Flooded Mobile Homes: Damaged Or Destroyed? - Timely Response Can Make All the Difference
Release Date: January 10, 2002
Release Number: R10-02-05
Seattle, W.A., January 10, 2002 -- Recent rains have saturated soils throughout much of the Pacific Northwest, and with more rain in the forecast - that could spell trouble for owners of mobile and manufactured homes. According to Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Director John Pennington, if the worst happens and your manufactured home does get flooded, fast action could mean the difference between minor damage and a total loss.
"We recommend the immediate removal of soaked carpets, carpet padding, and 'belly board insulation' (the vinyl covering that holds the insulation under the flooring). The idea is to prevent warping - and experience has shown that these relatively simple steps can reduce potential repair costs by as much as $15,000," said Pennington. "We recommend that licensed and bonded contractors be consulted on repairs to mobile and manufactured homes."
Additional "immediate actions" that reduce the extent of damage and facilitate repair include:
- Disconnecting the power to the home before attempting repairs, and performing a dialectric strength test, or Meagher test on soaked romex wiring before reconnecting to electric power.
- Removing moist skirting from around the house to increase air circulation and speed drying.
- Cutting the bottom board loose on the inside of the I-beam, leaving approximately six inches from the I-Beam in order to reattach the replacement bottom board after repairs are made.
- Removing wet insulation from the underside of the unit, and dragging it out from under the structure.
- Opening up sidewalls and removing insulation up to one foot above the high water mark.
- Opening up endwalls and removing wet insulation (BE AWARE that end walls are often load-bearing and may need special repair to restore load-bearing capabilities before moving back in).
Of course, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure and according to Washington Emergency Management Division Hazard Mitigation Officer Martin E. Best, pre-disaster mitigation efforts are extremely effective in reducing damage and speeding recovery. "Despite record rainfall over the past several decades, we have seen less damage than in the past. This shows the success of state and local efforts to prevent recurring flood damage to homes and businesses," said Best. "If this year's flooding posed a threat to a home or business, now is the time to think about relocating or elevating the structure to avoid future flood damage."
For more detailed guidelines and suggestions on post-flood immediate actions, permitting, and repair, check with local building officials, emergency management offices, or visit the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov. For a copy of FEMA Region 10's new booklet "Dealing with Mold Problems in Flood -damaged Homes, contact FEMA Mitigation Specialist Terry Scanland, (425) 487-4698.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2003 17:33:06