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Protecting your garage storage from flooding

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Protecting your garage storage from flooding
By Flow Wall
·
January 5, 2015

Flooding may cause a great deal of damage. When your garage floods, not only can there be harm to the drywall and foundation, but you also have to worry about the items that you store in this space. Make sure you know how to react and develop a plan to prevent future damage from rising waters.

Preventing damage to your garage storage and other property

Floods are never fun to deal with, but having flood insurance helps remove some of the headache. Purchase flood insurance and keep copies of your policy and contact information easily accessible for emergency situations.

In addition to getting coverage, safeguard your keepsakes. Garages are often ideal places to store out-of-season clothing and other items. Make sure that you keep them protected from natural disasters such as flooding with a garage organization system that keeps your belongings off of the ground. The further items are from the ground, the less likely they are to be damaged or destroyed by unwanted water.

Also keep a detailed inventory of all your valuable goods and property. Consider photographing items in order to have a record of the condition your belongings were in before a potential flood. This will be especially helpful when filing a claim with an insurance provider.

Aside from keeping your possessions safer and having a record of their condition, protecting your home and garage from flood damage in the first place is a key step. Ensure that a sump pump is properly working and has a back-up. These devices pump water away from your house and help reduce the risk of floods. Make sure that your back-up is battery-powered in case of loss of power.

Dealing with the aftermath of a flood

Call your insurance agent to file a claim as soon as you realize your home or garage is flooding.

While water may seem calm and placid in a coy pond or relaxing and therapeutic in a bubble bath, water is quite the brute force when it comes to flooding. It is actually capable of causing structural damage to your home and garage. Don't enter any area until you know it is safe. Also, avoid using electricity in the area affected by flooding.

When you are able to safely enter your home, snap a few pictures of the damage to keep for your records. These photographs will be especially helpful when filing your claim.

Relocate any furniture to a clean and dry location. Dry out the possessions that you are able to save and take note of what cannot be salvaged.

Aside from water's ability to destroy your home and possessions, it is also capable of becoming contaminated. If water has been standing for a few days, there is a risk of bacteria and parasites developing. Sewage also may pollute flood waters. Until a knowledgeable authority, such as a flood damage clean-up crew, informs you that your running water is safe, boil any that you drink. Belongings are replaceable; your safety is not something to compromise.

Floods can be dangerous, stressful and lead to quite the financial burden. Prepare heavily used storage areas, like garages, for the risk of flooding and take the proper precautions if this disaster strikes.

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