FLOODING CAN BE A NEIGHBORHOOD THING
In many
cases flooding can happen to a single family home and not even be noticed by
others in the area. However, more often
than not, it is usually a neighborhood problem.
If a water main breaks in the neighborhood you live in, then water can
easily flow right into all the adjacent houses in the surrounding block and
maybe even extend for a few miles, depending upon the degree of flood damage to the
water main, and how quickly the matter is taken care of before it causes too
much damage.
Most likely
if this occurs you will find the neighborhood in an uproar and everyone wants
to get satisfaction fast! The first
thing that needs to happen is to stop the water damage at the spot of the water
main and contain it. The second this is
to control, if possible the water flow into the surrounding areas. This is probably the most difficult as the
water has already created a path to its destinations, your house and your
neighbors’ houses too.
Then, the
real work for you as the household begins.
Assessing what damage has been done, who will pay for it, do you have
insurance or not, will it cover what has just happened, is your insurance
company open for service, how soon can they get someone out, do you have to
wait for them to respond to get a professional water damage restoration company
out, or can you choose your own? So many
questions need to be answered. The
sooner you get these out of the way, the sooner your flood restoration project
can begin.
Consulting
with other neighbors could be a good idea, but know what your options are
yourself. Choose the right company that
will assess the damage and give you a comprehensive process to get your place
back to normal. As an insurance carrier,
you do have the right to pick whichever company you want, “You Are Paying for
The Insurance.”
Sometimes,
neighbors decide to use the same contractor that has already showed up in the
area. This can have its pluses and
minuses. It could be positive if the
water damage contractor is equipped and ready to go! If the company isn’t, there could be another
set of problems. Inquire of the
company. Check references. Check the internet for reputation. Check the local BBB. Happy Flood Cleanup!
