Nobody chooses to be the victim of a flood; it is certainly possible that your home or workplace is more likely to flood but this is not a good enough reason for most people to move. After all, any building could be hit by fire or some other natural disaster. Even those properties which are believed to be safe from flooding can suffer at the hands of a broken pipe or torrential rain combined with a drainage issue. Being at risk of a flood is not enough to change your lifestyle, but everyone should have a plan as to how to deal with a flood; this will make it much easier to resolve the issue should it ever happen.
Stage 1 – The Plumber
The first step of any plan is finding a local plumber; they may be able to assist if the flood is the result of a plumbing issue. You should also ensure you know the location of all the stopcocks in your house; if a flood is caused by a burst pipe at least you can turn the water off!
Stage 2 – Flood Recovery
If you have been unfortunate enough to have experienced a flood due to a natural disaster or even torrential rain you will not be able to prevent it, although sand bags may keep some of the water out. In this instance you will need to have the number of a good flood recovery firm.
A good firm will have a dedicated emergency line and can be contacted at any time of the day or night; knowing that someone is on their way to help is a huge help in this kind of situation.
You should also confirm that they have the equipment to deal with the water in your house. Flood recovery is more than just pumping the water out of your house. The firm will need to bring in industrial dryers to remove the water left in the floor, walls and even the furnishings, (if any are salvageable.) They should also be equipped to deal with the mold that will, inevitably, start to appear as the moisture is removed from your property.
A professional firm, such as Lemarg should be able to get to you quickly and start work straight away; this will minimize the damage caused by the water. They should also have a good reputation which can be easily verified via either your friends and neighbours or the social media sites.
Stage 3 – The Future
Having experienced a flood and survived it you will probably be keen to rebuild your home or business. An important part of this should be learning from the experience you have had and devising a plan to help you prevent it from happening again; if that is possible.
Natural disasters cannot normally be prevented but you may feel that sand bags kept handy will help to minimize the water. A plumbing issue may make you consider the condition of all your plumbing and whether anything else might cause an issue. The best response to any flood is to have a friend to support you and a plan for the future.