The aftermath of flooding can be chaotic. Between assessing damages, cleaning belongings, contacting friends and family, insurance companies, and dealing with the stress of getting your life back to normal, it can be difficult to keep organized and find the proper support. One major question in the aftermath of a flood, of course, is who is responsible? This largely depends on the nature of the flooding and how widespread and severe it is. For flooding caused by hurricanes, heavy rains, or events like dam or water main rupture, it is likely that the Red Cross and perhaps the state or federal government will provide some assistance.

Evaluating the Options

In the immediate aftermath of a flood, you will want to begin assessing your home and belongings as soon as it is reasonably safe to do so. You’ll then need to contact your insurance company and file a claim if you have flood insurance. Make sure you have a detailed list and all the necessary documentation to inventory all damages. This will typically be the first step in the recovery process. The insurance company will likely classify the flood based on the circumstances of the event and assess the claim and extend coverage accordingly. Assigning fault after a flood is really just determining what factors led to the flooding. In some cases, your insurance may even cover some of the costs associated with hiring a water damage cleanup or restoration service.

State and local emergency management agencies can also provide resources for dealing with flood cleanup and restoration. You should also contact your utility providers for information on service and repairing any damages. The Red Cross is often able to provide cleaning supplies and information on other forms of assistance. There may also be information of larger scale assistance from the state and federal government, so stay tuned to the radio or television about recovery help from these sources.

Recovery & Restoration

The recovery process is a long one. Depending on the severity of the flooding and how it affected your home, the process could take days to months to completely restore everything. Begin the recovery process in stages and utilize every resource made available to expedite the process. File an insurance claim, begin drying affected parts of the home, repair damages, restore utilities, begin cleaning furniture, appliances, and other items, and utilize a professional disaster recovery service if necessary.

The aftermath of a flood–no matter how serious–is a difficult experience. There is a lot of stress and no one wants to assume full financial responsibility. The best course of action is to evaluate the resources available and stay informed about potential federal and state assistance or compensation. As always, contact your insurance company and file a claim if you have flood insurance. Floods are expensive no matter how you look at them, so make sure you have preparations in place to deal with the financial aftermath. In the end, when your property is damaged, it unfortunately falls largely on you to assume the expenses for repairing and restoring damages. Keeping a personal flood relief fund running is a good way to prepare financially for potential flooding.