The flash flooding in the area caught many of the victims off guard and resulted in stranded homeowners and visitors to the area. Power outages in the area further hampered efforts to warn flood victims to stay off the dangerous roads. As the waters started to retreat, bodies were discovered in homes and outside in areas that were submerged a short time before. Tennessee alone was the location for 17 of the 28 victims.

Rescue workers fought through the flood waters and rescued hundreds of stranded victims. Boats and canoes were used to reach the victims and ferry them to dry, safe land. While most of the rescue work is completed, there are still isolated incidents of damaged homes and even one home that was floating in the street in Nashville as late as Tuesday. There is still no tally on the number of people that are missing since the floods.

The flood damage extended into the tourist attractions in the city of Nashville, with the Grand Ole Opry suffering from devastating flooding. Guests staying at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel were taken to a shelter after the floods. There is an estimated $75 million in damages at the hotel. It is expected to remain closed for three to six months.
The lost revenue from these tourist attractions is still not realized completely. This is an economic blow to Tennessee in a time when the economy is has already been difficult. The loss of tourist revenue as well as the damage to the historic buildings in the area may cause financial difficulties that will last for years.

The governor declared fifty two of the ninety four counties in Tennessee disaster areas. The waters in the region remain high and it is still a dangerous situation for residents of the area. As rescue workers struggle to search remaining homes and businesses as the water recedes, it is expected that more bodies will be found in some of the more remote areas of Kentucky and Tennessee. Workers are struggling to restore power to the flood soaked region.

At some point, homeowners would have to deal with water damage to their property. It is an inevitable occurrence, especially in low-level areas and in properties that are not properly equipped with the needed tools and methods to prevent water from seeping in.

If you have just newly acquired a home, getting a good understanding of how and why water damage happens could ultimately save you from unnecessary expenses and at the same time, keep you and your family safe from illnesses associated with water damage.

Water Damage Classifications

Category 1
This type of water damage involves the entry of “clean water” into a particular area in the house, brought about by leaks from supply lines, overflows, and malfunction of certain appliances that connect to water sources. Clean water does not pose a real health threat to people.

Category 2
This type of water damage involves entry of water from chemicals and other contaminants, such as those coming from toilet bowls and pumps. This kind of water is referred to as “Grey Water” and may cause illness to people living in the house.

Category 3
This type of water damage is very dangerous to humans when exposed to it. Known as “Black Water,” this comes from water source that contain: fungi, harmful bacteria, and other dirty elements, such as those from sewage systems, standing water, and ground surface water.

Restoration
There are several methods used to restore a property back to how it was before it was damaged by water. You can avail the services of a professional restoration service, depending on the extent of damage. You may need to spend a certain amount of money for the use of equipment such as drying systems and air-movers. On the other hand, if the damage is minimal, you only need to make sure that the area is completely dried out by putting furniture under the heat of the sun, using vacuum cleaners to dry carpets and flooring, and dehumidifiers to dry the room walls to avoid molds from growing.

How to Avoid Water Damage
While natural calamities such as flooding cannot be stopped, there are ways to keep your home safe from water damage. The first thing to do is to ensure that gutters are cleaned twice a year, ideally in the months of March and October, before winter comes along. Many people dread cleaning their gutters but you need to do it anyway in order to get rid of dirt, leaves, straw, and twigs that will cause water overflow and leakage.

Another way to avoid water damage is to make sure you get rid of condensation and leakage problems. The rooms, especially the basement, need to be properly ventilated and pipes need to be checked on a regular basis to find out if there are leaks coming from toilets and sinks. Air-conditioners should also be checked for any leaks or clogs in the drain lines.