What You Need To Know When Flooded Basement Happens In Richmond

By Author: David Tang
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Richmond, Virginia is an independent city located on the highest navigable point of the James River. Measuring a total of about 63 square meters in total, it is mostly made up of land area (60sqm.) with only a small proportion (3sqm.) of water bodies.
It has a humid subtropical climate—meaning that it has hot, humid, summers, and very cold, chilly winters. However, as with all places with the said climate, significant amounts of rain fall during almost all seasons. This significant amount of rainfall can ultimately cause flooding in your home.
Whether your property is near, or far from the James River, flooding is always a possibility. When one does experience flooding in the home or any part of one's property, it is important to realistically assess the situation before deciding to act on it. Rushing the clean-up results in ineffectively addressing the overall problem, causing more damages in the long run. This is true especially in a case of basement flooding.
How does one then, correctly assess flood damage and act accordingly?
If the flood is a result of a natural disaster that damaged ...
... your property and consequently caused flood water to accumulate, then what should be looked at are the severity of the flood (water level) and where the flood has settled (which is usually in the basement, being the lowest area in the house) and one that is used to store hardly used materials like paints and chemicals.
These are important factors to assess because the chemicals and other substances that may have gotten mixed in with the flood water are as important (and problematic) as draining the flood water. If you see that water has built up with many chemicals, potentially harmful or not, you must seek out expert help. If not, as is the case in a basement only filled with furniture, the most immediate source of danger would be unseen, out of place objects (whether sharp, loose, or weak).
For basement flooding that do not need professional help in draining, all necessary precautions must still be taken. Having the right equipment for effectively getting rid of the flood is of utmost importance. Water proof and impenetrable gloves, boots, and (if possible) clothing should be worn to avoid contact with the flood water or any other harmful substances in it. Also, the immediate stability of the flooded area must be assessed—check if the walls and floors can still hold up any equipment or person that goes through.
When draining, it is important to drain the flood water slowly, about a foot of water every twelve hours, to let the structures affected dry up and regain their sturdiness. Draining water too quickly can leave walls and floors weak, and ultimately cause them to collapse. Turn off any electrical outlets and switches throughout the whole house when going into a flooded basement. Plug in any necessary power equipment from a source outside the structure you are draining.
If the cause for the flood is structural, it is best to get professional help to not only for a quick fix, but a long-term solution to prevent further flooding.
However, it is best to get assistance for such tasks. It is easy to find help near you. Communities in Richmond Virginia are committed to maintaining the cleanliness of their surroundings. This commitment is seen in programs such as the Great American Cleanup, which is actively joined by neighborhoods in the state.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of http://www.restorationsos.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage cleanup and restoration visit http://www.restorationsos.com