Contact the Kane County Building Department at 630-232-3485 to request a damage assessment visit so that the County can assist the property owner to determine the extent and requirements for the repairs that will be needed. Emergency repairs can be done to stabilize or secure the property, but the owner needs to apply for a Damage Assessment Permit the next business day.

In a few situations, deep or fast moving waters will push a building off its foundation, but this is rare and Kane County has few areas where the depths and velocities are that high. More often, structural damage is caused by the weight of standing water, known as “hydrostatic pressure.”

Basement walls and floors are particularly susceptible to damage by hydrostatic pressure. Not only is the water acting on basement walls deeper, a basement is subjected to the combined weight of water and saturated earth. In addition, water in the ground underneath a flooded building will seek its own level, resulting in uplift forces that can break a concrete basement floor.

Due to the relatively low velocities and shallow flood depths in the County, the most common type of damage inflicted by a flood is caused by soaking. When soaked, many materials change their composition or shape. Wet wood will swell and, if dried too quickly, will crack, split or warp. Plywood can come apart. Gypsum wallboard will fall apart if it is bumped before it dries out. The longer these materials are wet, the more moisture, sediment and pollutants they will absorb.

Soaking can cause extensive damage to household goods. Wooden furniture may become so badly warped that it cannot be used. Other furnishings such as upholstery, carpeting, mattresses, and books usually are not worth drying out and restoring. Electrical appliances and gasoline engines will not work safely until they are professionally dried and cleaned.

In short, while a building may look sound and unharmed after a flood, the waters can cause a lot of damage. As shown in the above photo, to properly clean a flooded building, the walls and floors should be stripped, cleaned, and allowed to dry before being recovered. This can take weeks and is expensive.