Did you know that in 2018 the cost of natural disasters in the US reached $91 billion?
The last 5 years have seen a record number of natural disasters in the US. If you live in an area that is likely to experience severe weather, what can you do now to protect yourself? Fortunately, there are services available that can help you to get through this type of scenario.
If a disaster strikes and your house gets flooded, can you have it repaired? Check out our guide to 11 important steps involved in the water restoration process.
1. Think Before Entering
It may be hours or days after the storm has passed before you can re-enter your house. However, in every case, you should tread carefully when entering the house again. As a rule, you should immediately turn off all power and gas at the source. Since items may have significantly moved in the water, be sure that you wear protective footwear before stepping inside.
2. Beware of Mold
Standing water and damp surfaces are a serious breeding ground for mold. Be sure to log any locations where you see mold beginning to grow. This is especially true if you have family members who have respiratory illnesses. Noting the locations where mold is found is important, because left unchecked, it may require entire panels or items of furniture to be removed.
3. Check for Structural Integrity
You may be strict about maintenance and regularly check the integrity of your house. However, flood damage can expose previously unknown weaknesses. Start at the foundation of the house and check its integrity. Follow this by inspecting all walls for new cracks and ensure that you regularly check these areas again later. Waterlogged materials can place heavy stresses on the structure of a house.
4. Wear Protective Clothing
There are many reasons for wearing protective clothing. Dirty water may include wastewater, sharp items underneath the water and mold spores in the air. You may be very eager to restore your house to its previous condition for your family. However, the health risks associated with flooding are very real. Don’t take chances. Suit up and take your time.
5. Photographs
Now that you have been able to inspect your house, you will need to document the damage for your insurance company. This is the case whether the damage is large or small. Take as many photographs of the building and its damage as possible. Replacing materials affected by the flood may be very expensive. The more evidence you can provide of the damage, the stronger your case for compensation will be.
6. Start the Drying Process
Once you are able to start the process, the first step is to get the water out of your house asap. Depending on the severity, you may be able to sweep a large amount out with a brush. In other cases, you may need an electric pump. Prioritize removing water from areas where there are porous materials. These would include checking drywall or insulation for water.
7. Inspect Plumbing
When you are removing water, remember that the water may not all have originated from rainfall or outside water. If the flooding is serious it will likely have entered your plumbing system and mixed with wastewater. Keep your protective clothing on at all times when working. Following this, check all plumbing to see whether any blockages have formed in pipes or whether your septic tank is overflowing.
8. Inspect Roof Spaces
Once you have removed the major content of water, you can begin to see where the damp is traveling in the house. Water can travel up the walls and into the insulation in the roof. The combination of water and heat in the attic is a perfect breeding ground for mold. Start at the top and see if you have water in your roof space.
9. Provide Ventilation
In areas where there has only been light water damage, you may be able to hasten the drying process by opening windows and helping things dry naturally. If your electrical system is restored (and certified by a professional), you may be able to turn on fans to speed up the process.
10. Disinfect the Area
Once the ventilation process has begun you can start to focus on rescuing individual items. Remember that any water that has entered the house is potentially infected wastewater. This means that all items should be carefully disinfected.
11. Call a Professional Restoration Company
If the scale of all this simply seems too much to cope with, then call a disaster recovery company. They will help you to restore your house whilst you deal with the stress of the situation, and your insurance company. Professionals will be able to see potential damage that you cannot, including secondary damage from unseen trapped water. They can accelerate the speed of recovery using modern methods and technology.
Water Restoration Process and Much More
Disasters can strike at any time, whether as a result of a natural disaster or an accident at home. However, you can rest reassured that services are available to help you recover from your loss. A professional company that uses a thorough water restoration process can provide you with a safe, dry home where you can feel safe and secure. Ensure you are better informed about how damage to your home can be recovered by following our blog.
We leverage our many years of experience to help our customers overcome often significant damage to their property. You may feel that the damage is beyond repair. However, we will help you to dry, clean and restore any after any size loss.