What this service is, and what it is not
A flood restoration provider documents the loss they find and the work they do. That record helps you and your adjuster.
This site and the providers it refers are not public adjusters. Nobody here files your claim, negotiates your settlement, interprets your policy or sells insurance. Those questions belong to your insurer, your agent and, if you choose, a licensed public adjuster. For official program information, use FloodSmart.gov and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
How NFIP flood coverage is split
The National Flood Insurance Program sells two separate coverages, each with its own deductible:
- Building coverage pays for the structure and its built-in systems, up to $250,000 for a home. FloodSmart lists electrical and plumbing systems, furnaces and water heaters, built-in appliances, permanently installed carpeting and cabinets, foundation walls and staircases, and detached garages.
- Contents coverage pays for belongings, up to $100,000 for a home: clothing, furniture, electronics, washers and dryers, portable air conditioners and similar items.
Business policies cover up to $500,000 each for building and contents. FloodSmart also lists exclusions that matter after a basement flood, including personal property kept in basements, property outside the building such as decks, fences and landscaping, and temporary housing while repairs are made.
Private flood policies set their own terms. Read your declarations page.
What a useful claim file contains
- Photos before cleanup. Wide shots of each room, then close-ups of the waterline, damaged walls, floors, equipment and contents.
- The source. A note and photos showing where the water came from: creek overflow, street runoff or rising groundwater.
- Measurements. The height of the waterline on walls, room sizes and the square footage affected.
- Moisture readings. A first reading in each affected room, then daily readings until dry.
- Removed materials. Type, quantity and location of drywall, insulation, flooring, trim and cabinets that came out, with photos.
- Contents list. Each discarded item with a description, age if known, and a photo. Keep a sample of carpet and pad if your adjuster asks.
- Receipts. Anything you bought or paid for in the emergency: pumps, fans, hotel nights, cleaning supplies.
Report the loss to your insurer or agent as soon as you can and write down the claim number. The adjuster assigned to your claim may ask for samples of carpet, pad or wallboard, so ask before everything goes to the curb, and they will tell you what else they need.
How a provider fits into the claim
Many owners call the insurer first and the cleanup provider second, then wait days for the adjuster. Waiting with wet walls is what turns a manageable flood into a mold problem. In most cases it is reasonable to photograph everything thoroughly, then start the pump-out and drying while the claim is opened. Ask your insurer if they want anything held back for inspection.
A provider who works this way will:
- Photograph before touching anything.
- Show you the moisture readings and leave a copy.
- Itemize removed materials by room.
- Explain the scope in writing before non-emergency work.
Common gaps in a flood file
Most claim disputes after a flood come down to missing evidence rather than bad faith. The gaps that show up again and again:
- No photo of the waterline before the drywall was cut.
- Contents thrown away with no picture or list.
- No record of how long the water stood or when drying began.
- No readings showing the walls were still wet when they were removed.
- Receipts lost for emergency purchases.
Each one is easy to prevent on day one and hard to rebuild a month later.
Cost of documentation
Documentation is normally part of the restoration job, not a separate fee. The cleanup itself follows the site's guide ranges: about $1,300 to $5,500 for typical flood restoration, often over $10,000 for large or contaminated floods, and $750 to $4,000 for a basement pump-out and drying. See pricing.
When to request help
If you have flood damage and plan to claim it, request help before you start throwing things out. Call (484) 275-9544, or send the form if you would rather a provider phone you.
Timing rules worth knowing
NFIP coverage normally starts 30 days after purchase, with a few exceptions, such as a policy bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage. A policy bought after a storm is forecast will not cover that storm. The NFIP 30-day waiting period post explains the exceptions.
If a federal disaster is declared, low-interest SBA disaster loans may help with what insurance does not pay. See the SBA disaster loans guide.