The Correct Responses To Water Damage In Your Panama City Home

According to the National Weather Atlas, October is the rainiest month in Panama City. Rain falls for an average of 20 days and accumulates 13 inches of precipitation in the month alone! We are no strangers to tropical storms and flooding here, but one thing we may not be as familiar with is how to respond if mother nature does cause water damage in our homes. At Daystar Cleaning, we are always prepared to respond to your water damage needs, and we want to be sure that you are prepared to respond correctly if your home floods. 

Water Damage In Panama City 

1. Contact your Insurance Agency. Whether or not your policy covers water damage from flooding, it is still important to reach out to your homeowner’s insurance and let them know what has happened. It is also beneficial to let your insurance agency know which restoration company you are working with. Most restoration companies have experience working with insurance companies and will be able to help file claims or answer questions you may have.
2. Evaluate the structural integrity before entering a flooded area. When in doubt, do not enter at all until a qualified structural builder or engineer has cleared the home.
3. Take appropriate steps to ensure safety. Make sure power to the area is turned off. 
4. Young children and pets should be kept out of the affected area.
5.  Wear personal protective clothing (rubber gloves, boots, etc.) if you have to be in contact with water. Treat all flood water as if it is contaminated (which most flood water is). Try to avoid any contact if at all possible. 
6. Document Damage. Take photos of the damage your property has sustained and make a detailed list of damages. An adjuster will be sent to your home to evaluate the loss, but do not wait for them to arrive before you begin documenting it yourself. Photos and documentation will help to prove loss mitigation. 
7. Open doors and windows to allow ventilation. Airflow will discourage microbial growth. 
8. Remove furniture or standing items that can be taken out of the area. Any belongings in the affected area will need to be removed before cleanup and restoration can begin, and items that have been damaged beyond repair will only take up space and hold onto unnecessary moisture in the area. 
9. Do not panic. It is stressful and overwhelming when dealing with flooding in your home. However, if you can stay, things will be much easier to deal with.
10. Call a professional water damage restoration company. Daystar Cleaning provides superior restoration services in Panama City. Our response is immediate so that we can quickly secure your property and minimize the extent of the damage. We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so that we can be there whenever flooding, or any other type of damage occurs. Be prepared this rainy season, and know that the first call you need to make following a water damage is to Daystar Cleaning.