How to Deal with Water Damage After a Disaster

Water is a vital resource that sustains life, but it can also be destructive, unpredictable, and overwhelming. This is especially true during natural disasters such as Hurricane Florence, which caused unprecedented flooding in North Carolina. The damage caused by such events can be extensive, with estimates indicating that the cost of property damage resulting from the hurricane could be as high as $22 billion. In this article, we provide facility executives with ten best practices for water remediation to help them navigate the aftermath of significant water damage.

These practices should form part of an overall disaster plan designed to provide facility managers with the strategies, tactics, and critical information they need to respond to emergencies effectively. In addition to these best practices, facility managers should familiarize themselves with their flood insurance policy and establish a relationship with their insurance provider to assess water damage efficiently.

Drawing on our of experience, we have compiled these tips to expedite the remediation process and ensure the safety and security of everyone involved.

Essential Tips for Water Remediation

 

  1. Safety is the top priority when dealing with water damage. The first step is to alert appropriate local resources, such as the fire and police departments, mechanical contractors, insurance companies, utility companies, and restoration companies.
  2. Identify water shut-offs and label them for quick access. Time is of the essence when it comes to minimizing loss, mitigating risk, and protecting assets.
  3. Electricity poses a significant safety hazard when dealing with water damage. Look for any signs of water coming through light fixtures or electrical boxes, and immediately shut off the electrical box, circuit breaker box, and meter panel. Once the electricity is shut down, cord off the affected area with caution tape.
  4. The first step to take when faced with water damage is to immediately shut down the electrical box, circuit break box, and meter panel to prevent further damage and protect people from electric shock. After shutting down the electricity, cord off the affected area with caution tape to keep people from entering and potentially getting hurt.
  5. Once the area is safe to enter, identify the source of the water damage and assess the degree of contamination to determine the appropriate remediation plan. Be aware of any associated health effects depending on the contamination level to update emergency personnel when they arrive on-site.
  6. It’s important to identify potential environmental hazards like lead or asbestos. Prolonged exposure to asbestos and/or lead can cause serious illness and significant health problems. If there’s a possibility that these hazards are present, take extra precautions and consult with a professional to ensure safe removal.
  7. Protect valuable contents from affected areas by relocating or covering them with plastic garbage bags. Valuables may include electronics, computers, furniture, artwork, files and documents, clothing, etc. Ensure that they’re kept safe from further damage and avoid handling them with bare hands to prevent contamination.
  8. Have basic items on hand like plastic garbage bags, caution tape, duct tape, and basic hand tools. These items will come in handy when containing and isolating the area of damage, protecting valuable contents, and disposing of damaged items.
  9. Contain and isolate the area(s) of damage to protect staff and on-site emergency personnel. Create a plastic barrier around the perimeter of the contaminated area and cord it off with caution tape. This will prevent people from entering the affected area and reduce the risk of further contamination.
  10. Once the area is contained and isolated, begin the mitigation process with a restoration partner on-site. This will help preserve, secure, and restore your property to good working order. A trusted restoration partner will have the expertise and equipment necessary to quickly and efficiently remediate the damage.

 

Whether the source of the water damage is a natural disaster, leaking pipe, backed up sewer, or broken sprinkler line, water can cause significant damage to your property. Having a strategic disaster plan in place, a partnership with a trusted restoration company, and familiarity with your flood insurance policy is paramount to long-term success. Take the time to review these best practices to ensure swift action when needed and get your property in good working order once again.

At Houston Restore PROS, we provide 24/7 emergency water extraction services to help prevent further damage. Our team of experts is equipped with dehumidifiers, air movers, and dryers to handle even the most extensive water damage and flooding issues.

 

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kendell clark Avatar
kendell clark
4/14/2025
After our house flooded on Christmas we called Houston Restore Pros and they took time from their holiday to come out and assist us and walk us through the next steps. From mitigation to reconstruction the process was seamless and the experience was great. The office worked side by side with our insurance and got all the tough questions answered for us and handled everything on that end. They were able to restore my home to even better than they found it. We’re very happy we choose Houston Restore Pros.
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Carol Smith Avatar
Carol Smith
4/14/2025
Houston Restore Pros worked well with our insurance. Joe and crew were compassionate and highly efficient at the moisture mitigation. Joel was great at coordinating the different phases and letting us know what to expect. Dennis and team Manuel, Daniel, and Alex went above and beyond expectations! Joe and Kirk and their crews carefully moved the furniture out and back. I would hire this group again!
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Derek Pruitt Avatar
Derek Pruitt
4/05/2025
Ben was prompt with communication and they did nice work
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JOEY Avatar
JOEY
4/05/2025
Ben and his team completed this project for us as sewer water backed up into the home. They did the demo which consisted of removing the base boards, tile/wood flooring, sheet rock, shower, etc. They put back the home in a timely and professional manner!
They installed sheet rock, tape and float, installed base boards, painted walls and trim, built a new vanity and painted, installed new plumbing fixtures, completed the tile shower with pan, tile in bath areas, and wood in bedrooms and living areas. Very reasonable pricing and completed a few small extras without hassling for additional monies.
I highly recommend Houston Restore Pro to complete any project you may have at your home or office!
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Van Ho Avatar
Van Ho
4/05/2025
Houston Restore did an amazing job on my property. Got Water damage and they arrived in 3 hours to dry out everything. Then Ben took care the restoration . He finish entire house in 2 months and my house turn out so beautiful .
I would recommend Houston restore to everyone
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Maria Lopez Avatar
Maria Lopez
4/05/2025
These guys are lifesavers. They are available 24/7. They provided excellent, professional service and did not leave until the job was done.Thanks to Joe, Jose, Josue, Joyce, and Joel.
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Danielle Beckcom Avatar
Danielle Beckcom
3/05/2025
Ben and his team at Houston Restore Pros were absolutely fantastic! From start to finish, they demonstrated professionalism, efficiency, and outstanding attention to detail. They went above and beyond to ensure everything was handled with care, and their expertise was evident in the quality of their work. Communication was seamless, and they were always available to answer any questions along the way. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled restoration team, look no further—Houston Restore Pros is the best in the business. Highly recommend!
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stephen cunada
2/05/2025
We had a little flooding inside our house back in July 2024 and when we informed our insurance company, they have suggested Houston Restore Pros as one of the cleanup company. In a matter of few hours, Joe was at the house supervising the mitigation process which they did meticulously. We were satisfied with the results that we decided to let them finish the restoration and reconstruction of the entire first floor under the able watch of Ben who was very responsive to all our questions and making sure that he corrected everything that needed to be addressed promptly. I would highly recommend Houston Restore Pros to anyone who would be in the same predicament. Thanks again Joe, Ben and the entire crew.
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B B Avatar
B B
2/05/2025
Our house flooded in May and needed to be restored from 2 feet up down to the concrete foundation. Houston Restore Pros had us back in our house in December and it looks better than it did before the flood. Ben was very helpful during the process and whenever we needed a repair fixed or changed he was easy to get ahold of and was quick to send out someone to fix it. You can tell that he really cares about his customers. I've added some photos of the demo and the finished home. It really is beautiful.
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Lee Tilley Avatar
Lee Tilley
2/05/2025
Slow water leak ruined my life! These guys put it back together from start to finish. Ben & his team were great to work with. He was always available, this man needs a promotion.
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Cat Ferguson Avatar
Cat Ferguson
2/05/2025
I would like to take a moment to commend Ben Sos, Project Manager at Houston Restore Pros, for his exceptional professionalism and courteous demeanor throughout our project. Ben consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to effectively manage tasks and ensure that the right team members were assigned to meet our needs.

His patience and understanding were particularly noteworthy; he was always available to address my concerns, even during moments of distress, and handled each situation with grace and empathy. Ben truly goes above and beyond for his clients, and his commitment to delivering outstanding service is evident in every interaction.

I wholeheartedly recommend Ben Sos for any project, as I am confident that his dedication and expertise will lead to successful outcomes.
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Jenny Ryan Avatar
Jenny Ryan
1/05/2025
Houston Restore Pros Joe Contreras and his team expertly handled the water mitigation in my home after my attic leaked, and Ben Sosa and his team beautifully restored my floors and the ceiling and sheetrock damage. They respond promptly to communication and guide their customers through each step of the process. Their care for their customers shows in all aspects of the company. I would recommend Houston Restore Pros to anyone.
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Rasheed Bangee Avatar
Rasheed Bangee
11/05/2024
Mr. Ben Sosa stayed on the top till the job is complete. Joe, Isaac Escobar and all are excellent along with Ben.
Worry free for one. They took care of all including contacting insurance company. Pictures are before and after.
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Helen Castillo Avatar
Helen Castillo
11/05/2024
Ben did a fantastic job him and his crew. They did repairs to my house and also painted it great job Ben
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Satish Mani Avatar
Satish Mani
10/05/2024
HRP were awesome. They came, understood our challenges and resolved each and every one of them. Ben their Project Manager especially understood our concerns and went way beyond to resolve our issues. Highly recommend HRP for any House restoration issues.
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