If you're dealing with a flooded home, you're likely apprehensive about what sort of water damage you'll confront. But one concern should take precedence: you and your family's immediate safety.
Though we think of a house as a safe haven, the environment of a flooded home is temporarily altered by the presence of water and the hazards it presents. Before you set foot inside a flooded home, take these precautions to make sure its safe.
- Walk around the exterior. Look for signs of roof damage or impending collapse, as well as damage to the foundation or brick walls. Check for downed power lines. Also be alert to the smell of leaking natural gas and the odor of toxic sewage contamination.
- Once inside, assess the safety of shutting off electricity. Do it yourself if you can reach the electrical panel without contacting standing water and if the area around the panel itself is dry. Otherwise, call an electrician and limit indoor movements to dry areas.
- If you smell natural gas inside and you can access the shutoff valve at the gas meter, turn off the gas. Report leakage to the gas company, even if you turn the gas off yourself. If you're unable to reach the meter to turn off the gas, leave the house immediately and call the gas company.
- Stay out of rooms with saturated ceilings or sagging drywall. These can collapse at any time under the weight of water saturation.
- Walk carefully. Avoid wading in water where you can't see what's beneath the surface. Stay away from heavy objects like furniture that may be unstable. Be aware that flood conditions may bring natural hazards like snakes into the house.
If you're dealing with a flooded home, rely on the professionals at Rytech Inc. for expert remediation.
Image via Shutterstock.com
