Why You Need To Act Quickly After Water Damage

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage to your home or business can be a devastating experience, and it can happen to anyone. Flooding can be caused by heavy rains, a sewer backup, appliance or sump pump malfunctions or broken pipelines. Knowing what to do beforehand and acting quickly will go a long way towards alleviating the panic and confusion that can often set in after this kind of disaster. 

Today, we would like to share a few of the immediate steps you should take after water damage occurs to your property. 

Safety is the first and foremost consideration for any homeowner. Take immediate steps to ensure that every person involved is safe from injury. You may be forced to leave the premises if the water damage is bad enough, so you’ll want to make sure right away that it’s also safe to return when you have to start dealing with the after-effects. 

Here are a few important steps you should consider taking right away that will help you: 

• Turn off all power. Unless it will require you to enter wet areas or stand in water to do so, make sure that there is no power running to flooded areas. Call an electrician if this cannot be done safely. An electric shock can be debilitating and even deadly.  
• Wash all dinnerware, glassware, and flatware that may have been affected by dirty water to right away avoid catching, and spreading, sickness. Water that comes from rivers or creeks may not be as pure as you might think, while we all know what a broken sewer line will do. Any standing water that is contaminated will cause issues and can cause some really unpleasant odors that you may not be able to easily eradicate, so getting this water removed quickly will help to keep that from happening. 
• Dry out your home or business premises as soon as possible. Your home will probably remain damp for some time, even if you have been successful in removing standing water—especially if you live in an area that is humid already. Portable fans and dehumidifiers will be a big help here. 

If you need the help of a professional restoration company, call us here at SERVPRO of Huron/East Seneca Counties and we can be there right away to help you ensure that your home or business is safe and dry. We are proud to serve our friends and neighbors here in Huron and East Seneca Counties.