If a flood alert has been sounded in your area, there are steps you can take to prevent water damage and minimize flood cleanup. And just because you don’t live in an area that is prone to flooding doesn’t mean your home or business is immune to the effects of flooding.
Heavy rainfall can overwhelm your drainage system, leading to a need to hire a company that provides water damage services. Regardless of whether the area you live in is a flood-prone area or is expecting severe weather conditions, there are steps you can take to better prepare yourself.
Flood Preparation
By ensuring that your insurance policy covers water damage restoration is one of the most important steps you can take in preparing for a flood. Find out if your home is in a flood-prone area and ensure that you have supplieson-hand, such as sandbags, lumber, nails, shovels, saws, and plastic sheeting. In the event that the unthinkable occurs, you should prepare an escape route for your family to take when a flood warning is issued and the time comes to leave the area. If a flood warning is issued, turn off the breakers in your home before you leave.
Keep a battery-powered radio on hand so you can be aware of any alerts (many smartphones come equipped with radio tuner apps). Also, keep an inventory of the items in your basement for insurance purposes, whether it’s in the form of writing, images, or video.
Prevent plumbing valves from possibly backing up by routinely checking them. Finally, onceflooding has begun, make sure that all electronic devices are unplugged and either move them someplace elevated or completely remove them from the basement.
During the Flood
Once the flood hits, keep the aforementioned radio on at all times so you can stay up-to-date on any new developments. If the order to evacuate is given, leave immediately. Do not try to drive or walk through any flooded areas; even six inches of water can be dangerous.
If possible, move to higher ground and keep an eye out for water coming into your basement. One of the steps you can take to ensure your basement does not flood is to clear your eavestroughs and any other drainage of any debris in advance.
Lastly, don’t re-enter a flooded area until permission is given and stay away from any downed power lines.
After the Flood
As soon as you’re given the okay to return to your home or business, immediately contact a flood cleanup provider and your insurance company if there has been any flooding. The sooner you start the restoration process, the quicker you will be able to mitigate the damages to your property.
Emergency cleanup service providers will extract the water out of your home or business and dry all affected building materials. They will also use thermal imaging equipment to locate any wet spots in the walls, enabling them to focus structural drying equipment to target airflow to specific affected areas.
Keep a record of the damage so your insurance company can determine responsibility; even if your property escaped unscathed, it’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s also highly recommended that you schedule an inspection so you can identify any potential hidden issues and take preventative measures.
If your home was affected by a flood, call Flood Services Canada, the leading provider of water damage cleanup services in the Greater Toronto Area. We provide water damage restoration and cleanup services at an affordable cost and will arrive at your property quickly following a flood. For more information, contact Flood Services Canada today.
