Storm Water Damage Dos and Don’ts

7/16/2020 (Permalink)

When unexpected water damage strikes, know that our teams are here to help!

In 2005 the United States was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever hit our great country. During this horrific natural disaster, approximately 1833 people died while millions of others were left homeless with their entire lives destroyed by the high winds and significant flooding. This Disaster was the costliest storm in modern-day history causing approximately $108 billion dollars worth of damages. This number means nothing when compared to the number of individuals who lost their lives and to those individuals and families we continue to send our hearts and condolences.
While there are certain situations in life that we simply cannot fully prepare for, here are a few do's and don'ts for flood survivors:

• DO - Register for FEMA disaster assistance at disasterassistance.gov.
• DO - Report any flood damage to local officials and file a claim with your insurance company.
• DO - Throw away wet contents such as bedding, carpet, and furniture as these items may become a health hazard due to mold.
• DO - Inspect your building for structural damage before re-entering your home.
• DON’T - Wait for your insurance before cleaning up flood damage or starting repairs.
• DON’T - Worry that Federal Disaster Assistance is money that needs to be repaid.
• DON’T - Enter a building that may have electrical hazards or structural hazards that could cause secondary damage or could harm an individual.

All-in-all, we hope to never see another disaster like this again in our lifetime. However, know that wherever disaster may strike, the SERVPRO of Park la Brea team will be here to respond and to assist, 24/7, 265! Our expert water damage restoration team and mold damage restoration team are always here to help!