How Long After a Fire Can You Move Back In In Georgia?
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If you live in a home that has recently sustained a house fire, fire damage, smoke damage, and water damage caused by the fire department putting out the fire you might be wondering how long it will take to be able to move back in?
Aside from the health risks from smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide, and other issues, there might be structural damage to your home that makes it unsafe for habitation.
The extent of damage and health risks vary from situation to situation, with no one size fits all timeline for moving back into your home that has smoke and fire damage.
Throughout this article, we will discuss general timelines for a recovery process and how long it will generally take to move back into your home after a small house fire or larger fire, and steps to make the process of recovery smoother.
Starting the Restoration Process with Your Homeowners Insurance Company In Georgia
After your local fire department has completed its investigation, your homeowners insurance company will likely conduct its own and assess the damage for the insurance claim.
If your insurance provider or insurance agent sees fit, they might also send out an insurance adjuster to view the property damage to the entire house, including hidden damage that most homeowners wouldn't see, like foundation or structural damage.
Setting Up Support and Temporary Housing In Georgia
Possible exposure to harmful chemicals and smoke particles can cause permanent damage and health implications to your family's health, especially those with compromised immune systems or respiratory system issues.
Finding proper housing and a safe environment for your family during this time period is essential and part of your immediate needs. Reach out to your local disaster relief services if you're unable to stay with family or friends while your home is under the restoration process.
The Restoration Process - How Long Will it Take Before You Can Move In In Georgia?
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, there is no one size fits all answer for when you and your family can return to your home, especially if a family member has health concerns or respiratory issues.
To get a better understanding of how long it will take before you can move back in, you will need a full grasp of the situation, including:
- The extent of damage to your home after a fire - is there structural damage?
- Whether utilities have been restored
- Was it a small fire or a large fire?
- Is there extensive smoke damage?
- How much soot is in the home?
- Were emergency fire measures used like a fire extinguisher?
All of the above factors and much more affect the amount of work, deep cleaning needed, and the whole process of restoration.
The bottom line is you should expect at least 3-6 weeks for a small fire damage restoration process and up to several months if your home sustained further damage or direct damage to major components of the home like your HVAC vents, foundation, support beams, and other structural elements.
What Should You Take from Your Home When Living in Temporary Housing In Georgia?
If you will be living away from your home for any extended period of time, it's important to remember to grab any household items or personal belongings that you will need in the meantime.
Once it's deemed safe to enter your home by the fire department, we suggest trying to salvage the following items if possible:
- Personal items like clothing
- Paper money if you had any in a fire-proof safe
- Birth certificates
- Personal property like car keys
- Medical records
Final Thoughts on the Fire Restoration Timeline In Georgia
The fire restoration process is time-consuming, and it includes many steps.
While the average timeframe may be closer to 3 weeks, some cases can take up to 6 weeks or even more. However, this is only an average for the industry as a whole; your results might be different depending on where you live and other factors.