Mar 27, 2008

The Ava/Douglas County Office of Emergency Management urges all Douglas County residents with businesses or homes affected or damaged by this week’s flooding to call in a report. The Office is working with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to determine if individual assistance will be available. What you need to know about flood damage Here are some more tips on how to cope with flood damage from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's FloodSmart campaign. • Beware of hazards - Check for damage. - Check for structural damage before re-entering your home. - Contact the appropriate professionals immediately if you suspect damage to water, gas, electric and sewer lines. - Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters. - Boil water until authorities declare the water supply safe to drink. • File your claim Call the insurance agent who handles your flood insurance to file a claim. Have the following information with you when you place your call: - The name of your insurance company. - Your policy number. - A telephone number or an e-mail address where you can be reached. - Take photos of any water in the house and damaged personal property. If necessary, place these items outside the home. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage and damaged items to prepare your repair estimate. - Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their age and value where possible. - If the walls are damaged, take photographs of the baseboard. Then remove the baseboard. Knock small holes at floor level in the drywall, between the wall studs. This will permit moisture trapped behind the drywall to seep out and start drying. - Have your furnace checked for damage. Your water heater may work, but if the floodwater covered part or the entire tank, the insulation between the walls may be damaged. Obtain an estimate to replace the damaged furnace and water heater. For more information, visit FloodSmart.gov. Residents should call 417-683-3315 to report damage leave your name and number so we can call you back. In addition, residents are urged to continue driving with caution as road damage may not be obvious at first glance. The Road and Bridge Department reports that road crews are working to repair roads, and the state has several barricades still in position. Residents should find an alternate route if there are barricades on the road they are driving on or if the road is still covered with water.