When people think about water damage they usually envision watermarks on floors and baseboard slick with mildew and water sediment.
While home damage is a serious part of dealing with water damage it isn't the only thing to consider.
Since water has a way of getting everywhere almost anything in your home is at risk.
Water damage companies can come out and repair your home, but the brunt of the other damage is left to you.
Electronics can be absolutely destroyed in very little time by water.
Everything from your toaster to your cell phone can be ruined if exposed to water for even a short amount of time.
Electrical appliances such as blenders, toasters and microwave ovens should all be inspected by an electrician before using.
If your cell phone hasn't been exposed to much water or if you were able to rescue it right away immediately remove the battery.
Take a second to look in the corner where your battery goes.
There should be a small white circle or square with or without red lines.
If this area is pink or red your phone has experienced some level of water damage.
Dry the phone gently with a clean, soft towel after removing any protective cover or other accessories.
Place the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice and leave it for at least 12 hours.
The rice will help pull out any remaining moisture.
After you've let it sit place the phone on absorbent towel and check it every 4 hours or so for any signs of moisture.
Overall, the entire process should take a minimum of 24 hours in order to allow the phone to properly and thoroughly dry.
Computers are a major concern when it comes to water damage.
As with any piece of electrical equipment the goal is to completely dry the machine.
Unscrew the housing case of your computer and remove it totally.
Be sure to make notes if you think you won't remember how to put it back on, but it is usually simply a case of unscrewing the anchor screws on the back and lifting it off.
Gently dry what you can easily reach but do not touch any of the boards.
Allow the exposed machine to sit and dry naturally in a room with good circulation.
Do not attempt to turn your computer on until you're sure it's completely dry.
Once you have it back up and running immediately back up your hard drive onto a flash drive or other portable device in case parts are damaged but don't stop working right away.
Documents, books and photographs are another common victim of water damage.
Photos and documents should be rinsed if needed and laid flat on absorbent paper to dry.
If it's possible to have an oscillating fan on low nearby that will help too.
Keep in mind the photos and documents will always retain certain damage due to the water but you should be able to rescue them.
Books should be removed quickly and if they are waterlogged place blotting paper between every 20 or 50 pages.
Change the paper often and leave open to dry.
Books which are beyond salvation should be thrown out immediately in order to prevent the spread of mold to your remaining collection.
For victims of water damage, the work involved in recovery can seem never ending.
Since time is so crucial when it comes to saving your home and possessions from water damage it can feel overwhelming at first.
Remember to stay calm and do what you can as quickly as you can.
Hire professionals right away to deal with your home water damage issues so that you are free to tend to the possessions which require attention in order to survive the ordeal.
And, of course, no matter how trying the process may be, remember that things can be replaced but you and your family cannot.