Preparing for the Floods

9/3/2020 (Permalink)

Team Wilson is part of a larger Storm Team that can handle any emergency

Are You Ready for a Flood?

Hurricane season is in full force right now. This season we have already had two hurricanes hit our coastline at the same time. Texas and Louisiana both were ravaged head-on but both these storms continued into the states bringing a lot of rain. Many times when moments like this occur, our cities and towns are able to hand the onslaught of rain due to the fact it may not be typical to get so much in such a little time. Being only at the beginning of the hurricane season, we thought it is important to make sure to share some flood preparedness tips with you. Below are some tips which were provided by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to help you prepare your home or business for a flood.

Before the Flood:

• Have a qualified professional elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel is susceptible to flooding.
• Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home or business.
• Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to help avoid seepage.

During the Flood:

• Turn off all utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so.
• Disconnect electrical appliances.
• Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
• Do not walk through moving water.  Even six inches or moving water can make you fall.

After the Flood:

• Listen for news reports to learn if the community's water supply is safe to drink.
• Avoid floodwaters.  Water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.  Water may also be electrically charged.
• Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.
• Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

 As always, our team at SERVPRO of Birmingham is part of the larger, national Brand of SERVPRO Industries. In the event of a storm or flood, our teams have the ability to call in reinforcements from the Wilson Storm Team. Know that you can trust SERVPRO of Birmingham to put your home or business back together, “Like it never even happened.”