Extreme weather or a plumbing malfunction can cause your home to flood. There are a number of steps you need to take in order to protect the health and safety of your family, as well as keep your home from suffering any more damage. When water has taken over your basement or another area of the home, follow these tips.
Stop the Water
When the source of the flooding comes from weather or nature, there may be little you can do to avoid or slow the water. If water is coming from a plumbing malfunction, the fastest way to stop the water is by turning off the main water valve for the house. This is something everyone in the house should know where to locate and how to turn it off.
Shut Off the Electricity
It is extremely dangerous to have flooding in your home because of the potential contact with an electrical source. You must turn off all the electrical systems in the home, but only if it is safe to do so. You don’t want to through water or over wet carpet in order to get to the fuse box. It is safer to call an electrician for help.
Leave Your Home
Severe weather tends to create more water damage than a burst pipe, but any uncontrolled water in the home requires a temporary evacuation. Communities often have temporary shelters set up during natural disasters, but if a sewage or pipe leak has caused the flooding, head to a neighbor’s house or a friend to make your phone calls. Family and pet safety is a priority.
Call for Help
There are a lot of calls you will need to make after your home has flooded. If someone needs medical attention, 911 and emergency services should be first. You may be calling an electrician, the insurance company, a plumber, or a mold removal Reno company. Depending on the damage you have, you will need to make arrangements for somewhere to stay until the home is deemed safe for re-entry.
Take Pictures and Document Everything
If the damage is such that you can safely return to your home, take pictures of the damage and make notes for the insurance company. Though you will want to get started on cleaning up the mess, you need to have clear photos to send to the insurer. Have protective gear, such as rubber rain boots or waders, when you head back into the home.
A flooded home can be a devastating event to go through. The safety of your family is the first to worry about, but then following these steps can help keep you calm when dealing with water damage.