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Back to the Basics of Flood Damage Prevention | SERVPRO of Northeast Charlotte
4/1/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Northeast Charlotte is ready to help in a moments notice after spring showers leak in to your home or business.
We can all find success when we take life back to the basics. Whether you are trying to teach your child his or her math homework, trying to figure out where a recipe went wrong or troubleshooting a leaking appliance, starting from the beginning and working your way out can be immensely helpful.
The basics of life also apply when it comes to disaster preparation and storm preparedness. While we all know that Mother Nature can’t be tamed, we can take certain steps now so we can be prepared for what is to come this season.
Flooding emergencies can be really scary if you aren’t prepared, so we offer some helpful tips to help you stay in control no matter what the year has in store for our community.
Flooding isn’t just reserved for weather phenomena. It can also happen due to manmade disasters like burst water mains or faulty appliances in your home. If your flooding situation is caused by something like this, you might be able to recover a bit faster than if your flooding situation is caused by the weather. That’s because the solutions for manmade issues are usually centered around turning off water valves or disconnecting appliances.
The same can’t be said for flash floods or other weather-related water emergencies because we can’t simply turn off the sky! Any time it rains heavily in our community or if you live in a low-lying neighborhood, flash flooding conditions can be really impactful.
You still need to prepare your home even if your property is not listed as a designated flood zone. Adding extra length to your downspouts can help move water farther away from your foundation or adding extra drainage or a rain garden can help give the runoff a more productive place to collect.
If your property has tree coverage, it is important for you to take a few more preventive steps. Invest in a reliable gutter system to help move the water down and away from your home, but you should also make sure that the gutters have debris covers on them to keep out leaves and other clogging materials.
Protecting your home against flooding can have a serious impact when storms come to town. Even if your home does experience some level of flooding or water damage during a particular storm, it can teach you a lot about your property so you can take steps to prevent the situation from happening again.
If your basement always floods when it rains, it may be helpful to look into a professional grading of your yard. This can help slope the earth away from your home so the rain moves away instead of backward into your foundation. You can also take less intensive steps like adding absorbing landscaping materials, such as mulch, around your home.
Taking it back inside your home, you should be checking your windows and doors regularly for signs of wear and tear. Old caulk lines should be replaced, and any sagging issues should be addressed right away. Additionally, have your sump pump inspected annually so you can rest easy knowing that it should work when you need it most.
When in doubt, take your preparations back to the basics so you can provide your home with the protection it needs when dealing with flood emergencies.
Do you have water damage in your home? Contact us at SERVPRO® for fast recovery.