Is Your Basement Flooded Following a Natural Disaster? How to Work It Out
By: Rmi Emergency Services
Tags: Lawyers, Attorney, Flooding

If you have been affected by a natural disaster and your basement is flooded, there are some things you can do to solve the problem. The most important thing to always keep in mind is that safety comes first.

Make sure that there are no electrical hazards in your house before you start cleaning. Next, you must inform your insurance agent and proceed to clean the space. Gather all your belongings and sort through them, separating what can be salvaged from what is beyond repair. Remove the water and dry your basement.

Safety First

Before doing anything, make sure it is safe to enter the basement. Pay special attention to any electrical hazards. If water is still standing, do not enter the basement, just wait for the water to recede. Other potential dangers you should look out for include snakes or other wild animals that may have taken refuge in your home during the disaster.

Inform Your Insurance Agent

You should inform your insurance agent as soon as possible and be sure to have an exit strategy in place. If you are not able to work it out yourself, a contractor may help you with the work involved.

Some things aren’t covered by traditional homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies, such as moving costs and temporary housing expenses. These will require additional coverage, which you should inquire about from your insurer before beginning any cleaning efforts.

Turn Off the Power

The next thing to do is turn off your electrical appliances and cut any active electrical sources, such as a plugged-in refrigerator. This will prevent accidents from occurring during clean-up. Electricity can be dangerous if it comes into contact with water, so make sure everything is turned off before going further. Additionally, you can consider contacting emergency water removal services for more help with your flooded basement.

Turning off the power means cutting active electric sources like a plugged-in fridge or lamps that are still on. Also, try not to use things that give out sparks. This includes lighters or matches, which could create fires easily since there’s already flood damage from natural disasters.

Collect Any Ruined Valuables

Before beginning clean-up, make sure to gather up all your belongings that are water damaged. This includes clothes, furniture, and anything else you may have in the basement. You can also use this time to find important documents like birth certificates or social security cards which could be washed away with the flooding.

Move everything out of affected areas into dryer places within the house. After this is complete, begin the clean-up process. The next steps include mopping floors, cleaning walls and ceilings, fixing furniture, etc. Also, check if there’s still electricity running, so it doesn’t cause a short circuit when completing the following tasks.

Collect items lost during floods after safety measures have been taken. Sort what can be saved and what needs to be thrown away. It’s best not to use any light near water-damaged areas to prevent electrical hazards during clean-up.

Documents are essential and you will need many of them in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Therefore, you should prioritize these. Next, you can start collecting any ruined valuables, clothes, and furniture as well.

Remove the Water

Now that you have gathered your belongings and turned off the power, it is time to remove the water. You can do this by using a bucket or mop to soak up as much of the water as possible. Additionally, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up any standing water.

Water needs to be removed as soon as possible after natural disasters occur. If you leave the water there for a longer time, it will only cause more destruction. Using a bucket or mop to soak up as much water is ideal, and using an industrial wet or dry vacuum will help get rid of puddles on the floor. Be sure not to move furniture too much, so it does not get ruined even more from flood damage.

Dry Your Basement

Now that you have removed the water, it is time to dry your basement. You can do this by using a dehumidifier or air compressor. Additionally, you can use fans to circulate the air and speed up the drying process.

Drying out the basement with machines like dehumidifiers and air compressors will help decrease the amount of work needed for clean-up afterward, plus get rid of the musty smell. If there is furniture in the basement, be sure not to move it around too much, so it does not get ruined even more from flood damage.

How Do I Prevent My Basement From Flooding?

It is always best to take preventive measures. Even if a natural disaster strikes and your house will not be spared from nature’s rage, at least the damage will be diminished.

You can prevent your basement from flooding by keeping gutters and downspouts clean, installing a backwater valve in the sewer line to keep sewage away from entering the home’s foundation. If there is any standing water, you need to pump it out.

Final Thoughts

Surviving a natural disaster can be a traumatic experience. Nevertheless, dealing with the aftermath is a difficult process as well. If you feel alone or overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone. Seek refuge in your friends and family, local community, and capable experts.

In times of need, we should reach out for help but at the same time offer a helping hand to others. Once you have ensured your safety, you can help out others in your neighborhood. You can offer to help with the labor, share your knowledge, and experiences. If you have had a good experience with a specialist helping you recover, do not hesitate to recommend them.

After completing all these tasks after a natural disaster, be sure to follow additional safety steps before settling. These include checking for active electrical outlets, moving everything into dry places inside the house first, and then gathering your belongings. After these steps are completed, you can start rebuilding your life.