When heavy rains cause nearby bodies of water to swell beyond their banks, there’s a risk of flooding in any homes that are nearby. The water doesn’t need to appear especially threatening if you have a basement. It can begin to seep in through the concrete walls due to oversaturated soil long before the apparent flood waters reach you. And if those water levels do make their way into your home, they can begin flowing in through basement windows fairly quickly. If your basement has become flooded in a storm, here are the steps you should immediately take, as well as how to find fast water removal services in Kansas City.
Safety First: Stay Out of the Water
If your home’s basement has become flooded due to natural causes, it’s imperative that you not enter the water in your basement, even if it’s only a few inches deep. Don’t go in to try to pull out your possessions, and make sure children recognize that this is not a fun indoor swimming pool. Floodwaters can be dangerous. It’s often murky and muddy, meaning it can hide sharp and hazardous objects below the surface.
Even if the water is clear, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Before the floodwaters reached your home, they could have traveled through any number of contaminated areas, including sewer systems. That water is likely filled with all kinds of harmful viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. You should only ever enter the water if it’s to pull out a person or pet. And then, you should try to do so while wearing safety gear.
Turn Off Electricity
This is another safety issue. While major storms that cause flooding will often knock out the local power grid, too, it’s crucial that you still find your home’s circuit board and turn off electricity to any flooded parts of your home, like the basement. The electricity will likely be restored to your home at some point, and the last thing you want is for an errant electrical current from a damaged wire to send a spark through the floodwaters. If anyone is standing in the water—whether it’s a family member or a contractor working to remove the water, that electrical spark can cause severe harm or even death.
Remove the Water
Speaking of removing the water, this will be the next step. It’s important to note that this isn’t something you should put off. It would be best if you acted quickly to get the water removed and the space dried out before mold set in. And did we mention that mold can begin to grow in just 24 hours? We know how distressing dealing with a flooded basement can be, but it’s essential to move forward with removing the water as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Many basements have sump pumps that can remove water, but severe flooding is often too much for these pumps to handle. You should contact one of our water removal experts for assistance in completely draining and drying the area.
We use commercial-grade wet-and-dry vacuums to suck out as much standing water as we can. Then, we use industrial blowers and fans, and humidifiers to remove any extra moisture in the area that can contribute to mold growth. Using this level of equipment is the fastest and most effective way to dry out a water-damaged basement.
Restore Your Home
A quality restoration company can help you get your home back in order after a flood. It is only after we have completely dried out your home that restoration efforts can begin. Damaged materials that weren’t salvageable will need to be removed and replaced. This can include flooring, drywall, furnishings, and more.
While we don’t offer these restoration services, we can refer you to a company that we trust after removing the water from your basement and drying out the area. Contact us for water damage cleanup in Kansas City as soon as you possibly can after a flood, so we can prevent any further water damage and avoid serious mold issues.