What to Do After a House Flood
Many parts of the United States are dealing with severe flooding. Floods are one of nature’s most devastating natural disasters and can potentially destroy your home. If you ever fall victim to severe flooding, it will be difficult to figure out what your first steps should be. Luckily, the experts at Steamatic are here to walk you through the first steps you should take after a house flood.
1. If Possible, Turn off the Electricity
Remember, water and electricity do not mix. At all. If you can reach it safely, find your breaker box and turn off all the power in your home. In the event of a house flood, electricity poses one of the largest dangers.
2. Put on Protective Gear
If you have waterproof boots, waders, gloves, or masks, put them on before walking through any standing water. If there is severe flooding in your area, there is a good chance there is sewage, trash, and other forms of waste in the water. This makes it very likely the water contains bacteria and other forms of dangerous pathogens.
4. Make Sure Your House is Structurally Sound
People often underestimate the destructive capabilities of water. Heavy floods have the potential to knock down walls, damage foundations, and even cause your home to collapse. If you smell gas, notice any buckled walls, dropping ceilings, or other structural flaws; get out of your house immediately. Safety is the most important thing here.
3. Stop the Water Source
If the flood is the result of heavy rains or backed-up storm drains, this may not be possible. However, if the flood resulted from a burst pipe or broken appliance, shut off the water in your home. The sooner your home stops filling up with water, the sooner you can start cleaning up
4. Document the Damage Caused by the House Flood
If it is safe to remain in your home and you plan on filing an insurance claim, make sure you document any damage in your home. Before you start the clean-up process, take photos and videos of the damage. This will make it much easier to file a claim with your insurance company.
5. Attempt to Minimize Loss
After you ensure it is safe to remain in the building, begin salvaging what you can. determine what personal belonging you can salvage and gather them in a dry location. For any items that you cannot save, be sure to take pictures, and note when they were purchased and their approximate value. This is important: If items have been exposed to flood waters for over 48 hours, they are no longer safe to keep. They most likely are contaminated with mold.
6. Attempt to increase Airflow and Call the Steamatic Restoration Experts
Start opening all the windows and doors in your home. This will start drying things out and begin draining the water. After this is done, call the water damage restoration experts at Steamatic. Our 24/7 capabilities ensure we respond immediately to stop further damage from occurring. Steamatic uses state-of-the-art drying and monitoring equipment to make sure the structure and contents are completely dry. Contact a Steamatic location near you for immediate water damage restoration services.