Can Personal Belongings Be Restored After a Flood?

Hard, non-porous items like glass, metal, ceramics, and plastic often survive a flood with thorough cleaning and disinfecting. Books with coated pages, vinyl records, and some tools may also be salvageable if they dry within a day or two.

Electronics are trickier. If they were powered off and dried quickly, some may work again, but water can corrode internal parts. The pros can evaluate each piece, but you should never turn on a wet device yourself.

• Glass and ceramic dishes
• Metal tools and cookware
• Plastic storage bins
• Vinyl records and coated-paper books
• Hard plastic toys and furniture

Start by separating items into three piles: clearly ruined, possibly salvageable, and definitely worth saving. Wear gloves and a mask when handling anything that touched floodwater, as it may contain sewage or chemicals.

Take photos of everything before you move it, especially for your insurance records. Do not throw away anything until you have documented it. Move salvageable items to a dry, ventilated area and begin air drying.

• Use a camera or phone to photograph each item
• Label piles with dates and notes
• Keep wet items off carpets and wood floors
• Open windows and use fans to speed drying
• Do not stack wet items together

Act fast. The longer items sit in water, the less likely they can be restored. Remove standing water with a pump or wet vacuum if you can do so safely, and turn off electricity to affected rooms before entering.

If you live in Oakland, keep your insurance policy handy and note what you have lost. Policies vary, and your insurer decides what is covered. The pros can help with the heavy lifting, but your own quick action makes the biggest difference in what survives.