When I was a kid, the house my family was living in was over 50 years old and had a foundation that invited rain water indoors. We would get anywhere from a few inches to a few feet of water in our basement at
least once a year, and the cleanup was always a gigantic family project. Once the water was pumped out, we would gather up carpet squares and lay them outside to dry while my parents bleached nearly every surface. After consulting with a waterproofing company and constantly replacing the sump pump, we realized that our best bet would be to move.
Flood Safety Tips for Your Home and Your Family
However, there are thousands of homes that undergo the same type of flooding year after year and never do anything to stop it. Repeated flooding can cause thousands of
dollar worth of damage, but the damage it can cause to material things is nothing compared to the damage it can do to the health and safety of your family. Due to the risks that flooding can create, we have compiled a list of safety tips that every homeowner should keep in mind should the flood waters begin to rise.
- Keep Kids Out: The flooded basement or crawl space is NOT a play area! Lock up the flooded area and keep the kids out! The safety concerns discussed below should be enough to convince you that the kids shouldn’t be playing in the water, and drowning is another concern. A foot of water may not seem like much to you, but your toddler’s unsteady steps and inability to swim can spell disaster.
- Electricity: If the electricity to the home stays on during the storm or comes back on before the water drains, a flooded basement or crawl space becomes a risk factor for electrocution. Stay out of the water as much as possible, turn the electricity off if you have to go through it, and always wear rubber soled shoes.
- Carbon Monoxide: If you have to keep the electricity off because of a flood, make sure that you don’t use generators or camper stoves or lights indoors. These appliances create carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion and this gas can quickly build to harmful levels in the home. It is called the Silent Killer for a reason, so make sure you use these appliances OUTDOORS only!
- Bacteria: The flood water in your basement may carry illness causing bacteria, and this is an especially high risk of the water in the basement contains sewage! Stay out of the water if you can and wear coverings over your legs if you have to come in contact with it. Also, wash hands and legs with soap and water if they become wet with flood water.
- Mold: Mold is usually a result of ineffective clean up after a flood. Areas of the basement stay wet long after the water is gone and before you know it, you have mold flourishing in the space. Mold irritates asthma, allergies, and respiratory illnesses, and it can harm your health even if you don’t have a preexisting respiratory condition.
- Gas Leaks: After the flood waters are gone, have all appliances that came in contact with water checked out by a professional home services company before you use them again. Appliances that use gas for fuel, like the furnace, may leak this gas into the home and cause fires or even explosions! If you smell gas, get out of the house and call the fire department.
Get Professional Help with the Clean Up!
If you are worried about the of your family and your home after a flood, call in a professional. They will have the skills to properly assess your home and help you clean up the mess the right way!
