Experiencing any sort of flood in your home can be a traumatizing event in a person’s life. Even minor flooding can cause severe damage in its wake. Unfortunately, flooding is one of the costliest disasters facing the nation. Not knowing what to do during a flood can prove to be more costly and even dangerous.
These situations tend to come out of the blue, whether the flooding occurs naturally or from a problem occurring inside the home. Because it is hard to predict when a flood will happen, it’s important to prepare before it can. Nothing is worse than this sort of thing happening without an idea of what to do.
After everyone’s safety has been ensured, there are a couple of steps that can be taken to minimize the damage to your house. Unless the flood is caused by heavy rains or any other sort of natural cause, you will need to try and find the source of the flood. The best way to do this is to find the main water valve to the house and shut it off there. If you do need to wade through water to do so, wear protective gear to defend yourself from any contaminants. When planning ahead, locate this valve before the emergency occurs.
If it is possible without wading through the water, turn off the electricity after you have stopped the water flow. Do not attempt if you have to wade through water to reach the electrical box. Call emergency service professionals instead to ensure your safety.
If your home runs on natural gas, this will need to be shut off as well. A flood can create leaks in gas lines, which can prove to be very dangerous. Typically, this shut-off valve will be on the exterior of the house, attached to the meter and supply pipe.
Do not reenter a flooded home until you have evaluated it thoroughly and have determined it is safe to enter. Problems that can mean the structure isn’t safe to enter include wet insulation, rust, cracks in wood or foundation, swollen doors and windows, wet electrical circuits, and damaged wires and pipes. If you have any doubt at all about the structure’s integrity or safety, wait for professionals to approve its safety before you reenter.
After a flood, you will need to document proof of both what happened and what has been lost. Be sure to take lots of pictures and notes on all the damage in your home. This will become important when dealing with insurance and the cleanup process. Nothing is insignificant enough to not take note of, so be sure to go through everything to make sure that all your bases are covered. Try to take pictures before the water can recede to show the extent of the flood. Do not remove anything until your insurer has given approval.
Whether your insurance covers water damage cleanup or not, it is imperative to begin the cleanup process immediately. Water damage happens quickly, within the first 24 hours, and mold will begin to grow. Water damage cleanup professionals at Rumsey Construction will be able to help you precisely restore everything back to the way it was. Cleaning on your own can be a long and arduous process and you may not be able to get everything cleaned up properly on your own. Either way, it’s important to get started on the process immediately to minimize any water damage done to your home.
Floods are extremely stressful disasters to deal with, especially when unprepared. It can be extremely helpful to know the proper steps to take ahead of time. If you are affected by water damage suddenly, water damage cleanup experts are always available to help in your time of need. Contact professionals at Rumsey Construction to get the help you need.
Columbia, SC
803.764.0222