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WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ASSOCIATION FLOODS
October 1, 2003
Anyone who lives in South Florida will eventually
experience flooding from heavy rains, storms, or worse,
hurricanes. The vast amounts of rain that can be dumped in
an area from a storm will simply over-take storm drains,
drainage canals and retention ponds. The water will have
no other place to go but to accumulate in yards, swales and
low-lying areas of homes. What can you do if this happens
to you?
If there are downed power lines, broken gas lines or
severed water mains near your home that you are aware of,
call 911 and report this immediately. If you smell any gas
or noxious odors in your house, open the windows to let the
fumes escape. Do not smoke or use candles unless the gas
has been turned off and the area is free of all fumes. Use
a flashlight. If pilot lights are out for gas stoves,
water heaters or dryers, let the gas company re-light them.
If the power is off, unplug appliances in order to avoid
surges when the power is turned on.
When resetting circuit breakers, stand on something dry and
non-conductive, use one hand and reset breaker with a dry
wooden tool. Do not use appliances and motors that are wet
unless they have been taken apart, cleaned and dried.
Do not walk through any flowing water. Drowning is the
number one cause of flood deaths. Do not drive through
flooded areas. There may be hidden debris and sewage
contained in the puddles of water. Watch out for insects,
snakes and other animals that are searching for high
ground.
Do not drink tap water unless you are assured that it is
safe. Make sure that the water is sterilized, either
through boiling or through a mixture of 16 drops of bleach
for every gallon of water. After the water recedes, you
will begin to combat a growing mildew problem within your
home. Painted surfaces such as wood trim and walls can be
treated with a solution of three-quarters of a cup of
bleach to one gallon of water. Scrub the solution on the
surface. Rinse and let dry. Clothes can be treated by
soaking them for 30 minutes in a solution of two
tablespoons of chlorine bleach for every cup of water.
Wet drapes should be taken down and spread out to dry as
soon as possible. After they have dried, they can then be
dry-cleaned. Area rugs can be taken outside to dry, but do
not put them out in the sun or more damage may occur. Take
water-stained rugs to a rug cleaner as soon as possible.
For wall-to-wall carpeting, remove the padding as soon as
possible as the pad acts as a sponge. Remove the carpet,
dry and disinfect the floors. The carpet may or may not be
able to be salvaged.
Furniture may be dried outside, but do not put in the sun.
Remove all drawers and let them dry. A wood refinisher
will need to be called to clean, treat and seal the water
damage. Dry out all books by standing on end in an upright
position with the pages spread open. Damaged artwork and
other important papers should be saved in order to allow
restoration professionals to try to salvage the items.
When flood damage has occurred contact your homeowners
insurance agent immediately to determine whether the damage
is covered with that policy. Generally, homeowners
insurance will cover for rain damage that is a result of a
faulty roof or broken window. If you have a flood
insurance policy, that agent should be called as well, as
that policy will cover the homeowner for rising waters and
storm surges.
Useful websites for you and your association are the
Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Palm Beach
County Division of Emergency Management they are as
follows: www.floridadisaster.org and
www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/EOC/
Copyright 2007© Associated Property Management of the Palm Beaches, Inc.
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