Residents of the northern and western parts of Illinois have braced themselves for the possibility of flood waters entering their homes. Rains that fell this week on Wednesday and Friday cause rivers to flood, sending water and mud on to roadways. The counties of Fulton and Knox have been hit the hardest.
The spring showers have overwhelmed many of the rivers in Illinois, which has caused the National Weather Service to issue several flood warning throughout the season.
When preparing for a flood, home and business owners can prepare by creating a plan. This plan should detail how to prepare one’s property for flood damage, including instructions on how to shut off water and electrical utilities. List important phone numbers in the emergency plan and the locations of important documents and valuable items. Keep an emergency/first aid kit with this plan and maps with evacuation routes so everyone knows where to meet up in the event of an evacuation. Also plan out what you are going to do in the event of a loss. Keep the phone number of your insurance agent and flood restoration specialist handy.
(The photograph to the right, demonstrates how documents can be damaged not only water, but also mold as a result of the excess moisture not being dried correctly. Wet documents can be remedied by flood restoration specialists and dried properly to prevent mold damage.)
