Rescue first, list second, toss last
In the first hours, the goal is to move irreplaceable things out of the water: documents, photos, medications, laptops, family items. After that, the job changes to recording. Insurers and landlords want to know what was damaged, how badly, and roughly what it was worth, and that is far easier to show before anything goes to the curb.
Do not throw away damaged items until they are photographed and listed, and ask your insurer whether they want to see anything in person. Some items that look ruined can be dried or cleaned by specialists, especially books, documents and certain electronics.
Inventory format
| Room | Item and description | Age / where bought | Condition | Photo # | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basement family room | Sectional sofa, gray fabric, 3 pieces | About 4 years, furniture store | Bottom 6 inches soaked | 12 to 15 | Hold for adjuster |
| Basement family room | Area rug, wool, 8 by 10 | About 2 years | Fully soaked | 16 | Sent out for cleaning |
| Storage closet | Holiday decorations, 3 plastic bins | Various | Bins dry inside | 17 | Keep |
| Storage closet | Cardboard boxes of books, about 60 | Various | Wet, swelling | 18 to 20 | Discard after listing |
| Laundry area | Washer and dryer | 6 years | Water reached the dryer motor | 21 | Have checked |
What to rescue first
- Passports, birth certificates, titles, tax records and anything with original signatures.
- Printed photographs and scrapbooks: lay them flat or freeze them in sealed bags if you cannot dry them within a day or two.
- Prescription medications that got wet: ask a pharmacist before using them.
- Laptops, hard drives and phones: unplug, do not power on, and let a repair shop check them.
- Heirlooms, instruments and artwork: move them to a dry, cool room and get specialist advice before drying.
- Children's comfort items and anything a family member cannot do without tonight.
Common questions
Do I need receipts for everything?
Rarely. Insurers usually accept photos, a description, an approximate age and where it was bought. Receipts help for expensive items.
What about things that were dirty water?
Soft items soaked by sewage or floodwater are usually discarded for health reasons. Photograph and list them first.
General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.