Flooding in your home is overwhelming and stressful. Burst pipes, leaking faucets, and more can all lead to excess water. Flood damage needs to be handled quickly to prevent mold and further structural damage to your home. But what do you do first when flooding happens? Here’s a list of the steps to take when your home floods.

Step 1: Stop Water Flow at the Source and Turn Off Power

As soon as you find water in your home, stop the water flow at its source and turn off the electricity. Unless natural disasters cause flooding, finding the source of the leak should be easy. If the source is not clear, use the main water valve to shut off water to the whole house. Locating this valve when you first move into your home is a good idea, just in case an emergency happens. 

Then, if reaching the electrical box without walking through the water is possible, turn off all the power inside your home. Turning off electricity prevents further damage from occurring.

Step 2: Evacuate Your Home

Once water and electricity are turned off, evacuate the premises. Find a safe, dry location outside your home and ensure all people and pets are safe. If necessary, shelter in place at the home of a friend or neighbor until returning home is safe.

Step 3: Call Flood Damage & Water Mitigation Experts

Flooding in your home often leads to many other serious issues. If the area is not entirely dried, mold grows and can lead to significant health issues for you and your family. If the structure of your home is affected, beams and walls may rot and collapse over time. Therefore, once you vacate your home, it is time to call flood damage and water mitigation experts. Professional technicians can attend to damage and cleanup in a timely and efficient manner.

As the homeowner, you also need to call your insurance. Explain the situation, and clarify whether you need to wait for an adjuster to visit the home before beginning the cleanup process. If you need to wait for the adjuster, hold off calling a professional company.

Step 4: Document Flood Damage

While you wait for professional maintenance specialists or insurance adjusters, start documenting the damage. Capture all aspects of the issue, including flooded areas and damaged furniture or personal items. Before entering the home, be sure to suit up in protective gear to reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous materials or sewage. 

Step 5: Begin Flood Damage Cleanup

Once your insurer approves the claim, start the cleanup and repair process. Removing all water and drying your space is essential for mold prevention. Salvage what personal items can be saved, and clear the space for restoration services to work. Professional teams will remove water, dry the room, and disinfect the area for mold prevention. If needed, your restoration company will also perform repairs.

Call the Flood Damage Experts at HS Restoration

HS Restoration has certified experts available 24/7 for emergency flood damage situations. Our technicians understand that every incident is different, and we are committed to consistently providing high-quality repair and water mitigation. Don’t wait for flood damage to settle and create more significant issues in your home – contact our team today! HS Restoration is available for your maintenance project with a quick response time and 100% customer satisfaction guarantee by calling our toll-free number at 602-534-5874.