When a flood emergency occurs in your home, it’s only natural to want to take action immediately. Below are some preliminary steps you can take before we arrive, but only attempt what you can do safely. 

• Shut off the water source, if possible. If you’re not sure where the water is coming from, we’ll inspect and handle the situation as soon as we arrive. If you don’t know how to shut off the water, contact a plumber to help. 
• Remove excess water by mopping, blotting, or wiping. This could include flooring and hard surface furniture which has standing water on it. Do not use your household vacuum to remove water, since it could cause damage to the vacuum or be unsafe.  
• Protect carpet, rugs, drapes, and upholstered items from further damage. Place aluminum foil or parchment paper between furniture and wet carpet or rugs. Remove books, magazines, or other colored items from carpets and rugs. Hang draperies up with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet floors. Remove pillows or cushions from wet upholstered items. 
• Avoid using electric or electronic items that have come into contact with water. This may include items such as light fixtures, ceiling fans, televisions, or appliances. If there is a possibility that someone else on the property may turn on an electric item that has come in contact with water, consider turning off the power to individual circuits within the power distribution panel of the property. 

A flood is an overflow of water onto property that should otherwise be dry. Water from flooding doesn’t always come from the same place, and where it comes from matters a lot. Some floods bring in fairly clean water you can begin to deal with carefully. Others carry bacteria and contaminants that can harm your health. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re up against before you start your cleanup.

Most home floods come from severe weather and storms, plumbing or appliance failures, and sewer backups or rising groundwater. Each source carries different risks, so identifying the cause early helps you respond as effectively as possible.

Flood damage may be covered by your insurance policy, but you’ll need to reach out to your agent to get specifics about your particular coverage. Most typical homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

The time it takes to fix flood damage depends on the severity of the flood. We’ll inspect your home or business and discuss with you the severity of damage and our plan to help return your property back to pre-loss condition. We’ll then work to remove the water that shouldn’t be there using pumps and water extracting equipment. Once the excess water is gone, we use dehumidifiers and other specialized drying equipment to help return the area to its normal moisture level. This is a closely monitored process, with our teams continually making adjustments to equipment to help ensure the area is recovering as quickly and as safely possible.

Other than the environmental hazards, all natural flood water is classified as category 3 water damage. Category 3 water damage is defined as “Grossly unsanitary water containing pathogenic agents, arising from sewage or other contaminated water sources and having the likelihood of causing discomfort or sickness if consumed or exposed to humans.” Category 3 water damage is considered grossly contaminated. It may also be called “black water.” 

The most important thing to do is to move your family to safety. Next, shut off the water source and electricity if you can do so safely and avoid contact with standing water. Then call a professional water damage restoration company right away to begin the water extraction process.

Sandbags are helpful for slowing and redirecting slow-moving water up to two feet deep, but they do not stop water completely. Do not rely on sandbags to counteract flood damage.