What To Do If Your Basement Floods In Springfield MO

Experiencing a flood in your home or business can be devastating, especially if, as it often does, it strikes with little or no warning.

As the lowest part of a property, basements are particularly susceptible to flood damage in Missouri.

Whether caused by extreme weather, a burst pipe, poor drainage or a backed-up sewer system, the final outcome of a flooded basement is often the same: a major cleanup and potentially extensive water damage.

The damage can be widespread, leading to costly repairs to your foundation and walls and even significant structural damage.

It can also progress at a rapid rate. That’s why knowing what to do if your basement floods is so important. Here are basement flood tips from the professionals at ABC Damage Restoration.

Always think about safety first

When dealing with a flooded basement, you need to act quickly to limit the damage and overall repair cost - especially if you’re dealing with an active flood situation. However, you mustn’t do so at the expense of the safety of the building’s occupants.

If there's a natural flood (caused by an extreme weather event) and your safety is endangered, of course you should evacuate the area and move to higher ground or a safe location away from the floodwaters.

However, if you’re not faced with immediate danger, as always, before entering any flooded area, you must ensure that the power supply is off and that you’re wearing protective clothing, such as rubber boots and gloves, to avoid contact with contaminated water.

Then, it’s a good idea to check if any drains are blocked and get sandbags to redirect the water flow and prevent it from entering your property, or to create a barrier around important infrastructure to prevent flood damage.

A man-made flood (caused by a burst pipe or overflowing appliance) should be approached differently. If you can, turn off the water source, or mains water, as quickly as possible to stop the water flow. This will prevent further water damage and give you time to assess the situation.

Once your safety is assured and there is no immediate threat to safety, you should call for professional help.

Tackle your flood cleanup with water damage restoration experts

To deal with a flooded basement properly and to ensure the safety of your building’s occupants, you’ll need to call a water damage restoration expert as soon as possible. This is because the most significant damage is often caused in the first 24 hours.

Serious water damage can threaten the structural integrity of your home; the more time that passes, the more expensive this may prove to be to repair.

Floodwater, especially if mixed with sewage, can also pose an immediate health risk. What’s more, within 48 hours dangerous mold and mildew can spread fast in a flooded house. Once it starts growing, it can be very costly to kill and remove for good.

By calling in a water damage restoration company, they can immediately set to work on mitigating further damage and health risks, and restoring your property.

Thanks to specialized equipment, they will be able to tackle the initial clean-up and remove as much standing water and moisture as possible. Their timely and targeted approach will minimize the amount of damage you face.

What is the water damage restoration process?

When you hire water damage restoration experts to deal with a flooded house, they will generally follow a set procedure:

1. Water damage restoration technicians will first isolate the source of the water (If not already done). This may involve turning off the main water supply.
2. Once isolated, they can then address any leaks. 
3. When water is no longer entering the basement, the standing water must be removed using vacuums.
4. Then, technicians will search for signs of material damage. If the damage is substantial, you may need to discard paneling, drywall, flooring or subflooring. Carpets and upholstery will need to be removed too to prevent mold growth.
5. Once the standing water and damaged areas are removed, the area must be dried out. With industrial fans and dehumidifiers, this can be complete within a couple of days. 
6. Once completely dry, technicians will then clean, sanitize and deodorize affected areas to kill any bacteria or fungi that had begun to germinate in the moist areas.
7. Once everything has been given the green light, the restorer will take care of any necessary repairs to your walls, floors, ceiling, or foundation. 
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The scope of the repairs will depend on the extent of the damage and your insurance policy or restoration budget.

Work closely with insurance companies

Most flood damage restoration will be covered by homeowners’ insurance. However, in order to make a successful claim, you must make sure that you hire an approved remediation company to carry out any work.

It’s also helpful if that company has experience working with restoration insurance claims. That’s because they will be able to document the process and work directly with your insurance provider to save you time, effort and stress.

Rapid flood response in Springfield and Branson MO

ABC Damage Restoration’s professional damage restoration experts can help with any water damage restoration or flood cleanup problem.

With experienced and qualified technicians on standby 24/7, help can quickly be on the scene of a flooding emergency in Springfield and Branson MO. That way, work can start to restore your property to its pre-loss condition ASAP.

Call (417) 384-2950 today and get a free quote.