Important Steps to Take After a Flood | SERVPRO of Hattiesburg

11/21/2023 (Permalink)

When an unexpected flash flood strikes, SERVPRO of Hattiesburg is here to respond by restoring your home. Call us now!

Flood situations are always serious, no matter how they start. They can also cause some serious damage to your home and property! 

Knowing what to do before, during and after a flood can help minimize damage and keep your family safe.

Preparation Strategies 

Start getting your home and family ready the moment a flash flood watch or warning is issued, even if it is not actively raining. Once the storm arrives, rain can fall fast and heavy and conditions can deteriorate quickly.

Head for home if you aren’t there yet, and be sure to avoid low-lying areas or roads that are known to flood during storms. 

Tidy up your yard and move any household objects or toys inside for safekeeping. Secure any heavy objects like patio furniture and grills so they can’t be swept away by any fast-moving water. 

Then head inside and start preparing your lowest level and your safe shelter location. Pull any important documents or possessions out of your basement and move anything fragile to a safe location. Grab your emergency kit and head to the highest part of your home to wait out the weather.

What to Do if Water Starts Flowing Inside 

While we know it can be scary or really frustrating to watch water start to leak down your walls or rush in under your doorways, do your best to stay calm. Stay above the water line and be patient. Eventually the water will stop flowing into your home and the storm will pass. 

When it does, use extreme caution when walking around your house. Flooded rooms may have suffered extensive damage and even the structural supports of your home could be compromised. If you must walk through the water, wear waterproof boots to help protect your feet from any hazards lurking beneath the water.

Take photos of any damage that you see, as these images will help us create a more robust recovery plan for you and will also help your insurance company understand the damage to ensure a more accurate claim. After that is all taken care of, get us on the phone.

How We Can Help After a Flood 

Lingering water will continue to cause damage over time and can travel all over your  home, so quick action is key when it comes to recovery. 

Our team will arrive right away, and we will get to work to extract the standing water. We will detect and dry up any hidden moisture behind your walls or under your floors. We can also dry and clean your possessions if they were impacted by the floodwater. We are a trusted leader in document drying, and we can also dry out and restore soft materials like couches and cushions. 

Once the water is gone and your home is dry, our team can then turn our attention to any repairs that need to be done. Standing water can easily warp walls, ruin floors and soak carpet, so we will ensure that any damage incurred by the flood will be repaired efficiently and thoroughly. When we are through, we will sanitize your space to prevent mold growth from occurring. 

Even though suffering flood damage can feel overwhelming, our flood restoration team will always have your back.  Contact us right away for a fast restoration!