If you're a homeowner or small business owner you know the damage that flooding can do, and you also know that floods can come at any time and are not always related to the weather. They can come from leaky pipes, or backed-up sewers.
What you may not be aware of is some of the danger related to floods such as electrical shock or contaminants that could lead to illness and even death.
So here are some tips on how you should deal with flooding from some experts in flood repair and restoration, a company appropriately called the Flood Kings, who serve the Dallas-Ft. Worth area of Texas.
Todd Snyder, owner and operator of Flood Kings says the most important thing you shouldn't do in a flooding situation is rush into your home or business that has had water intrusion because you could be electrocuted.
Snyder says that if you can, shut the electricity off at the circuit box. But if the circuit box is in the basement or space that has standing water, or any room is significantly soaked, don't try it. You could risk electrocution by coming in contact with power and water simultaneously.
If necessary contact the utility company to handle disconnection from outdoors, or you can leave it to restoration companies.
The next tip for determining whether to go in or stay out is the level of contamination in the water. If you know where the water came from, you can choose whether it is safe to go in and retrieve belongings.
Tip three involves contamination. Basically, there are three levels of contamination, and you can determine how hazardous your flooding is by considering the source of the water.
An indoor water line break, rain-driven flooding and a sprinkler system malfunction is considered stage one, or clean water.
But if the water is from a river or stream that has overflowed its banks, it is best to assume that it includes a mid-range of contaminants. Snyder says this is what's known as grey water and you should think twice about heading in to it, even with hip boots and rubber gloves. All it takes is a splash and you can be infected with e-coli bacteria.
The worst level of contamination comes from a sewage backup or sewer line break. This is called "black water and could contain a deadly level of contamination. In that case, say away completely.
