Wasatch County Resort – Part 1

This new feature on UDK’s blog will discuss disasters we have cleaned up for the good people of Utah and we will highlight preventative measures that you can take to help keep damages to a minimum to your home or business.

Today we will be discussing flood damage to a resort based here in the Wasatch Mountains.

What Happened?

Having indoor plumbing as well as access to hot water is a feature in our modern lives that brings us a great standard of convenience. However, sometimes those systems fail due to equipment failure, vandalism, construction accidents or other unforeseen issues.

On one particular autumn day, the staff of a beautiful upscale European lodge located in Wasatch County were going on with their day when a power outage occurred causing the facility’s boiler to fail resulting in a major flood that affected the entire first floor of the lodge. This included 50 guest suites along with multiple corridors that all hotel guests accessed for common areas.

What can be done to prevent or minimize impacts of a flood in the future?

1. For businesses, always making sure someone on staff has access and knowledge for water main shut offs and contingencies such as a specialized plumbing contractor who understands complex commercial water supply systems.

2. For homeowners, make sure you and every member of the family know where and how to shut off the water main as quickly and safely as possible in an emergency.

3. If you notice leaks, even small ones, call a plumber to have leaky and broken pipes repaired immediately.

4. Keep storm drains as well as any floor drains clear of debris so they can drain freely.

5. Install a sump pump in flood prone areas that will detect moisture and automatically turn on in the event of water accumulation. Check the pump regularly to ensure it is operational.

6. Regularly schedule inspections and professional drain cleanings.

7. Install a water detection device that sounds an alert when water is detected in areas of concern.

8. If you live in flood prone areas, have supplies on hand such as sand bags that can divert water and provide a barrier to protect your property from flooding.

9. If you experience a flood from a broken pipe, turn off the water main first, then relieve pressure from the system by opening adjacent faucets.

10. Every property should be equipped with mops, buckets and wet/dry shop vacs should flooding occur. It allows you to instantly take action and minimize further damage.

11. During the cold winter months when temperatures drop below 30 degrees, make sure your thermostat is set to no lower than 55 degrees. This is especially important when travelling. Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to fill spaces that are adjacent to exterior walls that typically get colder than other areas of the home.

Developing a flood plan and being prepared can go a long way in minimizing damage to your structure. Take a look at a few of our other social media posts for tips and tricks in forming a plan.

To learn more about how UDK restores homes flooding check out our Flood Damage Restoration and Repair page!

You are always welcome to call our non-emergency line for more information on how we can cleanup any disaster your home has encountered, big or small!