Keep Your Home Safe From Flooding | SERVPRO of Cookeville/Carthage/Smithville/Woodbury

2/22/2024 (Permalink)

Is your home experiencing the aftermath of a flood? Call SERVPRO of Cookeville/Carthage/Smithville/Woodbury now, we are here to help.

When you think about flooding, do you picture towns along the banks of a large body of water, or coastal areas with sandy beaches and the ocean in their backyard? While these locations are certainly very vulnerable to flooding, floods can happen anywhere, at any time. 

Flooding costs enormous sums of money every year around the nation. As natural disasters continue to increase both in number and strength, it is important to prepare your home for every potential disaster that could arise. 

There may be no stopping floodwaters when they stem from strong storms, but you can prepare for them. With preparation, you can prevent extensive damage and avoid the need for costly repairs. 

Before, During and After

The best way to keep your home safe from flooding is to know what to do before, during and after a disaster strikes. When you have a plan, you can quickly take action when the weather is predicted to get wet and water is predicted to get high. With water damage especially, the faster you move, the less damage you will have. 

Before a flood, get to know your home’s individual risks. Take a look at FEMA’s flood map, and take note of your zone. Check with your insurance agents to make sure you are appropriately covered as well. 

If floods are predicted, put important paperwork in a watertight container and store it on a high shelf. If you can, shut off the electricity in your basement and clear out your belongings. Make sure your sump pump is working well if you have one, and if you don’t, consider adding one to keep water moving out. 

During and after a flood strikes, make safety your priority. If floodwaters are entering your home, do everything you can to stay out of them. Find a safe location on high ground to ride things out. 

As soon as you can safely do so, call us to start getting water out quickly. Take photos of your damage to help with your insurance claim and keep track of things. 

Regular Prevention

While knowing what to do when flooding is imminent is a great way to keep yourself safe, there is also some regular prevention you can do around your home in order to stay prepared even when things happen suddenly. 

Keep your gutters clean to make sure rainwater runs away from your home easily. Repair roof issues quickly, and inspect your roof thoroughly twice a year and after any major wind event. 

Take a look at the seals around your windows and doors periodically as well. Replace caulking that has deteriorated in order to ensure water stays out even when rain gets heavy. 

You should also walk your basement if you have one and around the exterior of your home at least twice a year. Fill in cracks, and make sure things are still watertight. If your gutters are loose or disconnected anywhere, be sure to fix them right away. The more you can do to keep water out, the less damage you will have. 

Get to know your risks, make a plan for emergencies and keep your home prepared. 

Has flooding affected your home? Contact us for fast restoration.