Flood Damage Cleanup & Restoration

Name: Review
Brand: First Restoration Services
Rating: 4.9 (77 reviews)

Flood Damage Restoration

Flood damage can devastate your home or business seemingly out of nowhere. Heavy rain, tropical storms, hurricanes, and overflowing rivers and lakes can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages. First Restoration Services brings the expertise and equipment to get you back on your feet with flood damage restoration, flood damage cleanup, and flood damage repairs.

FRS’s technicians are on call 24/7 to provide emergency response to flood damage in Western North Carolina. As a full-service flood restoration company near me, we offer everything from emergency board-up to water extraction to reconstruction at residential and commercial properties. We typically respond to emergency calls within 45 minutes, even on weekends and holidays.

Flood Damage Cleanup Services Near Me

FRS provides some essential services after a flood, including:

Water removal
Water damage restoration
Large-scale drying
Document Drying
Mold Removal
Construction and remodeling
Cleaning services

Hazards of Floodwater

Even a small amount of flood damage can render your home or business uninhabitable. Floods carry harmful contaminants and can cause mold and mildew buildup, even after floodwaters have receded. During the flood, the most significant risks are drowning, infection, and electrocution. As you can see, this is a time for you to call a flood damage cleanup company near me.

Flood Safety Tips

Never enter floodwaters. The water often contains sharp objects that can cut your skin and cause serious injury. Exposed cuts and rashes can quickly become infected when they come into contact with floodwaters.
Flowing water can knock you off your feet. If you are caught in a current or become trapped in debris, drowning is a real possibility. Avoid entering flowing water and always have an escape plan from any shelter. If water rises in your home, you may have to evacuate to the attic or roof to avoid drowning.
Severe storms often knock down live power lines. Likewise, flooded homes with exposed wiring can charge floodwaters with an electrical current. Coming into contact with water touching a live wire can kill you. Turn off electrical breakers before walking through a flooded room.

flood-cleanup

Is Flood Damage Covered By Insurance?

Typically, flood damage is not covered under a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. Flood insurance is often a second policy purchased at the home or business owner’s discretion. To find out if you’re covered, it’s best to call your insurance provider before a flood hits. For more information on purchasing flood insurance, you can visit the National Flood Insurance Program website.

To find out if your property is at risk of flooding, you can use this tool on the FEMA website.

What to do After a Flood

What to do after a flood varies with the extent of damage to your property. Often you will be evacuated during a flooding event such as a hurricane, which can make it difficult to determine the shape your property is in immediately after a flood. If you’re in an area affected by a flood, here are some steps to get you on the right track:

Survey the damage: If possible, look over your property and see the extent of the flood damage. Take detailed notes and photos; this will help speed up the process with your insurance company and restoration experts.
Call your insurance provider: If you have flood insurance, call your provider and inform them your property has been damaged. Let them know you are contacting FRS. If there is anything you can do to mitigate the flood damage, for example, lay a tarp or board up windows that let additional flood water into your house, do this after you have taken the pictures to present to the claims adjuster.
Call your restoration experts: The faster you can find a flood restoration services company near me, the better. We know how to tackle a flooding cleanup and mitigate any secondary damages. Our restoration experts respond immediately to emergencies, and that quick response can save you thousands on repairs.
Find a place to stay: Depending on the extent of the flood damage to your home, you may not be a safe place to stay. Find nearby relatives, friends, or a hotel where you can stay overnight throughout the restoration process. Be sure to bring all essential documents like insurance cards and ID as well as medications.
Keep in touch with your restoration company and insurance agent: First Restoration Services technicians will always keep you up to date on what they are doing in your home or business. Make sure your insurance provider is in the loop on any drying, cleaning, and reconstruction that may be going on to avoid surprises on your bill.

Repair the Right Way

Flood damage restoration is a very responsible process that requires expertise and caution. While it is important to act immediately, it is important that you do not fall for the first restoration offer you get. If you do not take the following steps to assess viable contractors, you may fall victim to scammers that use the adverse event to their advantage:

Check reviews. Online reviews and references might tell you much about the quality of the provided services and warn you of any issues that may come up with this or that restoration service provider. If you have found a negative review, don’t hesitate to ask the contractor about it – a good response to negative feedback may be more important that masking or ignoring any issues.
Check location and certification. As a rule, it is recommended to hire local restoration companies who understand the specifics of the region and value local reputation too much to think of any opportunism. Make sure the contractors are certified and experienced in both flood cleanup and mold restoration, the latter being a common problem in the flooded houses.
Consult your insurance agent or a claims adjuster before signing a contract with a flood damage restoration company. Ask them for any recommendations or warnings. They might also help you understand if the estimates seem to be right.

Flood Damage Cleanup

In addition to the severe personal risks of a flood, your property is also at risk. Water can cause significant secondary damage including warping wooden building materials and creating mold colonies. Many of these effects set in within hours of a flood. Thus, in addition to water drying and sanitation of all surfaces, flood cleanup near me involves:

Throwing out of any unsealed food whether it has been exposed to floodwaters or not;
Removal of drywall and insulation that contacted floodwater;
Ripping out any soaked carpets and paddings;
Replacement of outlets and switches that were under the water lever during the flooding;
Cleaning of frames and flooring (hardwood and laminate might have to be removed for some time);
Professional cleaning and disinfection of upholstered furniture and curtains that came into contact with flood waters.

Samples of the ruined flooring and affected fabric should be preserved and presented to the claims adjuster.

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How to Respond When Your House Floods

If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the midst of one of life’s most stressful situations. A flood wreaks havoc on your property, as well as your sanity. First Restoration Services is here to help! Use these tips to properly respond to flood damage.

Responding to a House Flood

Flood Damage Repairs

Getting your life back together after a flood is no easy task. At FRS, we strive to make the restoration process go as smoothly as possible. Our experts know how to clean up flood damage safely and efficiently. We also understand the insurance process and will make sure we do our part to keep you informed on your expenses and timeline for flood damage repairs. Call us as soon as possible after a flood and FRS can help you through the flood restoration and flood damage repairs process.

IICRC S500 Standard

First Restoration Services follows the standard put in place by the IICRC (Institute Inspection Cleaning & Restoration Certification). ANSI/IICRC S500-2015 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration is a procedural standard. Based on reliable restoration principles, research, and practical experience. Our adherence to IICRC standards sets us apart in providing flood damage cleanup near me, flood damage restoration, and flood damage repairs near me.