How Should a Homeowner Prepare in Case the Next Hurricane Brings Flooding to San Antonio?

9/13/2020 (Permalink)

Regardless of the way that your home was flooded, SERVPRO is the effective company for water removal services. Call right away.

When the Flood Damage Risk Increases, San Antonio Residents Have a Well-Trained, Equipped, and Experienced Partner in SERVPRO

Although we might prefer a role as an evacuation destination for other Texas residents who live closer to the gulf, the fact is hurricanes, tropical storms, and depressions can make their way to San Antonio during the season from June to November. Other extreme weather patterns can also bring torrential rains and incredibly high winds to the region, ultimately flooding homes and businesses. Awareness of the potential and action taken to respond to the possibility of exterior damage and overland flooding can go a long way to minimizing the effect on your property.

What Can a Property Owner Realistically Do to Manage Storm Damage and Resultant Flooding?

Many resources exist that offer homeowners advice in San Antonio seeking flood damage avoidance and property and personal protection. Some interventions can take place long before a storm threatens:

• Upgrades and maintenance of your home's exterior drainage systems -- roofs, gutters, and downspouts
• Landscaping improvements to slope the surrounding ground away from the foundation
• Inspection and reinforcement of foundations and crawl spaces, including repair or installation of appropriate vapor barriers
• Installing a sump pump
• Considering the purchase of a generator
• Making long-term storage decisions that move essential articles above the flood line
• Making digital copies of vital documents and treasured photos 

Other interventions are best applied as a storm gathers force and appears likely to affect the area:

• Securing windows, doors, outbuildings
• Storing outdoor furnishings, toys, equipment, and other "loose" items inside
• Monitoring official announcements and following recommendations about evacuation or other safety suggestions or orders

Note: Although it is important to plan for property damage, it can save you and your family's lives to have an emergency plan to keep yourselves safe. Be sure to follow local agencies' advice and collect and pack up in "go bags" the following and more as recommended for each member of your family:

• Medicines
• Food and water
• Clothing

Needed documents should also have their own waterproof "go" container. Be sure to let relatives or other individuals know your plans, including evacuation locations you intend to use. Make plans also for pets, perhaps boarding them ahead of time. Gas up your car and charge your mobile devices. Leave for your safety when authorities strongly suggest or order the population to do so.

How Can a Homeowner Increase the Odds for Successful Restoration of the Home After Flood Damage?

Flood damage in San Antonio needs the attention of skilled and trained professionals for the best outcomes. Even when you prepare, storm activity's intensity can damage exteriors, permitting water to pour into your home. Overland flooding also occurs when torrential rains collect and spread rapidly on roadways and across the ground, forcing its way into or under your home's foundation. It is critical to rapidly remove the flood water, contaminated with a broad range of hazardous substances, including chemicals and sewage. Safe handling requires personal protective equipment (PPE) and protocols for containment and disposal that follow local regulations. SERVPRO teams can:

• Secure exterior damage with boards and tarps
• Assess and control structural hazards -- examples are shutting off electricity and other utilities and shoring up walls or ceilings filled with water
• Releasing water from building cavities with weep holes, sawn or drilled holes, and flood cuts (wall materials removed between studs several inches above the flood line)
• Dig out the muck and pump water deeper than two inches into treated sewers
• Extract the remaining water with both truck mount and portable units as appropriate -- truck-mounted extractor can remove up to 36,000 gallons of water per unit per day
• Contain the contaminated water for lawful disposal -- truck mounts direct water into tanks that can hold over 100 gallons

Is Removing the Flood Water Enough to Save the Home?

Once the liquid water exits via pumps and extractors, our teams turn to cleaning, disinfecting, and structural drying. Mold damage can commence within 24 to 48 hours, so moisture levels must fall to a normal range fast. Our crews:

• Use EPA-registered proprietary cleaning and disinfecting agents to remove soiling and pathogens from affected surfaces
• Test your structural components (including any dry areas) with moisture detectors and meters to provide baseline data for drying goals  
• Balance air movement, temperature, and humidity to facilitate the evaporation of water from porous materials -- the resulting vapor collected for disposal through the use of our high-efficiency dehumidifiers

Count on the professionals at SERVPRO of Braun Station to partner with you when flood damage is too extreme to manage on your own after severe storms. We are poised to help 24/7. Call us day or night at (210) 267-2159 for flooding mitigation and remediation from an industry leader.