Be Flood Smart in Virginia Beach

4/25/2019 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. Here in Virginia Beach, most of us have had to deal with flooded streets, yards and neighborhoods at one time. Whether your home or business is in a flood zone or not, there is always potential for flood damage. Flooding can occur near a coastline like in the Hampton Roads area, along city streets, in the mountains, near a river or even in the desert. Floodsmart.gov reports that in the last five years, all 50 states have experiences floods or flash floods.

Here are a few important tips from the American Red Cross to always follow:

• Stay away from floodwaters. If you come up on a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet.
• If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
• Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running or contaminated water.

If a flood strikes your home or business, contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Virginia Beach. Even minor flooding has the potential to cause major damage to a structure when not treated quickly and properly. The cleanup is often an overwhelming task, but our team is prepared to handle any size disaster.