What should policyholders do to prevent further damage following a flood?

After a flood, it is crucial for policyholders to take steps to mitigate further damage to their property and belongings. One effective strategy is to separate damaged items from undamaged ones. This action helps to clearly identify the extent of the loss and allows adjusters to assess the damages accurately. By doing so, policyholders can protect undamaged items from potential exposure to water, mold, or other hazards that might arise from the ongoing situation.

Separating items also facilitates better organization, making it easier for both the policyholder and the insurance adjuster to determine what can be salvaged versus what needs to be reported as a loss. This organized approach can expedite the claims process and help ensure that the policyholder gets a timely and fair settlement.

Other methods, such as leaving everything as is, could complicate the adjuster's job and delay the claims process, while conducting their own repairs could lead to worse outcomes if the adjustments aren't correctly documented or if they remove evidence of the damage. Immediate cleaning might also be premature; it is often better to first assess and document damage properly before taking cleaning actions.