What to Do After a Storm Damages Your Indianapolis Home

5/23/2018 (Permalink)

What to Do After a Storm Damages Your Indianapolis Home

Even the smallest of storms can cause significant damage to your Indiana home. A limb can fall and damage your roof or windows. Wind or hail can damage the shingles of your roof. A tornado or high winds can uproot trees and tear off roofs. Even calm showers that last for days can ultimately cause flooding in your home.

While there is usually very little we can do to prepare or prevent such damage, there are steps we can take to reduce the damage from getting worse once the storm has passed. Below we cover simple steps that can be taken to reduce further damage to your home from happening. While some of the steps can be taken by the homeowner, it’s best to contact a storm damage cleanup and restoration company, like SERVPRO of Indianapolis West. The experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West have the experience and tools to handle any size disaster and restore your home quickly.

#1 Wait Until the Storm Has Passed Before Taking Action

If you should suffer severe damage to your home, wait until the storm has passed until surveying the damage. If you are listening to the storm coverage on the radio or TV, wait until the reporter has given the all clear for your area. Many times, there can be multiple severe storms or tornadoes that hit one area. It’s always best to be safe when dealing with severe weather.

#2 Take Photos or Videos of the Damage

Once the severe weather has passed and you are able to leave the safety of your home to survey the damage, be sure to take photos and/or video of the damage. This can be helpful when filing a claim with your insurance company and can also be helpful for storm damage cleanup and restoration professionals to know what equipment they may need on hand.

#3 Turn Off the Electricity if There is Flooding

If you have flooding in your basement or in your home, be sure to cut off the electricity before wading through or getting near the flooded areas. If you are unable to reach the fuse box to cut off the electricity then wait until the cleanup professionals or electric company can arrive to assess the situation. You never want to get near any standing water or flooded areas in your home for risk of getting electrocuted.

#4 Get the Water Out

If there is standing water in your home, you will want to extract it as soon as possible. The longer the water sits in your home, the more damage it can do. Flood waters, in particular, can quickly promote mold growth in your home if not removed and treated quickly. To ensure the water is completely extracted from your home, it’s best to have water damage professionals like those at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West handle the removal of water from your home.

#5 Air out the House

Once the water is removed from your home, you will still want to air out your home. The flood waters in your home most likely raised the humidity in your home. If you don’t air out your home, the humid air could carry mold spores and cause mold damage throughout your home. You can also use fans and dehumidifiers to remove the moisture from the air.

#6 Check for Exterior Damage

If you haven’t checked the exterior of your home for your damage, you will want to do that. Be sure to check for roof damage, standing waters near your home’s foundation, siding damage, and damage around windows. All of these areas can be causes of water to enter your home.

Contact the Storm Cleanup & Restoration Professionals

If you experience storm damage to your home, contact SERVPRO of Indianapolis West to get the damage cleaned up and your home restored. The professionals at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West have the expertise and know-how to handle whatever mother nature may throw your home’s way. Whether it’s flooding, water damage, mold growth or even fire, SERVPRO can handle it. Contact them today for complete cleanup and restoration.