When it comes to cleaning out your home after it’s been flood-damaged, there are a lot of things to take into account, such as insurance claims, staying safe and accessing financial assistance.
If you have flood insurance, there are a few things to be wary of. Here are some recommendations from the Insurance Council of Australia on how best to clean up your home after a flood.
Only return to your property when emergency services have said it’s safe to go back. It’s also important to know that if you come back and water has entered your home, to not turn on your electricity until an electrician has inspected it.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to make a claim and they can guide you on the process and what you should do. Additionally, if your home is un-liveable, your insurer may be able to provide temporary accommodation.
There is no need to wait for an assessor before cleaning your home, there are actions you can take in the meantime.
It’s important that before you start throwing water-affected items away, you take photos and videos of your damaged property and possessions and make a list of the items ruined including a detailed description of the brand, model and serial number if available.
Remove any remaining water laying around the house and any water-damaged curtains, carpets and soft furnishings like couches and mattresses should be removed alongside any other wet items as they pose a health risk of mould growth.
If able to, open windows and doors to allow for ventilation; the use of fans and de-humidifiers is also helpful.
Don’t start organising any building, renovation work or emergency repairs until you have spoken to your insurer and don’t throw away any items that can be salvaged or repaired.
If your vehicle has suffered from water damage, it should not be driven as this can affect insurance claims.
Short-term and one-off lump sum payments from the Australian Government and Victorian Government are available to households across the state affected by flooding.
Farmers and businesses are also eligible for disaster relief assistance through the Victorian Government and Australian Government as well.
Further resources are available here on what to do after you’ve been affected by a flood.
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