Chances are, once in your lifetime (or more if you live near an area prone to flooding), you will experience a flood in your home or workplace. Disasters are bad enough, but when they are in your home, stress levels can go through the roof.
It’s hard to believe, but other than being cropped, this image has not been altered to show more water! This is an example of a large water loss in which the structure was subject to a water main break. This particular flood was so large, multiple ARS locations were called to handle the mitigation.
While it’s a short wait between the time you call ARS and the time a Disaster Team is at your door, it can feel like an eternity due to the state of panic you might feel from the flood, but stay busy, it helps!
Look closely and you will see standing water covering the entire floor! This image is an example of ground water and how it can quickly take over when it pushes it’s way through a structure’s foundation.
First, if you haven’t already, call ARS. Sometimes, we want to try and save money by calling a friend or handyman to help you mitigate the water. Keep in mind, ARS is a Certified Firm by the IICRC (the people who literally wrote the book on disaster cleanup and sets and maintains industry standards for restoration companies) and ARS is insured to help better protect your home.
Our Disaster Cleanup Team also ensures your house or structure is drying correctly to prevent the growth of any mold. Friends and Handymen are wonderful, but can’t protect and restore your home like ARS can and don’t always have the right equipment to find moisture, mitigate the damage, dry out the structure, and restore your property to its pre-loss conditions.
When carpet is not dried correctly, it become susceptible to microbial growth. This picture is an example of carpet effected by a flood that was not correctly dried out after the water loss.
Second, call your insurance and see what they need from you to start a claim*.
Third, if it is safe to do so, remove any items from the affected area including:
- Any insurance papers
- Cash, credit cards, important financial paperwork
- Car keys
- Pets and pet supplies
- Jewelry, firearms, or other valuables
- Cell Phone and Charger
- Drivers Licenses, Passports, or other forms of ID
- Any and all medical necessities, i.e., eye glasses or contacts, prescriptions, hearing aids, and anything else you might need.
- Any items sensitive to temperature or humidity
If any of these items have been effected by a sewage flood, take caution before handling them and alert ARS beforehand you need for any of those items to not be bagged up.
Remember, we are open 24/7, 365 days a year to assist you with a Flood! So don’t stress, call anytime day or night and an ARS representative will be available to take your call and dispatch a team to your home to prevent further damage!
*Not all water losses are covered by insurance. You may be responsible for the cost of the cleanup. With that being said, ARS is happy to work with you on the cost of cleanup and restoration as a courtesy to you!