Flooded Basement In Bethesda — What To Do And How

By Author: Leo Nov
Total Articles: 883
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Bethesda, Maryland is considered to be one of the most affluent and educated locales in the United States. Interesting to note is the fact that it has no clear boundaries— only the center of this small town is clearly defined.
Mostly made up of land area, Bethesda is not close to any significant water bodies. Out of the 34.2km2 34.0km2 is land area, only .2km2 is water. There is nothing unpredictable about the weather. Heavy precipitation is experienced during six out of the twelve months in a year.
One would think that basement flooding is not a problem in a small town like Bethesda. This is an erred presupposition. Last December 23, 2008, a 66 inch water main broke in the Bethesda area, sending a huge wall of water down River Road. Many motorists and commuters got trapped in the floodwater, some airlifted to safety.
Such disasters are unforeseen in successful, safe, and relatively dry places. However, floods are not only from natural disasters. In fact, most floods are caused by structural defects. Be it a faulty drainage system, or leaking pipes in you area, the best way to avoid flooding is continuous ...
... check-ups of the structures and fixtures in and around your home. Check for any cracks, or thinning of materials, and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
A place to start searching for signs of potential flooding is the basement. It is not an often-visited part of the house, and it is the lowest room in the house. For these reasons, it is often overlooked as a problem area, to the point that gathering floodwater is overlooked.
If and when a flooded basement happens, it is important, first and foremost, before going in to the water, to turn off all electrical power in your home. Next, one should always wear the safe clothing when going into the floodwater: waterproof and impenetrable gloves and boots, and long sleeved shirts and pants (also waterproof).
Always remember that when draining floodwater by any means—using machines or manually, it is not about getting rid of the water quickly. Water must be drained slowly, about a foot of water after eight to twelve hours at a time, to give the moistened areas time to regain strength and sturdiness. Draining water too quickly will leave structures soft, opening the possibility of further damage and even complete collapse.
In tackling floodwater in basements, it is good and well to be able to handle in on your own, for economic reasons. However, not all instances of flooding are simple. If they happen in places where a lot of sharp objects and potentially harmful chemicals are stored, professional help is needed for safety purposes, and ensuring the effective clean-up of the flood as well.
At the end of the day, as with tackling any problem, if in doubt, ask for outside help. Bethesda Maryland has no shortage of resources, goodwill, and man power, so you should be able to find help near you.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of http://www.restorationsos.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage cleanup and restoration visit http://www.restorationsos.com