IBHS Offers Effective Tips to Minimize Flood Damage from Hurricane Sandy

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While you cannot move your home out of the storm’s path, you can and should take steps now to reduce potential damage by moving a few important items around and up inside your home, and taking a few other precautions.

Tampa, Fla. (PRWEB) October 28, 2012

As Hurricane Sandy threatens the East Coast, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is offering expert tips on ways to help reduce flood-related damage.

“Unfortunately, forecasters predict Hurricane Sandy will create substantial storm surge along the East Coast with large amounts of rain that could cause additional flooding,” said Brenda O’Connor, IBHS senior vice president of public affairs. “While you cannot move your home out of the storm’s path, you can and should take steps now to reduce potential damage by moving a few important items around and up inside your home, and taking a few other precautions.”

IBHS recommends the following to reduce flood-related damage:

•     If high winds and rain have not reached your area yet, clear drains, gutters and downspouts of debris.
•     Roll up area rugs and carpeting, where possible, and store them on higher floors or on counters. This will reduce the chances of rugs soaking up water like sponges, and ruining floors or growing mold.
•     Elevate furniture and electronics off the floor, particularly in basements and first floor levels.
•     Anchor fuel tanks. An unanchored tank can be torn free by floodwaters; broken supply lines can cause contamination or, if outdoors, be swept away to damage other property.
•     Prepare an evacuation kit with important papers (including insurance documents), medication and other items you will need if you are forced to be away from your home for several days.
•     If your home is equipped with a sump pump, inspect the pump and drains to ensure proper operation. If the pump has a battery backup, make sure batteries are fresh or replace them.
•     Shut off electrical service at the main breaker if the electrical system and outlets may be under water.
•     Elevate as many appliances as possible on bricks or blocks at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.

“As everyone who has lived through previous hurricanes knows, once even a little bit of water gets inside a house, it can cause severe, lasting damage,” O’Connor said. “Now is the time to act; do not wait. Give yourself a bit more peace of mind about how your home or business and your possessions will fare when Sandy arrives.”

IBHS’ free Hurricane Sandy Preparedness and Recovery Resources are available for residents and others who may find themselves in the storm’s path when it makes landfall. Resources include guidance on reducing property damage before the storm hits, and repairing, rebuilding and recovering safely following the storm.

IBHS is a leading national expert on preparing for, and repairing and rebuilding structures after a catastrophe to make them more disaster-resistant. To arrange an interview with IBHS, contact Joseph King at 813-675-1045/813-442-2845, jking@ibhs.org or via direct message on Twitter @jsalking.

Visit DisasterSafety.org for more information about how to make your buildings more resistant to a variety of disasters, big and small. Follow IBHS on Twitter at @DisasterSafety and on Facebook.

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About the IBHS
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent, nonprofit, research and communications organization supported by the property insurance industry. The IBHS mission is to conduct objective, scientific research in order to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses, and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss.

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