You decide to go to your base to look for some things that you have stored there. You turn on the lights and OH NO! There are several inches of standing water in your basement. You have a flooded and water damaged basement. What should you do?

1) Remember, safety first! If there are submerged electrical appliances in your basement, you will need to turn off the breaker in the basement to avoid electrocution. If any gas appliances, such as a water heater or oven with a pilot light, have been submerged, you should shut off the gas supply to these appliances as a precaution. Enter with caution, or if it “feels” unsafe, call a water damage professional immediately.

2) Try to find the source of the flood and stop the flow of new water from entering the basement. This may be simple or may require the help of a plumber or other professional in the trade. Some common sources of basement flooding:

A) Leaky fresh water supply line.
B) Leaking sewer drain line, SEWAGE!
C) Washing machine (on base) overflows/malfunctions.
D) Sump pump malfunction or failure.
E) Power outage resulting in sump pump failure.
F) Excessive landscape watering which creates a high man-made water table and can result in water showing through the concrete.
G) The naturally occurring high water table in the geographic area of ​​your home results in water showing through the concrete.
h) Floods due to the overflow of rivers, lakes and streams.
I) Street flooding in localized areas, this often occurs during heavy rains when storm drains are overflowing or clogged with leaves and debris.

3) Whether the source of the water is from a sewer drain line, sump pump failure, or groundwater flooding from a river, stream, or lake, the water may contain dangerous microbes or chemicals and must be managed and treated by a professional water damage company. .

4) Once the water source is cut off, move and assess personal contents for storage or disposal. Block large items that cannot be easily removed (cabinets, etc.)

5) If the area is small and just not finished with concrete, use a wet vac to extract as much water as possible and place a small dehumidifier and some fans in the area for at least a week. If basement flooding involves finished building materials like carpeting, framing, drywall, etc., stop and call a water damage professional for proper cleaning, drying, and disinfection. A professional water damage company will be able to dry and clean finished, salvageable building materials in a manner that prevents microbial amplification or mold growth. If complex systems, such as a water heater or heating system, become water damaged, call the appropriate professional to evaluate them (plumber or HVAC contractor).

6) Your homeowners insurance may or may not cover damage from a base flood. This will depend on the type of coverage you have and the source of your water. Contact your insurance claims professional for details on what is and is not covered.

7) Basement flooding can cause serious problems to your home’s fabric or indoor air quality if not promptly and properly managed and treated. If you have water damage in your basement, strongly consider calling a professional water damage company to properly repair and restore it.