Water Damage At Your Property, Now What?
Shawn Folks • June 16, 2020
Water damage can be hard to detect and extremely expensive to repair. Water can sneak in from anywhere, including missing shingles, peeling caulk, leaky pipes, surface backups or even sewage systems. Keep a close eye and nose on your house. If you see peeling paint, mold, or mildew on walls, or if you smell a persistent, musty odor, you may have a bigger problem on your hands.
The good news is, there are some preventative measures you can take to reduce water damage from occurring. Some simple steps include:
- Ensuring your gutters and downspouts are always cleaned
- Maintaining your sump pump (and make sure it has battery backup)
- Regularly inspecting water supply lines to your refrigerator and washing machine
We understand that sometimes, emergencies or natural disasters happen. First, if you have water damage at your home or business, be sure to immediately turn off the water source if applicable. In the first 100 minutes, as our team of property damage restoration experts responds to your call, move any furniture or electronics away from the affected area. It is important not to power up any electronics. Meanwhile, take pictures of any property damage and allow our team to safely remove the water.
In addition, it is important to note that there are three classes of water, which range from clean source to contaminated. However, the longer the water sits in a building or a home, the more likely it becomes contaminated. Here are the three categories of water:
- Cat 1: Clean Water Damage: Clean water is the first category of water damage that can affect your business. It is, as the name describes, clean or uncontaminated water from a faulty appliance or broken water line. Depending on the materials of the affected areas, this can change.
- Cat 2: Gray Water Damage: The second category of water damage is water which comes from a source that may contain contaminants, like a toilet without feces, snow, or rainfall, or a dishwasher. Again, quick action and repair is necessary for effective water damage mitigation.
- Cat 3: Black Water Damage: The third category of water damage is considered the most dangerous and can cause the most destruction to your business and health. This includes water from overflowing rivers, sewage, or groundwater. This water can include pathogens that carry viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Although we encourage you to use our team for any category, this category of water should be managed by a certified water restoration company.
Finally, as the leading restoration company along the Gulf Coast, we pride ourselves on our five core values of honesty, partnership, efficiency, workmanship and commitment. It is important to call on a team who understands that reducing the secondary damage to floors and contents is vital. Our team of restoration professionals is committed to providing quick responses and solutions, not excuses. At Guarantee Restoration Services, we are there when you need us the most.
On the Gulf Coast, preparation isn’t optional. It’s simply a part of doing business. From hurricane season to heavy rain events and everything in between, properties in Lafayette face a different level of risk than most. And when something does happen, the difference between a smooth recovery and a stressful situation often comes down to one thing: having a plan in place with the right team. Why Pre-Loss Planning Looks Different in Lafayette Pre-loss planning looks a little different here because the risks are different. It’s not just about knowing where your shutoffs are or having a list of contacts. It’s about understanding how quickly a storm can shift, how water can move through a property, and how to respond when multiple buildings or locations are impacted at once. That kind of preparation requires more than a template. It requires local knowledge. At Guarantee Restoration Services, our Lafayette team builds pre-loss plans with that in mind. We take into account the specific challenges that come with properties in Acadiana, including wind-driven rain, tornado threats, and the potential for widespread damage across an entire area. That allows us to create a plan that is realistic, not just theoretical. The Importance of Having a Clear Path Forward “We’ve seen how quickly things can escalate during a storm event. Having a pre-loss plan in place gives our clients a clear path forward instead of trying to figure it out in the middle of the chaos,” said Craig Rose, Mitigation Manager at our Lafayette Branch. That “clear path forward” is what makes the biggest difference. When a storm hits, response times are everything, but so is access. Roads can be blocked, power can be out, and communication can be limited. A strong pre-loss plan accounts for those variables and ensures that response efforts can begin as soon as it is safe to do so. Protecting Operations, Employees, and Tenants It also helps property teams stay focused on what matters most. Instead of trying to coordinate vendors, track down information, or make high-pressure decisions, they can follow a plan that has already been built around their property and their priorities. From a business standpoint, that level of preparation protects more than just the building. It protects operations, tenants, employees, and timelines. Building Trust Before Disaster Strikes “Pre-loss planning is about building trust before there’s ever a problem. Our clients know who to call, what to expect, and how we’re going to support them when something happens,” said Paige Hebert, Business Development Representative in Lafayette. That trust and familiarity matter, especially in a region where large-scale events can impact entire communities at once. You are not just calling a company, you are calling a team that already understands your property, your risks, and your expectations. Be Realistic. Be Ready. Pre-loss planning on the Gulf Coast is not about over-preparing. It is about being realistic and ready. Because when the next storm comes through Lafayette, it is not a matter of if you will need a plan—it is a matter of how well that plan works when it is put to the test. Call us today to schedule your Pre-Loss Planning meeting where 24/7 is not just a number… it’s a GUARANTEE!
When a disaster strikes and a loss happens, the clock starts immediately. The first 24 hours after a storm event or a fire loss are the most critical for any property. It is at this time that major decisions need to be made, the damage is either controlled or spreads, and the path to recovery is determined. These decisions are often rushed, unclear, and reactive without a plan in place. This is where having a pre-loss plan makes a measurable and meaningful difference. A pre-loss plan creates a clear starting point for you and your team instead of scrambling to figure out who to call, what steps to take, or how to protect the property. It removes reactive hesitation and replaces it with action to recover. Everyone involved knows their role and understands the process, allowing them to move quickly without second guessing. Speed matters in restoration. Water continues to spread; materials continue to deteriorate, and secondary damage, like mold, can begin in as little as 24 to 48 hours. The faster a response is initiated, the more damage can be contained. Pre-loss planning allows that response to begin immediately, not hours or days later. Other than fast action, it also brings clarity during a very chaotic and challenging moment. Property managers, facility teams, and business owners are not left out in the dark trying to make high-pressure decisions on the spot. Instead, they are following a plan that has already been thoroughly thought through, discussed, and tailored to their specific property’s needs. Communication can become fragmented without a plan. Another advantage to pre-loss planning is coordination. There are several moving parts including emergency services, restoration teams, and insurance carriers. Having a plan streamlines communication ensuring that everyone involved is aligned from the start. At Guarantee Restoration Services, pre-loss planning is designed to support the exact moment the dust settles. It’s not just about preparing documents to sign ahead of time; it’s about setting up our partners and clients to respond with confidence when it matters the most. From established points of contact to documented site conditions and response protocols, everything is built to protect time, reduce damage, and maintain control. Many people think preparation is about preventing the worst from happening. Rather, it is about being ready when it happens. Because when those first 24 hours hit, you do not want to be figuring things out. You want to be executing a well-formulated, personalized plan for recovery. Call us today...where 24/7 isn’t just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE!
Behind every successful project at Guarantee Restoration Services is a team member dedicated to making a difference. This month, we’re proud to feature Brian McCaughan, Mitigation Manager at our Gulfport Branch. With more than two decades of industry experience and a strong belief in teamwork, Brian continues to lead by example both in and out of the field.
