Think about the Earth When Renovating Your Home

Steps To Take After Your Home Is Damaged In A Hurricane

24 April 2017

Hector Meyer

A hurricane is a powerful storm that includes torrential rain and incredibly strong winds, so it is no surprise that a hurricane can cause a lot of damage to a house. After the storm passes, a lot of clean up will need to be done to get your home back to normal. If your home has been damaged during a hurricane, take the following steps:

Photograph Everything

Prior to cleaning up anything inside your house or out in your yard, carefully photograph all of the damage. You will need these photographs for insurance purposes. If you home has suffered extensive damage, the photographs will also be needed if you qualify for any emergency financial assistance from the government to help you rebuild your home.

Remove Water

The massive amount of rain that accompanies a hurricane means that the storms often cause extensive flooding. If you have flooding on the lower levels of your home, the first thing that you need to do is remove the water quickly. It is in your best interest to hire a a company to assist you with the water removal-- water remediation companies typically have high-powered wet-vacs and pumps that move out water fast. They can then use large humidifiers to quickly dry wet areas inside your home.

Keep Air Circulating

In order to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, you will want as much air as possible circulating through your home. Turn on all of the fans that you have and keep the windows open if there is a breeze. The more fresh air, the better.

Disinfect

When you have flooding in your home after a hurricane, it can leave a huge mess even after the water is removed. You will need to take the time to carefully clean and disinfect all of the areas of your home that came in contact with water before A simple solution of water and bleach can be used-- just make sure to wear masks and gloves while you are cleaning up areas that may have been contaminated.

Take Care of Damaged Trees

It is not uncommon for many trees to be damaged after sustaining hurricane-force winds. If you have downed or damaged trees on your property, stay away from them since they can be very unstable. In the event that a tree is touching electrical wires, call emergency services for assistance. Otherwise, contact a tree services company to help with storm damage.

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About Me

When my husband and I bought our first home, we bought a "fixer-upper" to work on for a few months before we moved in. Once we started discussing the improvements we would make to it, I realized that my husband had no idea how different building materials affected the earth and would affect the air we breathed in our home. Thankfully, he did understand that energy-efficiency was important for both the earth and our budgets. To make sure we made all of the right decisions that would help us create a healthy, eco-friendly home, I put a lot of research into building methods and materials that helped us create a wonderful, safe place we now live in. I want to help others build healthier, more eco-friendly homes, so I want to share what I have learned on a blog. Come back soon for tips!