by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Created on: June 23, 2008   Last Updated: August 01, 2008

Flood Damage

Dealing with severe flood damage is not a simple matter. A flooded back yard or a wet basement, even if there was a foot of water in it, is relatively easy to deal with. Completely flooded homes, countrywide flooding, where neighborhoods, villages or many city blocks have been suddenly inundated with 10 feet of water are a entirely different matter. The City of New Orleans was a prime example of severe flood damage following hurricane Katrina.

Severe flood damage can include complete destruction of highways and other roadways, service structures, softening and erosion of the ground around building foundations, and the filling of crawl spaces, lower levels, and basements with contaminated mud and silt, sewage, gasoline and oil damage.
Partial collapse, displacement, or complete destruction of walls from water pressure may take place, and in the extreme, shifting of, or partial or complete displacement of entire buildings and homes from foundations may occur . Huge heritage trees may have had all of the soil softened or washed away from their roots, leaving them balanced precariously, ready to topple in the first gust of wind. Fire hazards are everywhere; natural gas lines may be damaged; propane tanks may be floating, there may be gasoline floating on the surface of the water, requiring only an ignition point to start a fire or cause an explosive disaster. Submerged vehicles, equipment, broken glass, and debris is everywhere. Stagnant, polluted water is a prime breeding ground for insects and disease. Survivors and victims in a state of psychological disbelief may also be found anywhere. There is much danger.

One must deal with such a catastrophe using a sense of order and logic, so let us consider a typical scenario where severe flooding occurred rapidly, and the water may be starting to subside. Here are some necessary steps to take to begin safely recovering from severe flood conditions and dealing with severe flood damage.

Safety Comes First:

The first rule MUST ALWAYS be one of SAFETY. Be aware! Think for yourself!
You are still alive, so be careful enough to stay that way!
- Many people have been killed after the fact, long after the occurrence of serious weather or other damaging events, just by being careless and paying little attention to sources of danger around them.

To Stay safe:
-Do not try to cross raging currents and streams unless it is absolutely unavoidable and you are equipped to do so. Raging flood waters can be far more dangerous than

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