off by the building inspector before repairs can begin on
a flooded building. When flood damage exceeds 50 percent of the market value of a home, the building
department may require demolition and rebuilding above flood level. The code in some flood-prone areas
may not permit rebuilding at all.

If flooding is extensive, turn the power off at the main breaker, even if power is already off in the
neighborhood. You don't want power to come back on without warning while work is under way. Turn off
gas at the meter. Close the valve to any fuel oil or propane tank. Be alert for leaking water pipes. If
necessary, shut off the water valve at the main.

Begin Interior Work
Start with the ceiling. Look for anything that seems likely to collapse. Wet plaster or wallboard is
dangerous when it falls. If the ceiling is sagging, drive a nail into the end of a broomstick and poke holes
in the plaster or wallboard. See Figure 19-1. Use hand tools to knock down a sagging ceiling. Check for
loose flooring, cabinets or tall furniture that might be ready to fall. Remove mirrors and heavy pictures
from wet walls. They won't stay up for long on saturated wallboard.

When it's safe to work inside, unplug all appliances and lamps. Remove the cover plates on wall
switches and outlets that got wet. Either disconnect the wiring or leave the wires connected and pull the
fixture out of the box, as in Figure 19-2.

Secure the valuables. If a restoration specialist isn't available, wash and blow dry high value items
(securities and jewelry) and anything irreplaceable (photographs, art, insurance papers). Then pack in
cardboard cartons. You'll need several box sizes, including wardrobe boxes, bubble wrap and sealing
tape. Label or number each box. Create a written inventory of everything boxed for packout. That saves
time, both when the owner needs to find some item in storage and when moving the contents back into
the dried-out building. For insurance proof of loss purposes, note the item name, room where located at
the time of loss and condition after the loss.