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The First 6 Things to Do in the Event of a Basement Flood

A basement flood is way more than a bit of a bummer. A basement flood is much more than an inconvenience. In fact, it is a disaster that can jeopardize safety and be expensive.

When you walk down the stairs and see water covering the floor of your basement, it is hard to escape the feeling of dread. You probably have thousands of questions racing through your head: How do I get the water out? My things will be all ruined! How can I clean this up? What do I do to make sure this never happens again?

If you are not sure where to begin when the basement floods, it is best to start at the beginning. Here are the first steps that we recommend you take when your basement floods.

The First 6 Things to Do in the event of a Basement Flood

1. Turn off all electricity that goes to the basement

If you cannot shut off electrical service to your basement without walking through the water, contact a licensed electrician for help.

2. Contact an electrician right away

Even if you managed to shut off the electricity, you still want to wait for the ‘ a ok’ of an electrician that the basement is safe for you to enter. Additionally, an electrician can help you to discern what electronics and appliances can be used or salvaged.

3. Wear protective equipment

Put on a pair of gloves and goggles when entering the flood area in case the water is contaminated with chemicals and/or fecal matter. Also, keep pets and children away from the area.

4. Call a plumber

A plumber can help you to discover where the source of the flood is and how to stop it.

5. Contact your insurance company

6. Begin the drying out process

The drying out process will not be easy, but start by opening windows and doors in the basement or near the basement entrance. Bring in fans. You will probably also want a shop-vac or to contact a home restoration company to help. Make sure to thoroughly dry out and sanitize areas in order to prevent future problems from mold and mildew.

Looking for more information about floods? Check out some of these past posts:

How to Save Photos from a Flooded Basement

Preparing for a Flood Checklist

Stay Safe with a Flooded Basement

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