What Are The Steps I Should Take If My New London Home Floods?

2/9/2022 (Permalink)

If your New London home has flooded, you’ll need to take the proper steps to ensure the safety of your family along with the integrity of your structure. If the levels of flooding are not severe, below you’ll find the steps to follow so your house can get back to normal in no time. If the flooding is severe, bring in professionals like SERVPRO to handle the issue. 

What Are The First Things I Need To Do After A Flood In My New London House?

Before you do anything else, make sure your loved ones are safe!

• Evacuate everyone from the premises as soon as possible before the flooding starts, if possible. Find a dry, safe spot away from the house while waiting for the flooding to stop. If a natural disaster causes flooding, call the authorities or listen to your local news to find a temporary shelter and relocate to that shelter when possible. Call 911 if anyone needs medical attention and ensure that everyone is accounted for and safe.
• Attempt to find the source of the flooding if it is not from a natural disaster. Stop it at the source, try to turn it off any faucet, or seal it up. Turning off the main water valve may also solve the issue.
• Turn off the electricity, but DO NOT attempt to reach the fuse box if you have to walk through water to reach it. Call an electrician if you cannot reach the fuse box without stepping in water.
• Document all the damage by taking photos and videos of all the affected areas. This information will be necessary for insurance purposes if you need to file a claim. 

What Are The Steps I Should Take When It Comes To The Cleanup Process After Flooding?

Even if you have engaged the help of a professional water damage restoration company, there are some things you can do to start the process. Here are some tips:

• Do not touch the water without the proper equipment, as it may be contaminated with sewage or other hazardous material. If you have to enter the establishment, wear waders or waterproof boots.
• All of the water must be removed, and then a wet vacuum or a pump can be used to dispose of any standing water.
• Attempt to salvage any items that were not seriously damaged. Do not eat any food that has been contaminated by floodwater.
• If the water damage is not too bad, dry out the space with fans and dehumidifiers. Anything touched by the water also needs to be disinfected. 
• Warm, wet spaces are an attractive breeding ground for mold colonies, so act as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth. Your property needs to be as dry as possible to prevent mold spores from growing. Once a mold colony is established, it is impossible to eradicate it. Keep the affected areas as dry as possible and treat them with a strong cleaner, such as a bleach solution. 

• Open any windows and doors to let fresh, dry air in and circulate. 

Don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Huron & East Seneca Counties to assist you in getting your New London house back to normal; we can be reached at (419) 595-4617. We are experts in water damage repair and restoration, and we are mold prevention and remediation pros. Our team is highly trained, and we offer 24-hour emergency service.

This franchise is independently owned and operated.