What to Do in the Event of Home Flooding

What’s your first thought when you see a rainstorm on the forecast?

If you answered “home flooding,” then, chances are, you live in one of the states most prone to this type of natural disaster.

Even if you don’t live in low-lying states, though, you could still have a home that tends to fill with water when severe weather hits. And you want to be prepared for the next time it rains.

Here’s what you should do if your home floods.

1. Double-Check Your Home Insurance

Ideally, you should be doing this before the flood even comes into town. Having a flood insurance policy as part of your overall home insurance plan can help you with clean-up expenses. If you live somewhere where rising waters are even a remote possibility, pay for the package — it is worth the peace of mind and extra help, should you need it.

2. Don’t Wade Into the Water

If you open the door to your basement and find it flooding with water, your instinct might be to run down and grab your most valuable items. Don’t do this — you could put yourself in grave danger.

Specifically, there could be live wires or other electrical items in the water that have given it a dangerous charge. Always turn the circuit breaker off as soon as the flooding starts — unless, of course, the box is in the basement.

3. Pump Out the Water

Once the water is safe, you will need to get it out of your basement.

If you already have a sump pump down there, then you can assume it isn’t quite working — there’s standing water, after all. So, you’ll need to fix yours or invest in a new one. Brush up on your sump pump knowledge before buying a new one so you know exactly what you’re buying.

After you remove the bulk of the water, grab a mop and some towels to dry up the rest on your own. But if you have more than a few feet of standing water, you should call in the pros. Companies such as Towers Restoration & Cleaning can help you with water damage.

4. Let Everything Else Dry Out

It’s not just the room itself that needs drying. Everything that was in the flooded area will need time and space to dry out.

Bring furniture into your garage or out into the sun where it can slowly dry out. Your insurance company may be able to compensate you for the unfixable items.

If you had carpets in the room, you will probably need to replace them, though. They tend to hold onto water underneath, even if they feel dry on the surface.

5. Fight Mold

A huge problem post-home flooding is mold. Again, for extra security, call in the professionals to help restore your damaged room. They can treat it for mold, too, so that the dangerous spores have nowhere to grow.

If you want to handle this task on your own, bring in fans and de-humidifiers. A HEPA filter can purify the air of any floating spores, as well. Cleaning the walls with warm water and soap further prevents mold from growing.

Handle Home Flooding With Ease

We’re not saying it’s easy to deal with your home flooding. But these five steps can make it simpler for you to clean up your space and make it safe to live in once more. So, start here, and don’t hesitate to call in the experts if you still need help.

Be sure to check out our home improvement section for more DIY advice.

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