Water Damage: What To Do Until Help Arrives

8/16/2021 (Permalink)

Yesterday’s thunderstorm lasted from the late afternoon and through the night, bringing heavy rain to our area. Flooded roads, flooded basements, sewage backups, sump pump failures and more have wreaked havoc on our community. Our SERVPRO of Chesterfield and SERVPRO of Tri-Cities, Plus team is working around the clock and hustling to get to all of our customers who are in need. As we always try to get to everyone ASAP, sometimes those customers who have to wait for the crew are panicked and don’t know what to do until help arrives. Here is a quick list of tips to follow when you’re waiting for our SERVPRO mitigation team to arrive and take care of the water in your home.

First of all, SAFETY. Consider these questions and thoughts:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

What to Do Until Help Arrives:

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions for even drying.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Gather loose items from floors.