With all the recent storms, you may be worried about your apartment flooding. Here’s what to do if that happens.
These past few weeks have been riddled with rainstorms and news of buildings flooding. Such a thing can be one of the scariest things to come home to: your possessions could all be ruined and you’re unsure of what to do. First and foremost, make sure you get renters insurance. It’s cheap and, depending on your policy, could cover just about every item in your home. It’s not required by law, but it’s always recommended it. Hopefully you won’t have to ever come home to a flooded apartment, but if you do, here’s everything you should know about apartment flooding.
Protecting Yourself
First, a few tips for preventative measures. If you notice any leaks, report them to your landlord or rental agency immediately. This could be either from leaks or using an appliance. Insist that it is fixed immediately and be sure to check if there are any leaks above you if there are apartments above yours. Being proactive can prevent serious damage in the future.
Once a Flood Happens
The moment you notice any flooding, quickly move any items that could be impacted by water damage away from the source. Anything valuable and especially prone to damage, like computers or important documents, should be put in your car, a friend’s house, or another safe location until the flood is handled. As soon as you’re done securing your valuables, call your leasing office or landlord and let them know as soon as you can. If you have any means of temporarily sealing the leak, do so, and if not, try to contain the water using buckets and bins.
Recovering From Flooding
Thankfully, your landlord’s insurance will cover the building itself. Any carpet or provided appliances will be taken care of. If you do have renters insurance, that should cover any damage to your personal property, provided that you got a policy that includes flooding. There are, in some rare instances, cases where a property manager or landlord is responsible for personal damage as well: if you informed them of a leak or a damaged appliance that could flood your apartment and no action was taken.
The Apartments of Wildewood have a friendly community that’s waiting to welcome you!
At The Apartments of Wildewood, located in beautiful in St. Mary’s Maryland, we offer homes with access to pools, an on-site gym, and maintenance whenever you need it – and have access to all the information you need to affordably rent an apartment in St. Mary’s. To set up an appointment to check out an apartment or townhouse rental from The Apartments at Wildewood, call us at 301.737.0737 or visit the website!
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