When you own a home, you need to be ready to respond to an emergency at a moment's notice, especially where floods are concerned. Failure to respond to residential flooding can put your home at an increased risk for serious damage. If you're like most people, you might not know how to react when you're faced with residential flooding. Read the list provided below. You'll find four steps to take when you're trying to recover from a flood. 

Identify the Source of Flooding

When you're trying to clean up from a flood, one of the first things you need to do is identify the type of water you're dealing with. This might not seem like an important issue, but it is. For instance, if you're dealing with a ruptured water pipe, and you've caught the flooding quickly, you don't need to worry about bacteria. 

However, if a torrential rainstorm has caused flooding in your area, the water flowing through your home could be contaminated with bacteria and other harmful organisms. If that's the case, you should avoid the water until you have appropriate safety gear. 

Wait Until the Water Settles

When your home floods, you want to get started on the clean-up as quickly as possible. However, entering your home before the water settles could put you at risk for accidents and injuries. You might not see the hidden dangers, such as sharp objects, or exposed electrical wires. To avoid those risks, wait until the water settles. That way, you can see the dangers, before you sustain injuries. 

Determine Flood Status

When it comes to flooding caused by natural disasters, it's important that you determine your flood status. You might not realize this, but flood status will determine the type of assistance you receive for your losses. For instance, if your home is part of the disaster region, you may have access to government assistance programs, which will help you to recover from the damage. If you're not sure about your flood status, you can contact your insurance company. They'll help you with that information. 

Hire Cleanup Crew

Finally, when your home floods, you need to ensure a prompt and thorough cleanup. If you're trying to figure out where to start, now's the time to call a water damage cleanup service. Cleaning up after a flood can be a complicated process, especially when the entire home is involved, or when you're dealing with contaminated water. One of the benefits of hiring a water damage cleanup service is that they'll handle the entire project for you. They'll even bill your insurance company for the cost of the cleanup.