Responding To Flood Damage In White Plains

The last couple of months taught all of us in NY to be prepared for water damage from flooding. When water floods your home, it is scary and overwhelming. Many of us do not how to respond, so we try to begin damage cleanup on our own. However, failing to follow specific steps can actually cause more damage and mean a longer restoration time for your home. The following list will help you be better prepared to respond to water damage from flooding. 

Responding to Flood Damage in your White Plains Home:

1. Contact your Insurance Agency. Once the source of the damage has been resolved, your first call should be to your local restoration company. Next, even if your insurance policy doesn’t cover water damage from flooding, you should still reach out to your provider and let them know a water damage event has occurred. If you do have insurance, most restoration companies have experience working with insurance companies and will be able to help file claims or answer questions you may have.
2. Do not enter a building with standing water at all until a qualified structural builder or engineer has cleared the home to be safe.
3. If there is still power, make sure power to the affected area is turned off. 
4. Young children and pets should be removed from and kept out of the affected area.
5.  Wear personal protective clothing (rubber gloves, boots, etc.) if you have to be in contact with water, and treat all water as if it is contaminated since most floodwater is. Try to avoid any contact if at all possible. 
6. Document the damage. Creating a detailed list of the damaged belongs or inventory of your home can go a long way in helping with an insurance claim. Take as many photos of the damage as possible. An adjuster may be sent to your home to assess the damage, but do not wait for them to start the documentation process. Any delay may result in the loss of coverage.
7. Unless you are in the middle of a weather event, open any doors or windows in the affected areas. This will allow the air to flow freely and prevent mold and microbial growth.
8. Remove furniture or standing items that can be safely taken out of the area. Any belongings in the affected area will need to be removed before cleanup and restoration can begin, and items that have been damaged beyond repair will only take up space and hold onto unnecessary moisture in the area. 
9. Try to remain come and do not panic. Water damage disasters can be stressful and traumatic. However, if you can stay, things will be much easier to deal with.

 Call Maxons Restoration. We are widely recognized as an innovative leader in water damage cleanup and property damage restoration industry in White Plains, and throughout the state of NY. We have the specialized expertise and resources necessary to help our clients successfully recover from flood water damage and all types of disasters. With over 75 years of experience, our long history of customer service and practical knowledge has proved our services to be essential when recovering from a disaster like water damage. We know what it takes to cleanup your home from water damage.