What to do in the event of a flood in your home.
For a more thorough explanation of all the considerations one should have in water damage situations, the American Red Cross, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management agency, has a publication called "Repairing Your Flooded Home."
1) Don't attempt to solve the problem yourself. A flooded basement is a dangerous place. There are many important health concerns you might not even be aware of.
2) Saving your carpet is not a simple matter of just sucking the water up. If there is a padding under the carpet, that must always be removed and disposed of professionally.
3) If you have insurance, call your agent. If you aren't sure if you have insurance, call your agent. They will often have a list of service companies they use and recommend.
4) The first service you need is one to stop the cause of the problem. If there is a broken pipe, call the plumber before you call in the clean-up crew.
5) Don't wait hoping that it will just dry up on it's own. If you want to try and save the carpet at all and have a healthy indoor environment afterwards, you need service within 24 hours to begin dehumidification processes
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