Do you live in a flood-prone area? Make sure you know what to do during and after a hurricane. Hurricane season begins June 1 and includes New England coastal areas and inland to the Boston Metrowest communities like Framingham MA. The aftermaths of hurricane remain long after it passes. Troubles created by fallen trees, flooding at homes, downed power lines, etc., are felt in and around the entire area from where the storm passed. If you live in an area prone to storms, you should know exactly what to do when the catastrophe ends. Here is a checklist for after a hurricane:

1. Stay tuned to the NOAA Weather Radio, your TV station or local radio for the latest updates.
2. Return home during the daylight hours so you can easily spot the potential obstructions on the road without relying on your vehicle lights. Take extra precaution while driving. Beware of road hazards such as sinkholes and debris caused by the flooding. Do not drive through standing water, which might be hiding large sinkholes that can put you in an even more dangerous positions. Do not attempt to drive over any fallen power lines or through water containing any lines.
3. Only drive to areas that have been deemed safe by the local public works, fire, and police departments. Follow all instructions by these agencies that are specifically trained to respond in these emergencies.
4. When you arrive home, you will find many hazards. Electrical wiring, structural issues due to impact from water and wind and the presence of mold, bacteria, and other contaminants can all pose a threat. A first call should be to a professional water damage clean up company like Service Team of Professionals. Most often, an electrician will need to assess the area for electrical safety. STOP Metrowest works directly with trusted electricians who can provide this service.
5. Floodwaters will carry contaminants from the path the water followed. Whether it's chemicals and oil from a road or bacteria and fungi from natural vegetation, do not swallow the water. Keep any open sores and cuts on your body away from floodwater to help prevent any skin and other infections.  STOP Metrowest in Framingham, will enter the home, document, and take photographs of the damage. A plan for water extraction, clean up, and any biohazard remediation will be reviewed with the owner and likely the insurance adjuster. It is best to leave this work to professional water damage technicians that have personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely conduct the work.
6. Keep children and pets away from floodwater at all times. We strongly recommend leaving cleaning and sanitizing any items handled by children or pets to a professional remediation company like STOP Metrowest. STOP will help you determine what is salvageable and what should be discarded. They will further properly clean and sanitize the items according to the highest standards.
7. Once the contaminated water and other biohazards are eliminated, the structure will need to be properly dried. STOP uses specific standards and equipment to dry a structure and monitor the progression. Without professional drying and monitoring, extra moisture will likely be left in the materials that will cause harmful conditions down the road.
8. Reconstruction can start after the harmful conditions have been eliminated.
9. STOP documents the conditions on an ongoing basis to support insurance flood claims. Working directly with you and the adjuster ensures everyone is involved in decision-making and updated.

All in all, flood damage restoration can cost you differently depending on a number of factors involved. For personal safety and building safety, water damage restoration is best left to professionals like Service Team of Professionals. STOP Metrowest is an IICRC Certified Firm - safe, quality, and compassionate service is our priority! We provide 24/7 emergency water extraction and restoration of any water damage related issues in Framingham MA or other Metrowest MA communities like Sudbury MA, Holliston MA, and Westborough MA. Call STOP MetroWest at 508-753-3780. For more information, visit our webpage at STOP Metrowest