Description

Intense flooding of approximately 4" across the entire basement of my home. The water was murky brown and smelled of sewage. After the water level went down, a light film was present which had to be cleaned off of the floor and up a few inches on the walls. Water penetrated the hot water heater tank's heating element on the bottom of the unit, and has soaked up several inches inside the hot water heater's insulation. After 48 hours of constant fanning and trying to pump out water from the unit, I cannot dry the cavity where the heater works and the insulation is still wet. The unit is now broken. Pictures are included of the extent of the damage with demonstration of the high water mark and post-cleaning. I was not at home when the damage occurred, and by the time I came back, the water had receded.