Water damage can be caused by many different things, like faulty plumbing, wear and tear causing leaks, burst pipes, etc. Many of those sources cannot easily be predicted, but flooding from external sources not only can be predicted but can be prevented if you know how to take the proper steps to protect your home from flood damage.
The first thing you need to know is what type of flooding can affect your home. Floods are caused by various sources, which means there are different levels of risk involved. You do not need to worry about coastal flooding from hurricanes if you live 100 miles from the nearest coast. However, your risk of flooding is still present. Start by looking at the various types of flooding and who may be affected by each type.
Flash flooding is the most common risk for homes and businesses in the northeast section of Georgia. This is flooding due to severe storms that drop a large amount of rain in a short time. When the water is falling to the ground faster than it can be absorbed, it will run off to the lower areas or to areas that are easily accessible to the runoff water. This flooding can occur within 6 hours of the immediate cause which can be heavy rain, debris jams in rivers or dam failure. The characteristic of this type of flooding is a rapid rise of water in low lying areas. Urban areas are more at risk because the larger quantities of concrete and asphalt reduce absorption by the soil. The biggest risk of this type of flooding is the lack of time to be notified and prepared for this event. The flow of water in a flash flood can be very strong, which makes it powerful enough to damage trees and structures like your home, and sweep away people, animals, vehicles and anything else that is not secured to the ground. Damage to your home can be foundation damage, appliance damage and water being pushed into cavities that will grow mold if not properly mitigated.
River flooding is when excessive rain and runoff causes the river level to rise enough to overflow its banks and flood areas that are normally dry. In colder environments, this can also be caused by rapid snowmelt and ice jams, but in Georgia it is usually from heavy rainfall. Areas at risk are usually low-lying areas, farmland and roadways that travel along riverbanks. For a small portion of the population, there is a risk of dam failure which may cause a sudden increase in the water flow of the river downstream.
Coastal flooding is primarily caused by storm surges, which are typically hurricanes, tropical cyclones or cold weather storms typically referred to as Nor’easters. Other factors that can cause coastal flooding are rising sea levels, heavy rainfall and strong tidal winds. This type of flooding brings the risk of injury or drowning trying to escape the rapidly rising water and illness from contaminates that wash in with the seawater. Damage to your home can include battering waves causing destruction of the structure, erosion of the ground beneath it and damage from loose objects being blown into the building. The Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast are highly prone to this type of flooding due to hurricanes and storm surges, but this type of flooding can affect any property that is close to any of the oceans. The problem with this type of flooding is that inland flooding, which is coastal flooding that was able to travel for miles inland affecting property far from the coast, is under-emphasized when a storm surge is present. As a result, inland flooding has been growing as a percentage of the total damage because people are not properly prepared to deal with storm surge miles from the coast. Storms in the Gulf can travel inland taking large amounts of water with them, flooding large areas before the storm is pushed by the Gulf Stream winds into the Atlantic Ocean.
Ground water flooding is typically the backflow of water that cannot drain properly due to blocked or inundated drainage systems including drains to sewers, creeks, rivers and canals. This type of flooding is equally likely in urban or rural areas. The good news is that this is a slower flooding than other forms of flooding, leaving you time to move yourself and your possessions to a safer location. The bad news is that it is also slower to recede and may require drainage repair before it drains away which can leave people trapped in isolated pockets until the water can recede. As a result, you may experience standing water for a longer period of time, leaving your home at risk for increased structural damage from mold. Worse still, when this flooding cannot drain away, it can overwhelm sewage systems and septic fields causing sewage water to flood a home and the surrounding property. This is the most unpleasant flooding damage because it smells terrible, contains harmful contaminants and can invade your home by coming up the drains of toilets, sinks and showers.
Considering the types of flooding you may experience, you need to know how to protect yourself. Start by knowing whether you are in a flood zone. If you do not know, visit https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search to determine whether you live in a high-risk zone for flooding. If you do live in a flood zone, your mortgage company may require you to purchase flood insurance to provide protection from flood damage. This damage is usually not covered in a standard homeowner’s policy, so check to see if you need it.
Be sure you have an emergency kit. This needs to include food, clean drinking water, a flashlight with extra batteries, and medications (both first aid and anything you must take for your health). Plan for this kit to contain enough for everyone living in your home for 3 days. Don’t forget to include what is needed for your pets in this kit. Since power outages are common in flooded areas, a generator is a good investment to be able to power essentials until it can be restored.
Be sure you have a radio or can access a local broadcast that can keep you informed. You will need weather updates in real time. Many local communities and the National Weather Service have weather warning systems that you can subscribe to so you can receive alerts about weather related events that may affect your home and your family.
Flooding can become a life-threatening disaster quickly, so plan an evacuation route beforehand. Your community may already have evacuation routes and shelters so check to see if you can use these options, or if not plan your own. Make sure the entire family knows this plan so you can meet up together if you were not already together at the start of an emergency situation.
Things you can do to protect your home include checking your building materials on the lowest level of your home. Concrete, pressure-treated lumber and tile flooring are more flood resistant than carpet, wood or vinyl flooring. Brick, metal, concrete or stone walls are more resistant than drywall. Metal doors and cabinets are more resistant than wood. If you do live in a flood zone (Zone A, AE, A1-30, AH, or A99 on the FEMA flood map), it might be costly on the front end, but will save money and potentially lives to raise electrical outlets, breaker boxes (fuse panels) and meters ideally to one foot higher than the 100-year level for your property. To prevent flooding from causing sewage to backflow into your home, install a backflow valve on drainpipes. There are several variations to choose from so do some research before choosing which valve to use and have it installed by a trained professional.
Have a way to store key documents and irreplaceable items of value to you in waterproof containers or in an area that is protected from flood damage. Make sure your property is regularly maintained and any debris and foliage (like dead branches) at risk of falling is regularly cleaned from around your home to prevent damage from strong floodwater and/ or wind from the storm.
Once it is safe to do so, have ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points help you with the water damage mitigation after any situation that causes water damage to your home. Our technicians are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year to help you. Water continues to damage property until it is properly mitigated so it pays to act quickly. Our technicians will walk you through the process on day one, so you know what they find in their evaluation of the water damage. They will explain what was damaged by the water. They will explain what needs to be done to dry out those areas and materials, to protect from further water damage. Our office staff communicates with your insurance company to upload all documentation required to process your water mitigation services for the insurance claim. If you don’t have insurance, ServiceMaster of Gwinnett and ServiceMaster 5 Points can still help you with your water damage. Since our technicians are working with you directly, they will review everything with you ahead of time so you can approve services before they begin. ServiceMaster of Gwinnett started in 1991, and ServiceMaster 5 Points followed in 2013. Both companies are run by the founders and family, so we bring over 30 years of experience to every job we do!
