Flood Prevention Can Be Basic | SERVPRO® of McAllen

4/1/2024 (Permalink)

When you think about how to do something well, you almost always have to go back to the basics. Teaching your kids how to do math is a prime (no pun intended) example of this—starting with the simple steps is the best way to learn a new skill with as few tears as possible.

Protecting your home from disasters can be simple, too. With some basic home maintenance, you can prepare your home for just about anything Mother Nature can throw at it.

Flooding is one of the top ways that homes across the nation are damaged every year, which makes it one of the natural disasters you want to ensure you are always prepared for.

Know Your Zone

Water damage can happen in a lot of ways, including plenty that don’t originate from outside. While manmade disasters like a leaking appliance can cause a major disruption in your home, they are often easier to control and recover from than something nature sends our way. With so much water around our community, we are all susceptible to coastal flooding, flash floods or just ponding water from our commonly heavy rains.

With such a high flood risk from storm surge during hurricane season, it is important to get to know where your home falls in the flood zone. You need to understand just how much risk you are facing in order to get the best idea of how much preparation you will need to do.

Along with understanding where you fall in the flood zones, you need to get to know your yard. Homes in low-lying areas may be susceptible to flooding with just a light rain. If you fall into this category, adding extra drainage to your yard can be extremely helpful in preventing ponding water that could seep into your home.

If your yard includes leaf-dropping trees, investing in gutter covers can be a great way to keep things flowing. You should also check your roof at least twice a year for any signs of aging or other damage, as well as after high-wind events. Get as familiar with the area your home is in in order to keep it as safe as possible.

Prepare to Prevent

Along with understanding how your home falls within the floodplains, there is some other action you can take around your home to be prepared for anything that comes our way. Take some time to keep your yard prepared so that water constantly moves away.

Your yard should have a gentle slope away from your house. After a rain, check for areas that are staying wet and muddy. You may need to add organic materials or even consider a rain garden in these spots to pull water down through the earth. You can also take your gutter downspouts underground if they are surface level. This will carry water immediately away and lowers the chances of damage to your gutter system during high winds.

To add a little extra protection inside your home, put checking window and door seals on your seasonal to-do list. Add caulking to any areas that are showing signs of aging, and add weather stripping to keep things tightly sealed against the elements. If you have hurricane shutters, close them long before the first storm can blow in to make sure they are in good shape.

If you have a basement, keep a close eye on corners and edges in order to catch cracks or loose seals. Make sure you have a sump pump in good working condition so water can be pumped out when coastal flooding starts moving inland.

When it comes to getting prepared for potential flood disasters, keep it simple. Add basic yard and home maintenance to your regular to-do list in order to ensure everything is in good shape. Protecting your home will be far easier than helping your kids finish their math homework.

Do you have water damage in your home? Contact us at SERVPRO® for fast recovery.