Rain, Rain, Go Away: Minimizing Water Damage from Flooding

9/16/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding, according to the Federal Emergency Management Association, is “the most common and costly disaster in the United States.”

At any time of year, flooding is a major threat to homes and businesses. However, the risk of storm damage to properties is magnified during hurricane season. Flooding, according to the Federal Emergency Management Association, is “the most common and costly disaster in the United States.” For residential and commercial properties, FEMA recommends that homeowners and business owners take three actions in an effort to prevent flood damage: “Know Your Risk”, “Insure Your Property”, and “Reduce Your Risk.” This blog will highlight several of FEMA’s guidelines that can help you protect your property from serious damage as a result from flooding. 

Preventative Measures Inside and Outside

Protecting your home or business from flood damage requires planning and calculated action. The outdoor areas of your property, as well as everything indoors, warrant attention. One preventative measure that you can take outside of your home or business is elevating your property’s outdoor utilities and equipment. Outdoor heat pumps and air conditioning units can be subject to serious damage when they fall in the path of a flood. Raising this equipment about 1 foot off of the ground can be pivotal in preventing costly damage. The same can be done indoors with internal utilities, such as your HVAC system. Another beneficial step to take inside of your home or business is placing important documents and valuable objects in water-tight containers. Store these containers in elevated locations in order to further protect them from the irreversible effects of flood damage. The three steps outlined thus far must be taken well in advance of a storm, but there are some preventative measures that you can take with minimal advanced notice. It is helpful to get into the habit of cleaning your property’s gutters regularly so as to prevent debris from accumulating, which blocks rainwater from draining properly. Ineffective draining can lead to more severe storm and water damage during periods of heavy rain that often occur during a flood.

Call SERVPRO for Professional Storm Damage Restoration

Eliminating the possibility for storm or water damage completely during a flood is unreasonable, but having preventative measures in place can be helpful in lessening the severity of any damage sustained. Ready.gov offers a longer list of steps that homeowners and business owners can take in preparing their properties for flooding. Follow these steps, as well as the recommendations provided in this blog, in order to best protect your property. In the event that the unexpected occurs and your property finds itself in need of storm damage restoration services, look no further than SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh East. Our seasoned Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration specialists will work with you to ensure that your property is restored to its preloss condition as quickly as possible when you call us at (412) 672-5400. Be sure to check out our website for our professional Water and Storm Damage Tips before help arrives, as well as our specialized services, such as Commercial Storm Damage Restoration and Storm Damage Contents Restoration.