The First 48 Hours – What Happens After a Storm When Water Damage Occurs?

8/5/2020 (Permalink)

Water restoration following a Kansas City storm.

If you have ever experienced flooding in your home because of a storm, then you likely know it doesn’t take long before things go wrong. This is why it is essential to take care of problems as quickly as possible. Remember, water is an unrelenting and destructive force that can cause serious damage in a very short period of time.

One of the first things you should do is to call a professional for help with water and flood restoration services. If you try to handle this on your own, you will find it takes up to five times as long, and you will likely be less than satisfied with the results you achieve. A professional can help clean up the mess that is present and restore the building to maintain health and safety while reducing the likelihood of permanent damage.

Structural Compromise and Water Saturation Issues

If your commercial building or home is suffering from standing water because of a flood after a storm, the water is already working on the hidden wood studs, subfloor and drywall. If wood is saturated in water, it will bulk up and expand beyond its capabilities. This results in cracking, stretching, and eventually, deformities. Usually, this occurs at the bottom part of the wood where stability is essential. The sooner you have all the excess water removed; the less damage will occur.

Sanitation and Health Issues

If your home or commercial building is flooded on the lowest floor of the basement, make sure you don’t contact the water – at all. If you are wondering what may be in the water within the initial 48 hours, consider the list below:

• Paint and related substances
• Cleaning agents and chemicals
• Backed up sewage from the mainline
• Food
• Grime and dirt from the outside and that’s in the carpet and flooring
• Dirty laundry water
• Electrical or wiring components

Dealing with Insurance Issues

The initial 48 hours are the most important when dealing with your insurance agent. Before contacting your insurance agency, though, it is a good idea to contact a property restoration contractor.

A restoration and cleaning professional can help document where the water damage originated and can provide this information to you so you can present it to the insurance carrier.  Once the carrier has all of the information, coverage can be determined based on your contract/policy.  Your insurance adjuster is the only one who can determine coverage based on your contract/policy.

A restoration professional won’t play sides. What the Project Manager can do is to clarify that flooding, rather than pre-existing conditions, resulted in the damage. They can help you by providing professional consultations through the eyes of an experienced contractor.

When it comes to handling water damage, there is no question that there are more than a few things that must be considered. Working with the professionals of SERVPRO of Kansas City Midtown is the best way to ensure that the results are achieved and that the water issues are resolved, along with any damage that has occurred.