With the record breaking rainfall and high winds, many Rhode Island and Massachusetts homeowners are dealing with damage to their home due to flooding and wind.  With State of Emergencies declared in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, many people are anxious to get their house cleaned up and repaired. The weather also impacted jobs as some companies were forced to lay off employees due to flood damage.  When hard times strike, it is important to know what to do and how to go about it in order to minimize further hardship.

Here are a few tips:

Know what you are entitled to.  Did you know that in Rhode Island if you get laid off due to a state emergency or natural disaster you can bypass the required one week waiting period and receive unemployment benefits right away?  Your employer must file for a special waiver to eliminate the mandatory one week waiting period.  However, this benefits the business as well because the layoffs associated with the emergency will not raise their unemployment tax.

Assess the damage and act quickly.  The object is to get the contents of your home dried out and cleaned up as quickly as possible.  This minimizes the growth of mold and mildew.  For minor basement flooding, a wet/dry vacuum may suffice.  Be sure to clean and disinfect all items affected by the water.  For more intensive jobs, filing a claim with your homeowners insurance may be the most cost effective and timely option.

Be sure that the contractor you hired is licensed with the state.  In times of emergency, it is important to be vigilant when choosing a contractor because it is at this time more than ever, people get taken advantage of by the company they hired.  The states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts have an online area where you can search and look up companies to see if they are licensed and if so, if that license is current.  Rhode Island has a specific section that includes registration and licenses that have been suspended or revoked.

Moonworks is a licensed residential contractor in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  If the weather damaged your roof, siding or gutters, call us for a FREE no obligation estimate at 800-975-6666.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr user: xingcat