One of the most devastating problems we can face in our homes is water damage, and flooding is the worst kind of water damage. It can wreak havoc on your possessions, furniture, floors, and your home’s foundation.
Water Damage Restoration—Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
As scary as it is to discover that your home is flooding, there are some ways you can minimize the damage if you act immediately. Here are the first steps you should take:
1. Identify the source of the flooding.
Water can come from a variety of sources. Whether it is a burst pipe, an overflowing bathtub, a backed-up toilet, or a broken appliance, you should first identify where it is coming from and shut it off, if possible. However, it is important to be aware that it can be very dangerous to come in contact with standing water. If you cannot get to the source of the flooding safely, it may be better to just shut the water to your house completely off instead.
2. Turn off your home’s electricity.
As we said before, standing water can be very dangerous to come in contact with. One of the reasons it is so unsafe is that there is a chance it has become charged with an electric current. If the water has reached the outlets on the walls or if there is something plugged in touching the water, it can put you at risk of electric shock. Rather than wading into the water yourself, you should turn off the electricity in your house.
3. Evacuate your home.
Even once your electricity is shut off, you still should not try to wade into the water and start cleaning up yourself. Not only could it carry an electric current, but standing water might be full of dangerous bacteria or chemicals. If the flooding is coming from a broken toilet or appliance, the water is likely toxic. You do not want to touch or ingest this in any way, and it is safest to make sure everybody leaves the house and waits outside.
4. Call the professionals.
The only way to be sure that the water is safe to come in contact with is to have professionals test it for you. They will be able to know how safe the water is and what kind of precautions need to be taken to begin the water damage cleanup and restoration process. Do not try to clean up the water damage on your own. Instead, allow the professionals with the right qualifications and equipment to take care of it so you know that the water is completely removed and dried properly.
5. Call your insurance company.
Flooding in your home is certainly stressful. It is important to let your insurance company know so that you may receive some compensation for the damage. Make sure that you take thorough notes on everything that was damaged by the water.
If you experience flooding or any other kind of water damage in your home, make sure you call Oklahoma Disaster Restoration to help you out. You can have the peace of mind that your home is in good hands.