Berkeley Lake water extraction

Berkeley Lake is small, hilly and largely residential, with its 88-acre private lake at the centre and the Chattahoochee along its northern edge. ^[1] A house may step down its lot, so the wet room can be two floors below the front door. That means long hose runs, a good deal of carrying and some planning about which equipment will actually fit. Portable extractors and small pumps are often the practical choice, even where a large truck could technically get onto the drive.

Stairs are the awkward part. Wet hoses and cords on a narrow internal stair are a hazard, especially for an older owner who still needs to get around the house. Ask for one clear route to be kept, and for cords to be taped or routed away from steps. If you are unsteady on stairs, tell the contractor; do not try to clear the way yourself.

Every hose ends somewhere, and here "downhill" may eventually mean a neighbour's yard, a stream or the lake. Clean water from a supply line can often go into a suitable household drain or be released gradually away from the foundation. Water from a sewage event or a contaminated flood must not be sent toward any of those. Ask specifically how the crew will dispose of it. Gwinnett's dispatch line takes reports of sewer spills if you see one. ^[2]

Slopes also erode quickly under a hose. A discharge running across bare soil can cut a channel and carry silt onto the next lot. A splash pad, a long run down a planted area or discharge into a proper drain keeps that from happening. It is a small detail, and it can prevent an awkward conversation with the neighbours downhill.

Many homes here have a guest level or storage floor that gets little use, and a leak there can run for days. Extraction is still the first step, but the water may no longer count as clean, and the carpet, pad and lower drywall may have absorbed far more. Tell the contractor when the area was last seen dry. If you are not sure, say so, because they need to plan for the worst case, and the EPA's 24 to 48 hour drying advice may already have passed. ^[3]

Check also for a musty smell or any visible growth before equipment starts blowing air around. If there is growth, tell the crew, because they may want to isolate the area first.

Water from a storm-damaged roof can run through several levels on its way down. If a tree came down on the house, stay clear of any power lines and call the utility first. Gwinnett residential power is split among Georgia Power and various EMCs, so the right number depends on your address. ^[4] Extraction comes after the roof has been covered, or the crew will find themselves working against the same rain. Save the photographs of the tree for your insurer before it is cut away.

Moving belongings during a flood is where many injuries happen, particularly on stairs. If you live alone or have trouble with stairs, leave the heavy items for the crew or a younger relative, and focus on deciding what matters most. A short list of priorities given to whoever arrives is more useful than a tired person carrying boxes. Ask at the start who will move contents, because that is not automatically part of every job. Bear in mind that some of those offering help after a storm may not be who they say they are. Asking for a business name and written scope is reasonable, and you can check those details yourself or have a family member do so. If a contractor is coming a long way up a narrow street, let close neighbours know, since parked cars and trailers may block the road for a while. Small communities notice unfamiliar vans, and a quick word can head off confusion.