What We Can Learn from Texas Floods About Water Damage

(Newswire.net — June 24, 2015) Centerville, Utah –If you live in an area that does not normally experience flooding, this news is also pertinent to you and your family, as well.

 

As most already know, the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Louisiana have experienced record, almost biblical, flooding in the last two months. Storms ravaged the region in May, dumping record numbers of precipitation on the area.

 

The numbers speak for themselves: in the month of May alone, 37 trillion gallons of water were poured onto the state of Texas, enough to cover the entire state up to eight inches. The flooding has already taken 23 lives and caused untold millions of dollars in damages.

 

Now a new system has made its way through the region, threatening to hinder the people of the region even more helpless.

 

The Houston National Weather Service stated on Monday, June 15, that a storm system making its way through the Texas region “could easily average 6 to 8 inches with some amounts exceeding 10 inches” and that this could lead to a “dangerous flood situation”.

 

Local officials in the Houston area have called the event “potentially catastrophic”.

 

Harris County Emergency Management went on to say, “While high winds and even tornadoes are possible, already wet grounds mean that even a moderate amount of rain will likely cause street flooding. Bayous and rivers could go out of banks quickly creating a serious threat to life and property.”

 

While all of this is tragic and potentially catastrophic to the folks in the Texas region, what does this mean for folks in normally dry climates and regions that do not experience flooding of this magnitude?

 

Three words: standing water damage.

 

Several studies indicate that the longer standing water is allowed to stand, the more damage it can cause; standing water has been known to cause significant damage to a home in as little as 24 hours.

 

Furthermore, a homeowner even need a catastrophe like the Texas floods to sustain heavy water damage. All it takes is a broken pipe or a flooded basement to have just enough water to cause considerable damage.

 

The American Lung Association warns that “standing water remaining from any flood is a breeding ground for microorganisms. Bacteria, viruses, and mold can become airborne and be inhaled, putting people at risk for lung disease.”

Experts in the water damage remediation field suggest that any homeowner or property manager that suspects water damage should shut off the water source right away to prevent further damage as well as remove the standing water that is present in the area. It is recommended to not dump excess water down a drain or toilet, as this could cause more damage to the plumbing system in the home.

 

While the tragic events in Texas are catastrophic, there can be lessons learned from them, particularly when it comes to keeping homes safe from standing water damage.