Steps to take when your basement floods

5/18/2018 (Permalink)

Even if you’ve taken steps to protect your basement from water damage, a burst pipe, broken sump pump, or heavy storm could cause your basement to flood, leaving you with a long cleanup and restoration project. Knowing what to do when disaster strikes can dramatically reduce the damage to your home.

First, the health and safety of you and your family is paramount to all else. Stay out of the basement until you’re sure the conditions are safe. As soon as you can and always before returning to basement, turn off all electricity and gas lines to that area. If you are unsure how to do this, call SERVPRO for 24/7 emergency assistance.

If the flood is due to rainfall, wait until the storm passes before attempting any cleanup. If the flood is not due to rain, take action immediately. Locate the cause of the flood and take steps such as unblocking drains or shutting off water valves to stop waters from rising.

Once you are sure no more water will enter the basement, start by ventilating the area. Open windows and doors to promote airflow and speed up evaporation. Collect and move boxes, documents, and small items away from the flood. Leave electronics in place; they pose a risk of electrical shock even if the electricity is off.

To remove the water, you will need a wet-vac or pump. Never attempt to collect water using a household vacuum. If you haven’t already, call SERVPRO and let our highly-experienced team take it from here. We will extract the water from your basement and remove damaged items such as carpet and drywall.

After the area is 100% dry, disinfecting and mold prevention measures are taken to ensure no lasting effects. Finally, the damage is repaired and rebuilt so you can get back to normal. SERVPRO can also restore many electronic items and dry documents and photos to minimize the water damage to your possessions.

If your basement is flooding, you should consider it an emergency situation. Call SERVPRO anytime for immediate service and the best name in water damage repair and restoration