Returning Home after Hurricane Harvey

Many families, homes and businesses around Montgomery County were greatly impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  The good news is, community members are coming together to help each other in this great time of need, which is a commendable thing, and no big surprise as we are a community which cares no matter what Mother Nature sends our way. And yet, there are also sure to be many who feel overwhelmed at the prospect of what’s to come when dealing with home clean-up and repairs.

Dealing with the aftermath of all this flooding will be an ongoing challenge. With some preparation and planning before you begin, you can help yourself, friends and family out of frustration and heartache, and into a mode of productive accomplishment, and get back to the business of living life once more. Listed below are some tips from HouseLogic, the advice website of the National Association of Realtors®. These ideas can help turn a significant burden into something more managable. I hope you find them useful, whatever you’re faced with in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Anyone returning to a flood damaged home or area should minimize the risks to health and personal safety before going in. With floods in particular, it is best to wear protective clothing to keep water out. Waterproof waist or hip-high boots, or waders, rubber gloves and rain jackets are highly recommended. Stagnant water can quickly become unsafe with bacteria, planning ahead can help you stay safe while dealing with the clean-up of home. Be sure to boil water for personal use until the all-clear has been released by local authorities. If you can, keep a supply of bottled water with you. It is better to be extra cautious than take a greater risk in times such as these. One thing to remember- toss any foods which may have been immersed in flood waters.

When you first return home, it is important to take photos as soon as possible. The more pictures you have of how your home was impacted, the better your chances for settling any insurance claims faster. It is ideal to take photos of not just your property overall, but also take close-ups of specific areas which were damaged. Get the big picture and fill in the details.

Getting in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible is key to getting your claim settled and moving forward with major repairs and replacements. With major natural disasters such as Hurricae Harvey, your home may be within a declared disaster area. If so, you could be eligible for additional funding to help your family. Unfortunately, many people don’t have flood insurance, or an adequate private insurance policy. But not is all lost if you happen to be in this situation. Connecting with potential resources can help take away some of the stress and burden a disaster such as this can create.  Consumer Reports has published an article with a list of assistance programs worth looking into.

Life will return to normal eventually, and our community will continue to help take care of one another. Someday we will look back to the summer of 2017, and remember how we pulled together to do what was needed to be done.  When you are ready to buy a home or sell your property, now, or in the future, you can rely on REALTY TEXAS LCA, Inc. We’re here to help you with all your real estate needs! Call me, Laura Austin, at (281) 789-2911 or (936) 321-2977, or email me at Laura@RealtyTx.net. You can also visit me at my website for available listings and additional information.