Water Damage: What To Do Until Help Arrives

How Do You Handle Water Damage While You Wait For Help To Arrive In Savannah, GA?

The last thing anyone wants is to walk into their home and see that it is being flooded. As undesirable as this may be to think about, it is important to have an idea of what to do if this happens. This will allow you to avoid panicking and limit the extent of the damage as much as possible. Here are five simple things you can do to minimize water damage before a cleaning and restoration company such as Harper Special Services in Savannah, Georgia arrives.

1. Shut Off The Source Of Water. Stopping the flow of water is your number one priority if you are able to safely do so. This is pretty obvious since the sooner you do this the less water there will be to remove in the first place. Make sure you know where your water shutoff valve is located ahead of time so you don’t waste any time figuring out where to go during an emergency. 
2. Move Valuables To High Ground. Whether or not you need to do this is a judgment call. If your valuables are probably going to be exposed to the water, then you should move them safety if you’re in a position to do so. However, it makes more sense to just shut off the flow of water and prevent the water level from becoming too high than moving all your valuable possessions before shutting off the water. 
3. Air Out Your Home. Before a cleaning and restoration company arrives to take care of the main bulk of the restoration process, you should allow as much air circulation to run through your home as possible. The easiest way to do this is by opening your doors and windows. If you are able, you can also turn on fans to begin airing out the affected areas. 
4. Avoid Electrical Hazards. A flooded home has the potential to become a serious electrical hazard. This happens when the floodwater rises above electrical sockets and implements. The best way to prevent electrical hazards during a flood is to simply turn off the electricity to your home. However, make sure that it is totally safe for you to do this and that you won’t be electrocuted while going to turn your electricity off. 
5. Avoid Contact With The Floodwater. Unless you are positive that all of the floodwater is coming from a sanitary source (like a sink) you should avoid contact with the water. Even if this means that you are unable to turn the floodwater off this is still the safest option. That is because floodwater from unsanitary sources contains dangerous bacteria and microorganisms. Thus ingestion, and even skin contact, with unsanitary water sources can lead to serious illness in some cases. Dealing with water damage from unsanitary sources is a job best left to a professional restoration company. Our team of restoration professionals at Harper Special Services in Savannah, Georgia is one such company qualified and equipped in all types of water damage cleanup. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call for any water damage restoration help you may need.