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Whether it was caused by a natural disaster or whether it was the result of a burst pipe, if you want to protect your finances, your family’s wellbeing, and the ongoing stability of your home going forward, it’s imperative that you learn how to handle a flood in your property efficiently and effectively. To find out what you must do to perform this all-important task, be sure to read on.
Handling the flood
During the onslaught of the flood, you will no doubt be incredibly worried. However, as difficult as this might be in the heat of the moment, it’s imperative that you refrain from acting in a frantic or irrational manner. Keeping calm as possible is the first step to how to handle a flood. If you want to handle this disaster in an efficient manner, you must resolve to remain calm.
If it’s obvious that the flood was caused by a burst pipe, turn off your water supply right away. Conversely, if the excessive water in your home is the result of a flash storm, be sure to put the following advice into practice as soon as you possibly can:
- Switch off your electricity circuit.
- Move to higher ground.
- Stay away from streams and drainage channels.
- Call 911 immediately (chances are, they will already be aware of the situation that is unfolding in your area, but providing them with one more reminder of the seriousness of the situation cannot hurt).
Dealing with the aftermath
Quite naturally, the flood will leave you feeling like your whole life has been turned upside down. Dwelling on the damage that your home has sustained will, however, do nothing to remedy your situation. If you want to return to some sort of normality in a quick and efficient fashion, it’s crucial that you don’t bury your head in the sand. The more proactive you are at dealing with the aftermath of the flood, the sooner you will be able to start rebuilding your life once again.
You need to first call out a professional water damage restoration service who will be able to get to work straight away on fixing up your property and removing the water as quickly as possible to ensure that damage is minimized. While this is going on, you will then need to get in touch with your insurer. However, some water restoration companies will handle this for you, as they can easily document all of your damage.
Preparing for the potential of another flood
Once you have dealt with your situation at hand, it is tempting to do nothing at all after. However, there is every possibility that it could happen again. Therefore, the way in which you prepare for flooding will have a profound impact on your ability to handle this home disaster as and when it occurs. Excessive water leakage is incredibly unpredictable. This is why you must always be on your guard if you want to fend off this danger. You need to know how to handle a flood if ever happens again.
You will need to cover yourself with a robust flood/water damage insurance premium and ensure that your electrical systems are at least 12 inches above the ground. If you want to ensure peace of mind, you can even construct barriers around your property if you live near a body of water (even if that body of water has no prior flooding history).
During the wintertime, especially, be sure to keep tabs on the latest weather reports. Double-check that your preparation tactics like the above are good to go.
