What should be done after flood?
Ensure your safety
Electric shock, gas leak,hazardous substances, building foundation
failures are just a part of dangersthat can be found in houses which
suffered from flood. So, what to avoid and where to pay attention?
Electric shock
hazard
Power lines are often damaged near flooded houses, and disruptive
discharges, which can cause short circuits, are found inside. When you
return into house which still has water around, you should check that
there are no power supply threats.
If the electricity in your area is already on, do not approach the
house if there is a chance of water left in the basement. Do not enter
until an electrician has examined
the house, and if it is completely necessary to enter, you
must wear rubber shoes and touch nothing without rubber gloves on.
Before removing the faults, you should ensure that damp wiring doesn't
create electrical shock hazard, otherwise the house should be
deenergized.
Temporary power supply.
You will need lighting and various electric appliances to clean the
house. If normal wiring is still damp and can't be used, you'll need a
temporary power supply. Make sure that temporary wiring does not
contact water, damp surfaces and materials.
Chance of gas leak
Use flashlight to inspect the flooded house. Do not smoke, do not use
candles, oil lamps or other open sources of fire until you are sure
that gas supply is off and the house is examined properly.
Structural inspection
Flood wave and water which comes from flooded areas put building
foundations under threat. This hazard can be obvious or hidden, in
second case it can reveal itself in several weeks or even months. Only
an experienced structural engineer can infer that a house is completely
safe
If you notice nothing worrisome, examine the exterior of the
house carefully before entering it. Check that there is no washed out
soil, cracks, damaged or deformed walls, stairs, roof, ceilings or
floors. After walking into the house, make sure that there is no
problem with shutting the doors or windows: it may be indicative of
wall deformations or displacement. Do not start cleaning if you notice
something like that —it may be a sign that although the house
has resisted the flood, its structure is under threat, and the house or
Slopes and carrying walls can also be dangerous, as well as any parts
of the house that are in bad condition, are old and haven't been
repaired for years. In this case do not attempt to estimate the
condition yourself, you should address local authorities and ask them
to send an expert who will estimate the house condition and make a
conclusion if it is subject to major or minor repairs, or should be
taken down. Anyway, the expert will advice you what to do next. |
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