3 Ways To Reduce Flood Damage
Posted on: 25 October 2021
If left untreated, flood damage can be just as extensive as damage caused by any other natural disaster. Among many other things, flooding can lead to electrical damage, sanitary hazards, blocked sewage systems, as well as various types of structural damage. If you feel your home may be at risk, take a look below for just three ways in which you can work to reduce flood damage so that the aftermath is not nearly as bad.
Maintain Your Sump Pump
If your home has a basement, then you're likely aware that beneath the lowest point is a sump pump, which pumps excess water out of your house in the event of a flood. You should regularly check your sump pump to make sure that it is operating properly and that it is not blocked by debris or buildup of any kind. You may also want to consider getting a portable sump pump, which can perform the same job in different areas of your house that may be flooded. Just don't forget to pump the water to an area that is already drained and that slopes away from your home.
Shape the Ground Around Your Home
If you have the chance to prepare before a major storm hits, don't waste any time shaping the ground around your home. Your goal in doing this should ultimately be to direct water away from your home. In order to successfully prevent floodwater from reaching your home, you'll need heavy materials that can act as a kind of dam, as well as a shovel or other tools to help dig trenches that will carry the water away. These trenches should be deepest in front of your home's windows, which can be easily broken by the pressure of rising water.
Protect Appliances
Just before major flooding occurs, many people will act first by gathering together their valuables and then placing them up high beyond the reach of floodwaters. Unfortunately, quite a few people do not have the same instinct for their appliances. Once you have established an external light source, make sure you are on dry ground, and then shut down electric power in your home via the breaker. Finally, do your best to prop up larger appliances such as refrigerators and dryers up on wood or concrete blocks so that they suffer as little damage as possible.
For more information on water damage restoration, contact a company like All Things Restored LLC.
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