When you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a flood, chances are you weren’t expecting it. Chances are you’ve never been in this situation before, and you have no idea how to handle it. But you’re not alone. People all over the world have to deal with unexpected floods from time to time, whether they’re caused by plumbing issues or severe storms or simply leaving the water running. So if you find yourself in this situation, here’s what you should do and what you shouldn’t do during a flood disaster.

DO Call a Professional

A true flood disaster is not one that you can clean up on your own. You need a professional’s help because there’s no knowing what damage the flood has caused. Floodwater can ruin furniture and the entire structure of your home if moisture isn’t dried up. Insulation can be ruined and mold can grow, and the only way to prevent such things is to have a professional home remediation crew from 911 Remediation come in and inspect, clean up, and treat the area to make it as good as new.

DO Get Everyone to Safety

Safety is critical when there’s a flood. At the very least, you want to clear everyone out of the flooded area and keep it contained. You probably shouldn’t even go in there to try to clean it up. If the flood water is continuing to rise, evacuate the area and possibly the home and get everyone to a safe area. When a home fills with water there is always a risk of significant structural damage. If it’s not a very deep flood, get everyone to the higher level, but if it’s significantly deep, evacuate the structure.

DO NOT Go in the Flooded Area

You may want to go into the area that is flooded, but unless you are going to rescue a loved one or something extremely important, you’re risking life and health. You may not realize the significance of this, but there are great health risks present in flooded rooms. Chances are the water is filled with contaminants and debris that could injure you or make you ill.

DO Get to Higher Ground

That’s the best tip we can give you in a flood: since water runs downward, get to higher ground.

DO NOT Drive During A Flooding Disaster

This is more applicable if it’s a flood caused by inclement weather. If there’s a bad storm with torrential rainfall, most likely there are collapsed bridges, submerged roadways, and flash floods on the road. Your vehicle could easily get stuck and leave you completely stranded, so avoid such areas and get out of the area as quickly as possible.

DO Protect Your Valuables

Your valuables include important possessions and documents and should be protected if at all possible. If you notice a flood disaster in your home and it’s rising, after you’ve gotten everyone to safety you’ll want to get all valuables that you can to a safe area.

DO NOT Go Near Downed Power Lines

If there are any downed power lines in your area because of the flood, avoid them! There are great risks of electric shock or worse when water meets electricity, so avoid this at all costs.

DO Shut Off Your Power and Water

If possible, shut off your power so that there are no complications and fire hazards with the flood. Additionally, try to shut off your water so that no plumbing or pipe disasters cause similar problems.

During a flood disaster, the most important thing to do is stay calm, get everyone to safety, and call for help.