Storm Flooding? Heres What To Do!

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the United States. Although we don't really have trouble over here in California, especially in Los Angeles, you can never be too sure what might happen in the future. Here are the steps to take to protect your family, protect your home, and keep the cost to repair the damages to a minimal.

Turn the Electricity Off 

As soon as you notice flooding in your home its best to quickly turn off all the electricity in the house.

Evacuate 

Having to evacuate out of your own home can be super stressful leaving everything you have behind, but at the same time you and your families lives are far more important. In times like these you won't always need to evacuate in a flooding situation, you can simply head out to the back or front yard but its pretty easy to tell when its time to get out of the area and wait until things settle down.

Call for Help 

If anything serious has happened to anyone its best to call 911. At this time you can't focus on the house, the damage has already been done so it's best to call up the proper people to start the recovery process right away. If you are renting your house you will want to call your landlord and tell them what's going on. If you are homeowner calling your insurance and letting them know would be the best place to start.

Document Everything

After an incident happens the first thing that comes to mind is cleaning it up, but before you do you're going to want to document all the damages for your insurer. Use your cellphone camera to take pictures and film the damages your home has encountered due to the flooding. 

Cleanup Process

For the cleanup process you'll need to remove the water, salvage as many items as you can, dry the area out, and disinfect the entire area the flooded water has affected. With all things said the cleanup process is a long and stressful process for any homeowner. Thankfully for you SERVPRO of Northridge & SERVPRO of Granada Hills is here to help and take on the whole cleanup process for you. Were here to resotre your home back to normal "Like it never even happened."

What to Check After a Storm Hits Your Home

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

Debris On the Roof 

No matter how big or small the debris is it's important to make sure to check the roof for any larger problems that could have occurred during the storm.

A damaged roof can cause major problems even if the spot or spots are tiny, water may have leaked in during the storm without you knowing and if left unattended it will only cause more water damage in the future.

If you are able to access the roof safely it's important to clean any debris and inspect any damages.

Inspect Your Gutters

After a heavy storm, your gutters may have come loose. Having a loose or blocked gutter is a sign that your roof might not have dried correctly leaving water pools that weaken the structure of the roof and cause water damage issues. It's necessary to check your gutters immediately after a storm to prevent any more problems in the future.

Assess Water Patches on Walls 

Heavy rain can cause water damage as water goes into the small cracks in the walls leading to the exterior and interior walls being affected.

Make sure to check your walls about every day for a week to ensure that the damp patches aren't still hanging out on your walls after the storm has passed completely.

Check the Windows 

When there is shattered glass and dents from hail and wind damage we can easily identify what happened. On the other hand, the effects of water damage can be easily missed by the untrained eye. Untouched water and leaks can lead to mold and will affect your home's foundation and structure. Although it won't seem as bad as dents and cracks it's just as important to look for moisture buildup and fog in the glass to prevent any problems you might have to face in the future.

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

The Dangers of Roof Damage After a Storm

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

Structural Damage can cause many concerns for homeowners 

Although severe weather isn't very common in the Northridge & Granada Hills area you can never be too sure it will stay like that in the future. Having the knowledge of what to do and who to call in any disastrous situation will only benefit you in the long run. The rapid response of our SERVPRO team can help mitigate the water damage however your property needs.

Construction Services 

Structural damage and openings can continually allow floodwater and runoff to infiltrate the house and can cause measures to be a lot worse. 

We will recommend temporary construction:

• Roof board-up
• Temporary structure 
• Plumbing Repairs 
• Tarping

Water Removal and Cleanup

With all the problems that are dealt with by severe storms, flooding is a common result and the most crucial to get rid of. It is critical to get the water removal and cleanup process started as soon as possible with all the serious after-effects it can lead to.

Storms can be a disastrous force against any home and business with heavy winds, rain, and other natural disasters. Our team here at SERVPRO of Northridge and Granada Hills has highly experienced restorers and will quickly recover damaged homes after a storm loss. 

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Safety Tips to Restore Flood Damage

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

Turn Off Electricity

This step should always be the first thing you do before anything; you don't want to step into dangerous live water on accident. If you are unsure of what to do make sure to call an electrician if it is necessary.

Structure of Property

After a flood, it is always safe to have a professional come and check your structure for any damages and make sure it hasn't been destabilized.

Need to Disinfect

When all the water is removed, you will need to disinfect the walls and the ground that came in contact with the dirty water. Dirty and muddy sewage and rain water could leave behind a smell so having a professional there would be beneficial. 

SERVPRO of Northridge & SERVPRO of Granada Hills will restore any flood damage your property encountered. Our local technicians will closely monitor and document the restoration process to ensure your property is back to normal.

Have questions about anything? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339