Protecting Your Home Against Flood Damage

2/16/2022 (Permalink)

Floods can lead to severe damage in your Pueblo, CO home. Call us to avoid future risks.

Worrying about flooding in your Pueblo, CO home may seem counterintuitive if you are not in an area prone to flooding, but with natural disasters involving flooding around 90% of the time, it would be unwise for homeowners to not prepare their homes in case of a flood.

Ways Homeowners Can Protect Against Flood Damage

While there is no way to practice prevention for floods, there are steps homeowners can take to limit the damage a flood may cause:

Know your risk. Use the FEMA Flood Map Tool or call the local branch of your emergency management office to better understand your risk and the precautions to take.

Discuss emergency procedures. Keep the entire family aware of the emergency and evacuation plan for the house. Teach every adult how to turn off the electricity main and make sure emergency supplies are easily accessible.

Elevate valuables. Important documents pertaining to the household, such as insurance papers, should be kept in a place that would be easily accessible and protected should you need to file a claim following the flood.

Prepare appliances. In the case of a shallow flood, appliances such as washers and dryers can be elevated on bricks or stands to protect the internal workings from water damage.

Turn off electricity. Even if you feel it’s unlikely that the waters would reach electrical appliances or outlets, prevent the risk of shock or electrocution by turning off the electricity supply to rooms that are at risk.

Raise hazardous materials. By elevating things such as oil, paint and cleaning supplies, you can prevent dangerous substances from spilling into the floodwater.

Anchor propane and fuel tanks. A tipped propane or fuel tank can pollute floodwaters or pose an explosion risk. Fuel tanks should be securely anchored.

Disasters such as floods are devastating, but a bit of pre-planning can go a long way in protecting your valuables and keeping your family safe.

If you’ve experienced water damage due to a flood or other causes, SERVPRO® of Pueblo is here to help. Our technicians are fully trained in water remediation, and our ²⁴⁄₇ Emergency Line means we’ll be there for you when you call.