What Should Be Replaced After a Flood?

Getting Started

• Before you begin the restoration process, ensure that you can safely work in the flooded area. To avoid electric shock, ensure that the power is off to the flooded area. Wear rubber boots as this will help you avoid electric shock and protect your feet from potentially contaminated water.

  Other items you will need are heavy-duty rubber gloves, air-filtered breathing masks, pails, mops, large containers for wet bedding and clothes. You may also need to rent a extension cords, submersible pumps, wet-dry vacuums, dehumidifiers and heaters. Lastly, be sure to document all damage with pictures in the event your insurance company requires this.

What to Replace

• Deciding what to keep and what to discard after a flood can be a very emotional task. Depending on what area of your home is flooded, replacing all damaged items may be impossible. Some items may need to be restored by professionals.

  Carpets must be dried within two days of flooding. If your carpet is sewage-soaked, it will have to be discarded and replaced. Remember to replace the padding if you replace the carpet. Replace all insulation materials and less-expensive items that were damaged in the flood like particle board furniture, box spring mattresses, stuffed toys, books and non-essential papers. Frames of quality furniture may be salvaged, but the cloth coverings and padding must be replaced if damaged.

  Clothing and bedding may be salvaged if they did not come in contact with contaminated or sewage-soaked water. If you are unsure, the safest option is to replace questionable clothing. Anything where mold has the potential to grow must be discarded.

  Legal documents may need to be kept. Separate valuable papers and consult an attorney or tax professional to find out if the papers need to be saved. If they do, you may be able to make copies of the important information and then discard the damaged paperwork.

Sentimental Items

• If you have items that cannot be replaced, such as photographs, childhood keepsakes or heirlooms, you may be able to have them professionally restored. There is a book "How to Save Your Stuff from a Disaster" by Scott M. Haskins that provides useful information on saving those treasured possessions. The book is available in bookstores or online.