7 Steps you can do to Reduce Flood and Water Damage after a Storm

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

If you experience a water damage from flooding due to a severe storm in Massillion, call SERVPRO of Northwest Stark County.

SERVPRO of Northwest Stark County specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition. There are many things that can be done before a heavy rainstorm to reduce damage to your home and property.

Here are 8 Steps to help you prepare to reduce the severity of the water damage.

• Check you sump pump. Clean the sump pump and pit, and test the pump by pouring water into the pit. Consider having a spare submersible portable sump pump.
• Move valuables to higher locations. Get items such as irreplaceable family photo albums, high school yearbooks, personal videotapes, tax records, insurance policies and household inventories off the bottom shelves in the lower level of your home.
• Keep water out of window wells. Since windows can’t withstand much pressure, build dams and contour the ground so water will naturally drain away from the house.
• Plan an escape route. If certain roads or streets are known to flood easily. Where would you go if your home flooded — a local shelter, a family member or friend’s house?
• Assemble supplies in case the electricity goes off. Gather water, food that requires no refrigeration or cooking, a non-electric can opener, a battery-powered radio and flashlight, extra batteries.
• Prepare appliances for flooding. Shut off appliances at the fuse box or breaker panel. Put freezers, washer, dryers and other appliances up on wood or cement blocks to keep the motors above the water level.
• Shut off electricity to areas of the home that might flood. Even if floodwaters are not reaching electrical outlets, the risk of electrical shock to someone working in a flooded basement is high with electric motors in the furnace, freezer, washer, dryer and other appliances. Shut off electrical breakers or unscrew fuses.

It is important to contact a restoration company within the first 24 hours of a flooded home or business, so we can fully restore your home or business to its pre-flood damage condition. However, waiting more than 48 hours to begin the restoration and flood damage mitigation process increases the chance that the flooded home or business will incur damage. Call SERVPRO of Northwest Stark County at 330-497-4600 for immediate assistance to clean up and restore your water damage caused by a recent storm.