Water Damage Disaster? What Do You Do First?
When a water damage disaster strikes, whether from rapid flooding, catastrophic storm damage or even burst pipes, confusion and anxiety overwhelm rational thinking. Emotions rule. Your head is filled with dramatic questions in search of fast answers…
- Are we in danger? How can we stay safe?
- What can we save?
- Are we going to lose our home? Our furnishings? Our business? Our Office? Our building?
- Will we get our life back? How long will it take? How do we live?
- How much will it cost? Can we pay for it? Will our insurance cover it?
- Who do we call? Who can help us right away?
The questions seem endless, and they fill your mind all at once. So the more you prepare for this eventuality, the better off you will be. Making a disaster checklist with step-by-step, what-to-do reminders and actions to take is extremely valuable. It’s a powerful tool to help you deal with the trauma as organized and thoughtfully as possible under these difficult circumstances. Here are a few important 1st steps to take should disaster strike YOU?
- Eliminate Immediate Risks - Don’t go walking through standing water without waterproof boots, waders, or touch water-affected areas without rubber gloves. Even if water looks clear, it may be contaminated.
- Dispose of any food that may have been touched by the water, and boil water until it is declared safe.
- Turn off the electrical power to prevent possible electrocution risk. Even if the power is already off, turn off the main breaker so, if power suddenly comes back on, you, or anyone else, are not exposed to electrical hazards.
- If you have to leave your home quickly, make sure that, upon returning, you first check for structural damage or other hazards before entering the building.
- Be sure you contact utility companies immediately because it’s likely others in your area have done the same, and you are competing for the time in their schedule to get to you as soon as possible.
- Call your insurance company to file a flood damage claim. Again you are likely competing to get on an adjuster’s schedule as quickly as possible.
- Take photographs and videos of the property damage. Document every aspect of the damage when it is at its worst – that’s especially important if an insurance adjuster doesn’t get to you quickly. Under no circumstances, except for an emergency, should you start water removal or water damage repair before you have clear documentation – preferably digital image and videos that can be easily copied and transmitted.
- Secure the damaged property. Legally and, for maximum insurance assistance, it’s critical that you do everything you can to secure your property to prevent any further damage. That can include boarding up windows, covering the roof or moving materials and belongings above the water level. Again, document with digital photos and videos you efforts to prevent additional flood damage.
- immediately call a professional water removal and water damage cleanup company CRM Services should be your 1st choice – Call 24/7 678-540-8606).. You need to get an assessment of the damage and restoration costs ASAP and, if water intrusions are widespread in your area, our water damage specialists will be very busy The object is to get on our schedule fast. Water removal and restoration projects are not good do-it-yourself projects. Often damage is hidden behind walls, under floor boards and in areas that are easy to overlook. Get a professional assessment and a professional plan on how to most efficiently and cost-effectively deal with your water damage experience.
