Flooding May Come, But SERVPRO Is Here For You!

5/6/2021 (Permalink)

How to Protect Your Property Before, During and After a Flood or Lots of Water Intrusion

There are several things you can do to lower or stop water damage in your home. Follow the tips below to help you prepare and recover from flood damage.

Before it happens: 

Learn if your property is in a flood zone so you can evaluate your chance of flooding. If necessary or desired, purchase a stand-alone homeowner flood insurance policy.

Elevate your water heater, furnace and other permanent equipment above expected flood levels.

Regularly check out your drains and sump pumps to make sure they are clear and are working properly.

If you have a generator, have a transfer switch put on your sump pump by a licensed electrician so you can use it if you experience flooding.

Have a licensed plumber install an exterior or interior backflow prevention valve to stop the chance of sewage backup.

Keep sandbags on hand to divert high water away from your foundation.

Learn what your community uses for flood alert signals.

Plan and practice a route for evacuation and assign a place for family members to meet up if you become separated.

Make sure everyone in the family knows how to shut off utilities.

Make a survival kit with essential insurance documents, critical items and medications in case you need to leave your home.

During 

Have a battery-operated television or radio so you can hear the latest information on the storm. If you are advised to evacuate, turn off all utilities and leave immediately.

Go to higher ground, and stay away from rising waters. Do not drive or walk through floodwaters.

Keep away from electrical wires and downed power lines.

Afterwards 

Keep listening to updated reports on the radio or smartphone and don’t go back home until authorities say it’s safe to do.

After you are allowed to go home, inspect your property for any Lansing water damage. Report the loss right away if your property has sustained damage.

Keep an eye out for snakes and other animals which might have gotten into your home.

Throw away any food that came into contact with floodwaters.

Take the standing water out as quickly as you can. Remove or dry wet carpet, upholstery and padding within 24-48 hours to prevent the growth of mold. Throw anything out that can’t be dried properly.

Do not try to disinfect and wash an area which has been flooded from groundwater. This is contaminated "category 3" water and requires the removal and sanitizing by a profession water damage restoration company like SERVPRO of Chicago Heights/ Crete/ Beecher. This includes floors, walls, shelving, and closets, plus air-conditioning and heating systems. Have an electrician look at all your electronic equipment before powering it back up.

If floodwaters have penetrated your structure or basement, it is strongly suggested that you hire a company like SERVPRO to assess the damage, extract contaminated Black Water, and commence with the cleaning, drying, disinfecting, deodorizing, and final inspection process. Special gear and safety-approved OSHA clothing are required for a safe cleanup by the technicians. Please do not attempt to clean sewage water or high floodwaters on your own. Safety first.

If the flooding of your home is extensive, but due to a failed infrastructure like a frozen pipe, or broken appliance, then this water is less of a danger to you and your family. Still, any amount of standing water, larger than a bucket-full, should get the attention of a professional company for extraction.