Protecting Your Home from Flooding

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States and can cause extensive damage. In recent years, flooding caused over $3 billion worth of damage. It’s important to remember that your homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover flooding so if you want to protect yourself financially, you will need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. The best way to avoid one of these issues is to take preventative measures so, if you do suffer from a flood, you suffer as little damage as possible.

You may think that a flood will not occur at your home but everyone is in a flood zone, no matter where you live. Flooding occurs in all 50 states of the United States. In fact, 20 percent of flood claims come from areas where the flood risk is considered low. Because of this, it is important that you are prepared should a flood occur at your home.

Tips for Protecting Yourself

No matter where you live, it is a good idea to have a bag ready to easily pack in case you are forced to evacuate due to a storm. If a major storm hits and water begins to collect around or in your home, you may need to make a quick getaway. Items that should be included in case you have to quickly evacuate include a change of clothes, your insurance policy numbers, the phone number of your insurance agent, your insurance company’s main number, essential toiletries, and cash for emergencies. If you return to find damage to your home, you should immediately contact the professionals at SERVPRO of South Brevard, to come restore the house. Remember, when you are dealing with water damage, every minute counts.

Prior to your evacuation, you should have already mapped out your evacuation route and know where you are evacuating to. This is not only so you know where you are going but also because if a mass evacuation occurs such as for a hurricane, finding a hotel or other lodging could become quite difficult. Make sure you always follow any evacuation orders by emergency personnel. These decisions are made for your own safety.

If you do have to evacuate, it is a good idea to shut off the power to your home at the main electrical panel. This will ensure that you do not have any electrical situations should flooding occur in the home. When dealing with electricity, always make sure you are not standing in water as this could cause severe injury.

Tips for Protecting Your Home

There is always a chance that water damage can occur in your home. Oftentimes the situation is unavoidable. But there are certain precautions you can take to limit the risk of such an event occurring.

Fix Any Leaks

If you have any leaks in your roof or cracks in the foundation of your home, make sure to take care of those immediately. These can weaken the structure of your home. If you have leaks in your roof, water could get into your attic and walls creating damage to items.

Roof Protection

If you are replacing your roof, a good preventative step is to add protection to your roof. You can do this by having a rubber roof underlayment installed. This underlayment will act as a waterproof barrier that is placed under the shingles to protect the roof from any water that may threaten to get through.

Clean Gutters and Drains

The purpose of your gutters is to carry water away from the home and protect it from potential water damage. However, if your gutters are clogged with leaves and debris, it can block the exit for the water causing it to collect. This can cause damage to your roof and leaks into your house. Also, check any storm drains on the street for the same issue.

Battery-powered Sump Pump

The inclusion of a sump pump allows you to pump water out of your home. This can work as a great defense against flooding in your home. If a storm hits and you lose power, a sump pump run by electricity will fail to work. But if you have battery-powered sump pump, the pump will continue to run, ridding your home of excess water.

No matter where you live, flooding can occur in your home. But by taking safety precautions, you can avoid substantial damage that could cost you thousands of dollars. Taking preventative steps will ensure that you, your family, and your home are safe. If you do suffer flooding and need restoration services, call on the professionals at SERVPRO.