5 Tips to Protect Your Home From Mudslides

1/19/2024 (Permalink)

You should coat and seal all of the structures on the lower level of your house, such as the foundation, walls, doors, basement, and windows.

Sudden storms in Tahoe can create flash floods at any time of the year, but these events are particularly dangerous during the snow season in winter. While homeowners can’t do anything to control the weather, they can protect their properties from mudslides and water damage. Here are a few ways you can fortify your home and minimize the need for cleanup.

5 Ways to Defend Your Home Against Mudslides

1. Invest in Insurance

Standard home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. If you’re not in a high-risk zone, you may not be required to have flood insurance, but it’s a good idea to open a policy anyway. This protection will help cover the cost of structural repairs and flood cleanup, so you can get back to your normal life in a timely fashion without draining your bank account.

2. Seal Walls

Even if it seems like your home’s exterior will provide a barrier against a mudslide, water may seep through the cracks. That’s why you should coat and seal all of the structures on the lower level of your house, such as the foundation, walls, doors, basement, and windows.

3. Develop Better Drainage  

The position of your home’s landscape can greatly reduce your risk of flood damage. You should have your landscape graded on a decline away from your home so water can flow away. Foundation vents are another feature that can help prevent mud and water from pooling around the perimeter. 

4. Have Sandbags Ready

Placing sandbags around your home in a strategic fashion can help keep mud and water back. However, since filling sandbags can be time-consuming, have them prepared and laid out well before the floodwaters start to approach your home.

5. Move Lower-Level Belongings

If there is a high chance that floodwaters will penetrate your home, minimize the amount of damage by clearing out the lower levels of your home. Save your furniture, electronics, photographs, and any other belongings susceptible to water damage by elevating them or moving them to the second story. To avoid electrical accidents, cut off the power supply within exposed areas.

When spring weather starts to warm up and heavy snowfalls begin to melt, you can be sure to expect excess water with the potential to cause issues. Basements and below-ground shelters are highly susceptible to unwanted water infiltration. Faulty windows with improper or aging seals can become an access point for outside elements. Mud, dirt, and sediments can all become intertwined in the seeping water, causing an even greater mess to deal with. Our highly trained and skilled professionals at SERVPRO®  have seen it all and have the tools and experience to cleanse, dry, and repair all water damage from the bottom up.