Things You Should Do Before Your Area Is Flooded

Philadelphia PA

13 August, 2021

11:15 AM

Description

The risk of flood damage is always present, but it's even more so when there is a severe weather event such as Hurricane Harvey. It only takes about six inches of water to cause structural damage. And, you can choose to hire a water damage restoration company to handle the repairs. That said, here are some things you can do to lessen the risk of water damage. Build A Family Kit And Make A Family Communication Plan Building a family emergency kit is a good place to start. And it should have tools like axes, crowbars, and shovels to break into your home just in case. Also, make sure you have a list of contacts in the event someone gets lost or separated during an emergency. This list should include at least one out-of-state contact. If you have a pet, pack up some necessities like food and a leash. You should also prepare supplies such as water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlight, batteries, first-aid kit, extra clothing, and bedding for each person in the household. Elevate And Reinforce Your Home If It Is In A Floodplain If your home is in a floodplain, it's time to get proactive. Floods are one of the most dangerous disasters that can happen and you should take precautions to ensure your safety. To prepare for this type of situation, homeowners should elevate their homes by raising their ground floor as high as possible. This will allow water to flow under the house instead of around it during a flood. You should also reinforce your house with sandbags or use pressure-treated wood to strengthen it further. After that, consider purchasing flood insurance to protect your home and other possessions. Elevate Your Electric Fixtures, Furnace And Water Heater Often, homeowners will come back after they've evacuated and found that their furnace or water heater submerged. This can cause them to burst and leak toxic chemicals into your home. And, prolonged exposure to water makes these appliances a lot harder to fix. The best thing to do is have an electrician come in and elevate these fixtures before the storm hits. Consider Installing Check Valves To Prevent Backflow Check valves are a great option to prevent backflow flooding. The installation process for these valves involves digging down under the floor and installing the kit that will hold everything in place. Check valves can be beneficial for homeowners because they don’t take up much space, which is a welcome idea these days. Consider Building Barriers At The Edge Of Your Property No one can predict whether a flood will happen in their area, but that doesn't mean you should do nothing and hope for the best. There are precautions you can take to ensure that your home and all of its contents stay safe during the worst storms, such as building barriers at the edge of your property. This way, water will have to find an alternative route, saving you from thousands of dollars worth of water damage. Water Mold Fire Restoration of Philadelphia 228 Race St Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 645-2960 https://watermoldfire.net/philadelphia-pa/