Steps to make flood recovery, insurance claims easier

For Iowans who've suffered losses to flooding in the past few days, it's not too early to begin the paperwork.

While beginning the recovery process, it's best to keep receipts for anything you buy so that you can submit them to your insurance company later, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America said.

The association offered the following other tips for flood recovery:

• Make a list of damaged items and create a set of records such as receipts, bills and photographs to establish the age of everything in need of replacement or repair.
• Identify structural damage to your home or building and make a list of everything you want to show the adjuster.
• Keep damaged furniture or other expensive items until the adjuster can see them. It's a good idea to take photographs of the damage to the items before you start cleaning them up.
• Shovel or scrape the mud off your floors, furniture and walls before it dries, then hose down the walls with clean water starting from the ceiling.
• Major appliances such as refrigerators and stoves can be washed and dried completely. They generally will not be damaged unless they were operating at the time the water covered them.
• Wood furniture should be dried outdoors, but not in direct sunlight. Remove drawers and other moving parts before they dry.
• Water should be pumped out gradually from a flooded basement to prevent structural damage. Pump out about one-third of the water per day.
• Diluted chlorine bleach can be used to clean household items, appliances, walls and floors.
• Thoroughly wash and sterilize food utensils and equipment before using them. Any food that was open and exposed to flood water should be discarded.
• Consumers who have flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program may contact either their flood insurance agent or the National Flood Insurance Program directly at 800-427-4661 or www.floodsmart.gov