Taking Immediate Action After A Flood

On a hot August day, there are few things more satisfying than a cool glass of water, a dip in the pool, or a water balloon fight with the kids. Water can be so refreshing and fun. On the flip side, though, there are a lot of instances where the water actually throws a metaphorical wrench in your plans. One of those situations is flooding and water damage. 

Every home is susceptible to water damage, and nearly all homes will be victims of water damage at some point. Though always inconvenient, having a plan to handle your water damage emergency is crucial to minimizing the inconvenience, damage, and cost. Here are a few things that we at Disaster Restoration Services believe you ought to do right away when you see flooding in your Bridgeport home:

1. Call a professional to help with assessment and cleanup. You may be tempted to clean this up yourself, but calling a professional is almost always a good idea because they know exactly what to do for your specific situation, have the proper tools, and can act quickly. Handling it properly and ensuring that all nooks and crannies are completely dry is important in preventing mold growth and funny smells down the road. 
2. Shut off your water supply and power. These are important safety steps, but may also slow or stop water entering your home, depending on where it is coming from. If the damages are already severe, be careful; don’t take any risks by walking on or under sagging structures. In addition, avoid contact with any water that may be from a contaminated source. 
3. Remove, catch, or dry up water as you can. If you have standing water, removing it too fast can actually cause structural risks, but catching water if you can see a problem spot or leak is always a good idea. 
4. Snap some pictures. These may be important for insurance later. 
5. Remove any valuables. Things that are worth money (or are important to you for sentimental reasons) should be removed, dried (if necessary), and stowed away in a safe, dry place. 
6. In order to protect your floors, remove things that are sitting on top of them. Rugs and other loose articles can bleed color and stain things. If the furniture is light, you may be able to remove it to prevent it from pressing into the wet carpet. If your furniture cannot be moved, placing some dry plywood or foil may help protect the bottom of your furniture if the water isn’t in deep pools.

If you are having an unfortunate run-in with water in your home, call an expert such as Disaster Restoration Services in Bridgeport for high-quality flooding and water damage cleanup. Help will be on the way and you can focus on these steps as help makes its way, allowing you to avoid wasted time and increased damages. After you have found and executed the solution and your home is back to normal, decrease your risk of future floods by paying attention to the state of your appliances, roof, and pipes.