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The Basics of Seasonal Flood Prevention | SERVPRO of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties
3/15/2024 (Permalink)
When life gets tricky, sometimes it is best to take things back to the basics. Dealing with frustrating math homework, getting stumped over how to fix a leaky sink, or struggling with a work conflict can all sometimes be handled easier when you start at the beginning.
The same holds true for disaster preparedness. Starting with what you know and working your way forward can make sure your home is ready for anything, especially when it comes to floods.
Unfortunately, flooding emergencies are a common issue, so doing what you can to prevent serious damage can help minimize your situation.
Flooding can happen in a variety of different ways, even if it is not actively raining. Broken dams or levees, busted water lines or faulty appliances can all lead to watery messes. Of course, Mother Nature can also bring heavy rain that can cause water to infiltrate your home as well.
Being surrounded by lakes and rivers makes our community susceptible to flooding whenever we are experiencing a particularly wet season. This is why knowing your property’s flood risk is crucial to your safety.
Even if your property isn’t in a specific flood zone, it is still important for you to prepare for the possibility of a flood. Low-lying areas of your property can easily fill up with water or heavy rain can fall fast enough to overwhelm the earth around your home. Install longer downspouts to help keep the water farther away from your home or add extra drainage so your property can stay dry no matter what.
It wouldn’t be northern Wisconsin without all of the wonderful tree coverage in our area, but the trees and vegetation can be troublesome when it comes to rain and flooding issues. Install gutter covers for your gutter system to help reduce the risk of clogs or blockages in your lines, and get in the habit of checking your roof regularly for signs of damage.
Even if you property does flood, you can still learn from it and you can take permanent steps to help prevent the situation from happening again.
If your basement always gets wet during the spring thaw, consider having your yard professionally graded. If your property slopes away from your home instead of towards it, you can utilize gravity to help keep your spaces dry.
Inside your home, you should be checking the seals around your windows and doors regularly and replacing them as needed. In addition, you should consider completely replacing anything that is sagging or not hanging right anymore to ensure your home is air and watertight.
When you start with what you know, good things can happen! Remember, we are always Here to Help® you recover if you wind up with any sort of water damage.
Do you have water damage in your home? Contact us at SERVPRO® for fast recovery.