The longer water soaks in, the more damage it will cause to structures and everything they contain.
Mold is an important health concern and will grow on wet areas and behind walls. With rising waters, sewage can enter living spaces and the sooner untreated water is moved out the better for all. Fast water displacement is best done with a mechanical pump. Since most pumps rely on electricity or combustion engine to drive the action that will pull out floodwater, having a power source is critical. The key to moving water from one place to another is energy. But the challenge in an emergency is finding a power source to drive a pump. If the water needs to be pumped out from a basement, or the hull of a boat, it will take extra power to move the water up and out to an area of less concern.
In an emergency where lots of water needs to be moved quickly, only a powered pump will get the job done. Pumps that have a power source can move water fast and in a large quantity and removing water quickly and efficiently is the main goal.
So it’s always a good idea to have a back-up plan that will provide power in an emergency. While water can be moved by gravity in a process called siphoning, this is typically very slow. To drain by gravity the inlet of a hose is dropped into standing water and the hose is stretched out such that the outlet is lower than the inlet.
The criteria for selecting a pump to have on hand for an emergency should meet the following requirements:
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Ability to move the maximum amount of water
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Runs on Standalone basis even if there is Electrical power loss
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Be compact and portable so they can fit into small spaces
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Be safe and simple to operate in any conditions
