Suffered a Flood? Here’s What to Do | SERVPRO of North Clay County/Oakleaf/North Middleburg

1/25/2024 (Permalink)

Has a recent flash flood taken your home by storm? SERVPRO of North Clay County/Oakleaf/North Middleburg is here to help restore it. Call us now!

Flooding issues can pop up at any time in the Clay County area. Strong summer storms or hurricanes in the early fall can lead to heavy rain that quickly overwhelms our community. 

While it is not always possible to prevent flood damage, being prepared for the incoming weather can help you avoid some of the more costly damage and it can help keep your family safe. 

Take these steps below as soon as a flood watch or warning is issued, and call us right away if the resulting weather leaves your home soaked or flooded. 

Preparing With Safety in Mind 

Flash flood warnings can be issued at any moment, even if it is not actively raining yet. As soon as the alert is issued, start getting ready at your home. If you are out and about when the warning comes through, head for home quickly, being sure to avoid any roads that tend to flood when it rains and avoiding any low-lying areas. 

Once home, start tidying up your yard and bring anything that you can into your home and garage that you don’t want swept away in the water. Things that are too heavy to move, like your propane tanks, grills and patio furniture, should be tied down and secured. 

You should also get your car into the garage to protect it from significant damage. Close storm shutters, and pull any important documents or keepsakes out of the lowest level of our home. 

What to Do When the Inclement Weather Arrives

Stay inside and watch the conditions as they start to change and keep your weather radio on or stay connected to the authorities so you are always informed. If water does start rushing into your home, stay calm and stay above the water line. 

Eventually the water will stop rising and the storm will move on. Once it is safe to do so, walk carefully around your home. Wear sturdy waterproof boots if you must walk through any floodwater in your home. 

Start taking photos of any damage you see, both inside and outside your home. Your insurance company will want to see the damage firsthand, and we will be able to create our restoration plan based off of these images that you capture.

Drying Up the Water

Our first goal is to ensure your home is safe to work in, so we will assess the situation and create our flood restoration plan based on the amount of damage we see. We will get to work securing your home from the elements while also removing the standing water. 

Our team will get every bit of residual moisture because we know that even just a few leftover droplets can continue to cause damage and even mold growth. 

We will work on saving your possessions and drying out your soft and fragile materials. Our team operates on a “restore rather than replace” mentality, so we will do whatever we can to protect your belongings. 

Once everything is dry, we will address the necessary structural repairs and sanitize your entire space. Our flood restoration team is dedicated to helping you recover no matter how destructive your flood damage is.

Floodwater should always be cleaned up by professionals. Contact SERVPRO of North Clay County/Oakleaf/North Middleburg today.