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The Hazards of a Flash Flood | SERVPRO of West Milwaukee
9/18/2023 (Permalink)
Summer storms affecting your property? Call SERVPRO of West Milwaukee to restore your space in no time!
We all know and love those classic summer rainstorms that allow us to slow down and rest inside as the rain falls. It can be refreshing to watch our community calm down and watch our gardens and lawns get a much-needed drink!
However, we also know that not all storms are like this. Serious thunderstorms can blow into town quickly and bring heavy rain, strong winds and even damaging hail. While we are grateful that our homes can withstand moderate storm conditions, sometimes the rain can be intense enough to leak into our homes.
Our SERVPRO® of West Milwaukee team wants you to stay as safe and dry no matter what is going on outside, so read our tips for preparing for intense rain below.
When the rain falls hard enough, it can cause the nearby lakes, rivers and streams to overflow. We are grateful to be a bit farther removed from Lake Michigan in these instances, but any sort of low-lying area can be negatively impacted by heavy rain, which can cause flooding really easily.
While we unfortunately cannot prevent this type of situation, we can certainly prepare for it! Staying connected to the local authorities and taking action quickly as soon as a flood watch or warning is issued can help you be ready when the rain starts to fall.
Head for home right away to start preparing. Your family’s safety and your home should always be your top priority. Avoid drainage ditches or any roads that you know tend to flood when it rains. Move things around in your garage so you can pull your outdoor equipment and cars inside, and tidy up your yard. Secure things like your propane tanks or lawn furniture so they don’t get swept away by any moving water.
If you know that your home is prone to flooding, move anything fragile or soft out of your lowest level and consider turning off the breakers to those rooms to be on the safe side. When the rain starts to fall and the water starts flowing into your home, stay high above the water line and don’t panic. Eventually the water will stop rushing in and then you can call us right away.
Even if you do your best to prepare, weather has a mind of its own and it can leave you with some significant damage. In each instance you can learn something, though! For example, if you find that your basement always gets wet during a heavy rain, it may indicate an issue with your property. Getting it professionally graded can stop this problem for good if the rain has somewhere else to go other than backward into your foundation.
Another investment that can pay off in a big way is a sump pump. Sump pumps are able to pull any excess water away from your basement and pump it back up to the surface, where it flows down a gutter-like system. This can come in handy in any rain situation to keep your basement nice and dry.
Remember, our team is dedicated to helping our community when flood conditions are present. Pick up the phone and call SERVPRO of West Milwaukee for immediate restoration assistance!
We are here for all of your water disasters. Contact us day or night for a quick recovery.