The Do's And Don'ts For Protecting Your Belongings During A Flood In Lexington

10/26/2016 (Permalink)

Protecting Your Personal Belongings During A Flood

Floods are pervasive, difficult-to-avoid events that have a habit of reaching into every crevasse of a home. Many homeowners invest in containers or fixtures to help secure their belongings during floods and other disasters; however, many of these containers are ultimately ineffective or even harmful for the items inside. Here are a few do's and don'ts for protecting your belongings in preparation for a flood.

DO: Keep Containers Bolted Down
When flood damage strikes a Lexington home, many of its first casualties are caused by physical force rather than staining or standard water damage. As objects are pulled, pushed, and thrown around by the unstoppable sheets of water, they are smashed and shattered against stronger surfaces indiscriminately. Any container should be either bolted to the ground, like a well-secured safe, or mounted to the wall above the reach of floodwaters.

DON'T: Keep Anything Plugged In
Many homeowners try to keep their electronics plugged into both walls and other electronics to avoid setup time later on. An excellent example is television accessories: these are often kept in a container near the tv but may have holes or an open top to allow wires to snake out. Always fully unplug and remove the wiring from any electronics, for both safety and restoration efforts.

DO: Place Objects High Up
Placing valuables in high places, such as on shelves, countertops, and in cabinets, can help them to avoid all but the heaviest of floods. Most floods never get more than a few inches in height, and so objects stored at a greater altitude than the rest of the room are usually going to fare the best. Be aware that the best places are wall-mounted or secured, and unsecured shelving or furniture may not protect objects stored on them, but instead create additional fall damage.

SERVPRO of Norman helps homeowners to restore and recover their belongings and homes in the event of a flood or other significant damage. Call us 24/7 at (405) 292-0808 to find out how we can help.