How Can I Prepare for Flood Damage Before it Happens?

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has a large arsenal of drying equipment to mitigate storm damage in your Mt Airy home

Restoration Technicians Aid Mt. Airy Residents with Flood Damage Mitigation and Rebuilding Services

Flooding is a disaster so prevalent that no region, not even Mt Airy, in the United States is free of flood risks. Fortunately, the number of people covered by flood insurance is increasing: rates increased from 12% in 2016 to 15% in 2018.

If flood damage has affected your Mt. Airy home, SERVPRO technicians have the tools and know-how necessary to return your property to a pre-damaged condition. SERVPRO technicians are available 24/7 to provide mitigation and restoration services and can respond to emergencies within 24 hours of your call. However, respondents are typically able to visit your property for an initial inspection and consultation within four hours of your contact.

Preparing Your Property for Flooding

There are a variety of steps you can take to protect your Mt. Airy property from flooding, including the following:

• Inside the home, use sandbags and high-quality weather-stripping to minimize the amount of water penetrating vulnerable openings around doors and windows.
• Outside the house, implement trench drains, landscaping, and rain gardens to redirect water away from your property. Rain gardens absorb excess water while the rest makes way onto the street.
• Consider installing or updating your basement sump pump to ensure that it can handle a potential home flood.

SERVPRO technicians coordinate with you and your insurance adjuster to ensure that you have the documentation necessary to get your claim filed and compensated as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Another step to take into account for flood preparedness is ensuring that your homeowner’s insurance policy has flood coverage added. Most plans do not come with flooding coverage.

Here are some tips for checking or updating your homeowners’ insurance:

• Take inventory of the items in your home to determine the amount of coverage you need.
• Evaluate your location’s propensity for floods on FEMA’s digital flood map or a local flood map.
• Coordinate with an insurance adjuster to evaluate your policy on an annual basis.

How Does Flood Damage Affect Homes?

Standing water carries sanitary concerns with it. On top of that, 90% of all-natural disaster damage is caused by flooding. The prevalence of this type of disaster generates billions of dollars in damages each year.

Floodwaters can also increase your home’s fire risk with the following:

• Generator overuse or improper maintenance
• Using alternative heating or cooking devices near flammable materials.
• Gas line, tank, and container leaks
• Waterlogged electrical appliances and electrically-charged water

To reduce the risk posed by flooding in your home:

• Make careful use of generators and other alternative power sources. Avoid using faulty equipment.
• Remove potential fire hazards from your surroundings when using heat sources.
• Contact your utility providers about shutting off gas and electrical systems to prevent fire and shock risks.
• File a claim as soon as possible after flooding to streamline the compensation process.

SERVPRO can assist Mt. Airy residents with the claims filing process with additional documentation of structural and contents losses. Photos, videos, and written records alike from an accredited firm are a helpful supplement to any proof of loss claim.

SERVPRO’s Disaster Restoration Services Salvage Flood-Damaged Homes

SERVPRO technicians focus on extraction and sanitation before structural drying can begin. Safety is key to preventing the spread of microbes throughout your home.

A variety of EPA-registered proprietary cleaning agents exist that aid in removing odors and returning your home and its contents to a pre-damaged state.

• Antimicrobials are designed to inhibit the growth, development, and spread of microbes.
• Disinfectants are a class of antimicrobials that can kill as much as 99% of germs on contact. Quaternary, phenols, chlorines, and alcohols are common disinfectants used in both residential and commercial capacities.
• Sporicides are designed to remediate bacterial growth and fungus, including mold.
• Biocides, fungicides are composed of chemical agents designed to mitigate living organisms.
• Sanitizers are cleaning agents designed to reduce microbial levels

Sanitizing solutions can be implemented with a variety of tools, including pumps, sprays, injection systems, manual cleaning, and fogging devices. This process not only eliminates microbial growth but can also lessen the impact of flood damage odors before drying and deodorization begin.

SERVPRO of Frederick County provides comprehensive service to the community that is Faster for Any Size Disaster. Call (301) 662-1747 to begin the mitigation process for your property.