Monday, 11 July 2011

What Should I Do During a Flood?

By Maria Valenzuela


As much as we want to save our homes, lives come first when strong flood comes sweeping our properties away. However, you can do several steps to save your Antioch California Real Estate from being damaged. So, even if you need to evacuate, your home remains strong and your investment still intact. Being prepared is the key when emergency occurs. So here are some inexpensive ways to prevent or reduce future flood damage as suggested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA).

1. Build interior and exterior flood walls. Construct a watertight masonry flood wall to enclose furnaces, utilities, and appliances on the lowest floor of the building. You can also construct a similar wall on the outside, around the perimeter of the basement to keep water from entering the interior flood walls.

2. Relocate or elevate water heaters, furnaces, and major appliances. Move appliances to the first or second floor while some heating systems can be suspended from the basement ceiling. Elevate water heaters, furnaces and appliances such as washers and dryers in the basement on a masonry or pressure-treated wood base at least 12 inches above the previous high-water mark or the base flood elevation.

3. Elevate or relocate electrical systems. Allow only a licensed electrician to move to a higher floor or relocate electrical panel boxes, circuit breakers, wall switches, and wall outlets at least 12 inches above flood level so that you'll have an uninterrupted electrical supply when you have to move back to the home.

4. Install a septic backflow valve. Make sure that the backflow valve conforms to the local building codes before installing it inside or outside the structure. This prevents sewage from going back into the home.

5. Anchor your fuel tank. Fuel tanks located inside or outside of your home can overturn or break loose in a flood. In this case, make sure that your fuel tanks are anchored properly with metal straps that are non-corrosive where the wood structural supports are pressure treated.

Other than the following ways, it is best to consult your local emergency management team regarding the basic steps to protect your home. Living in a flood-prone area requires every homeowner to insure their homes with flood insurance. Other than this, you can protect your home from flood by making sure that your foundation was treated with the flood-proofing product to keep as much moisture out as possible.




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