Coming home to a flooded basement can be alarming, and if it’s not addressed quickly enough, it can also result in long term issues, such as mold and rot. While timing is critical to mitigating water damage, it's also important that you exercise extreme caution before taking any action.

3 Steps to Take After a Basement Flood

1. Turn Off the Electricity

The first thing to do when you discover standing water in your home is to assess how dangerous the situation is. Flooding poses a serious risk of electric shock if the water is high enough to come into contact with wiring or electrical sockets.

Before entering the basement, turn off the electricity at the source, such as an outdoor fuse box or a circuit breaker in your garage. If the electricity shut off is in your basement, contact an electrician for assistance.

2. Salvage Important Belongings

Once the electricity has been turned off, unplug any electronic devices in your basement and move them to dry ground. This is an important safety precaution in the instance the water continues to rise.

Begin removing the rest of your belongings, prioritizing them by their level of importance, value, and how easily they can be replaced. Remove paper documents, family keepsakes, artwork, photo albums, books, and electronic devices. To prevent water damage, place the items flat on towels to dry.

3. Dry Your Basement

The faster you dry a wet basement, the less you have to worry about mold or long-term damages to your home. If the water is relatively shallow, use a mop and bucket to bail it out of the space. For floods more than several inches deep, consider renting or buying a submersible pump or wet/dry vac at a hardware or pool supply store.

Once the water has been removed, open your basement windows to help moisture escape. Set up fans at high speed to expedite evaporation. Space heaters will also help with evaporation, but they might increase humidity in the space. Combine this approach with a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth.

If your basement is at risk of water damage after flooding, contact Hudepohl Restoration in Cincinnati, OH. For over 30 years, this locally owned company has provided a variety of restoration services, including mold remediation, water removal, storm damage clean up, and more. Contact them today at (513) 398-9691 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online to learn more about their services.