What to do if your home is flooded
Unfortunately, summer is already a distant memory, and we’re facing the wettest months of the year. As we move into autumn and winter, many of our homes may be at risk of flooding. If you find yourself having to deal with this catastrophic event, it’s essential to act quickly to minimise the impact.
Here’s a step-by-step guide from ServiceMaster Restore Devon on what to do if your home is flooded.
Stay Safe
- Evacuate if necessary and check with the emergency services before returning to your property.
- Turn off the electricity and gas.
- Avoid contact with the flood water, which may be contaminated. Wash your hands thoroughly if you touch the water.
- Wear gloves, a face mask and sturdy footwear when cleaning your home.
- Keep young children, pets, and vulnerable people away from flooded areas.
Report
- Contact your insurance company immediately to notify them and begin a claim.
- Document any damage and take photos and videos to provide evidence.
- Make an inventory of damaged items.
Clean up
- Remove standing water with pumps or buckets.
- Clean and disinfect all areas that have come into contact with the water.
- Open doors and windows to help ventilate and dry out the area.
- Remove and dispose of saturated carpets, rugs, upholstery and soft furnishings.
- Relocate undamaged furniture to a dry area.
- Use dehumidifiers and fans to help dry out the area.
What next?
Your insurance company will arrange for someone to visit your property to assess the damage. They should then appoint property-drying professionals to help dry your home.
Our cleaning and disaster restoration team is BDMA-trained and accredited to handle flood damage restoration, building drying and dehumidification. We also offer residential and commercial carpet, rug, upholstery and hard floor cleaning by ServiceMaster Clean.
If you would like further advice or help to deal with the aftermath of a flood, please contact ServiceMaster Restore Devon on 01803 200 278 or email office@smcdevon.co.uk
