 Whether it’s during a hurricane or just bad pipes, a flood can occur in your basement, damage your possessions and damage your home--including your carpet, drywall, and framing. According to FloodsList.com, floods in Canada cause $673 million worth of damage every year. Floods are the second most frequent natural hazard in Canada, so you need to be prepared when it happens. Why do basements flood?
All basements can flood, regardless of where you live. Water always runs from high ground to low ground and your basement is in the perfect place to gather water. Excessive rain is a common reason for flooding in basements. If your lawn is sloped towards your house, that will naturally draw the water down to the basement. Faulty plumping can also be blamed for flooding. Appliances such as washers and water heaterst are usually located in the basement and can cause flooding as well. Here are some natural causes of flooding:
- Snowmelt runoff
- Storm-rainfall and “flash flooding’
- Ice jams during ice formation and spring break up
- Natural dams
- Coastal flooding from storm surges
- Hurricanes
- Tsunamis
Healthy and safety concerns
Floods are not only dangerous to your home, but to you as well. Electricity and water don’t mix, so if you are abl, turn off your home’s power and be careful entering your basement to avoid electrocution. You also can’t be sure where the floodwater came from-it may have come from a sanitary sewer and contain raw sewage. There could also be pollutants in the water. When it’s time to clean up, make sure to wear gloves, safety glasses, and a face mask. Afterwards, wash thoroughly to make sure to rid of any pollutants.
Companies to call
When the flood occurs, make sure to call a plumber immediately. They are professionals and will be able to better assess the situation and figure out the cause. After that, call your insurance company. They will help you with clean-up procedures, contractors to call, and claim procedures. Make sure to take photos of the damage and create a list of damaged items. Also, keep all receipts for emergency work done, purchases, and repairs. Your insurance may be able to cover the costs, depending on your coverage. The clean up
Before you start cleaning up the basement, make sure you’re dressed properly. You should be wearing boots, protective eyewear, gloves, and a face mask. If you have a sump pump, that should help with most of the water, but it won’t get everything. Here are steps to clean up after a flood:
- Save your belongings. Try and remove as many items as you can, as quickly as you can. This will help avoid mold and mildew.
- Create an itemized list. This will later help with insurance companies
- Eliminate excess water. A wet/dry vacuum can help suck up all the water. Using old rags an towels will also help gathering the water.
- Completely dry and disinfect. Use rags and towels to dry walls, furnaces, and any other objects in the basement.
- Ventilate. Open windows and have a fan in the basement to help dry it faster and avoid mold.
- Furniture and carpets. If they aren’t too damaged, you can get them professionally cleaned and dry.
- Removed damaged drywall. Drywall acts like a sponge when it’s wet and it can be a great breeding ground for mold, so it's a good idea to remove damaged drywall.
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