What to do in the event of a flood

We’ve all experienced a bath overflow or a leak in the roof. It’s not so often that a roof is damaged by a sudden storm, allowing water to cascade into your home, office or warehouse. If the affected area is small, cleaning up the water with a mop or a towel can be effective.However, there is often a lot of hidden damage that’s naked to the eye. And if the damage is more significant, perhaps as the result of localised flooding through your walls or windows, it’s not a job you should consider tackling on your own.

Whether the damage you’ve experienced is to your home, business or a property you manage, our 25 Point Plan below can provide you with an invaluable emergency response.

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We are available 24/7 West Michigan to respond to your emergency

25 POINT PLAN

  • Call us on (616) 379-3039. We can usually be at your property within 1-2 hours any hour of the day or night.
  • If appropriate, initiate your Emergency Management Plan.
  • Call your insurance company. Every insurer has a preferred response process. Ask first, so that you don’t get caught out later.
  • Ask your insurer what your responsibilities include and begin the process of determining if your loss is covered and to what extent it is covered.
  • If water has entered through your roof or wicked up the walls, it is important that you turn off all power to the property.
  • Do not handle wet electrical equipment.
  • Open your doors and windows and if you’re able, push water out the door using a wooden or plastic broom.
  • Photograph the damaged area.
  • If you can, stack furniture, possessions, stock or business records on benches and tables with dry electrical goods in the highest places.
  • Wipe excess water from wood furniture.
  • Place foil or plastic under furniture legs to prevent staining to carpets or rugs.
  • Lift up floor length drapes and place them through plastic hangers hung from the curtain rods.
  • Remove small rugs, boxes, books or other items that might stain the carpet.
  • Gather loose objects from the floor.
  • Locate your important papers, valuables and mementos and move them to a dry, safe place.
  • Move valuable paintings and art objects to dry in a safe place.
  • Don’t throw away removed or damaged materials until instructed by your insurance company.
  • Keep an activity log, including a record of all correspondence with your insurance company.
  • Keep a copy of all receipts of any items purchased to replace contents that have been damage as a result of this event.
  • Be extremely careful of wet and slippery floors especially when traveling from wet areas onto linoleum, tile, or wood floors.
  • Avoid wading even in shallow water as it may be contaminated.
  • If you must enter shallow water, wear solid boots for protection.
  • Secure objects that are likely to float and cause damage
  • Relocate waste containers, any household chemicals and poisons well above water level.
  • In the event of a major storm check your garage, shed or any other outside buildings and move any at risk contents to higher ground (remember things like cans of fuel, gas cylinders, chemicals etc).

DO NOT

  • Use electronics or other household appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially on concrete;
  • Use your household vacuum as this may cause electrical shock;
  • Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water;
  • Place wet items on unaffected carpet.

DON’T PANIC

We are trained to help you get through this experience and restore your home or business as quickly as possible.

Contact Us