Basements can flood in countless different ways. You might notice a damp spot that becomes more problematic at certain times, or you might be surprised to go downstairs and find the floor submerged under a few feet of water. The flooding itself can stem from several sources, such as groundwater seeping into the home, overflowing washing machines, or pipes that have burst during cold temperatures.

It will take a lot of effort to recover from a flooded basement, especially if you have finished the space. Once you have dried out the area, you'll want to take preventative steps to keep the problem from recurring.

Time can be crucial when addressing a basement flood. Jamie Wiebe, writing for the National Association of Realtors' home improvement site HouseLogic, says your repair bills will only go up if you let the water stand. Quickly addressing the issue may allow you to limit the damage.

During severe flooding, however, you might want to approach the situation more cautiously. The American Red Cross says that when there is a lot of water in your basement, it will resist the pressure of any water outside the foundation. If you quickly drain the water, this exterior pressure can buckle the walls and floor of the basement.

When you are facing this type of situation, you should wait until floodwaters recede before pumping out your basement. After pumping out a few feet of water each day, you can measure its level to see if water is still coming into your home.

Take some pictures of the flooding before you work to address it. These images will be useful later in filing an insurance claim.

Don't go into the floodwaters unless you are certain the power in your home is off, since submerged outlets present an electrocution risk. Roy Berendsohn, writing for Popular Mechanics, recommends staying out of the water until an electrician has removed your meter. If you don't take this step, electricity can still be back-fed the grid if people are running generators nearby.

Determine the source of the flooding and shut off the water source. Wiebe says you can use the water shutoff valve if the water is coming from broken or frozen pipes, and you can minimize the effect of a sewer backup if you stop using the sinks and toilets. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for groundwater intrusion or floodwaters to recede naturally.

Once the flooding has stopped, you can work to pump the water out of the basement. Debbie Abrams Kaplan, writing for the financial site Bankrate, says existing sump pumps will work as long as you have power. However, you may need to rent a pump or hire a professional for this purpose if you don't have any dry outlets in the basement.

After the water has been drained, start removing any items that are beyond saving. You might have to shovel out some mud or other debris left by the flooding. Carpets, upholstery, and other items that have soaked up water should be disposed of; however, you might try taking some of these belongings to a professional for restoration if you wish to save them.

Berendsohn says most electrical items won't be reliable after immersion and should also be tossed. These systems include fuse boxes, lights, and furnaces. Some equipment might be salvageable if it is built to resist flooding or has not been submerged for too long. An electrician or HVAC professional will be able to advise you on what can be saved.

At the same time, you can start airing out the basement to remove the lingering moisture. Wiebe says you should open all doors and windows in the basement and run fans and dehumidifiers to ventilate the space.

Blowing this moisture out of the basement will help prevent mold from forming, but you can take other steps to combat this issue as well. Wash any floors, walls, and furniture affected by the flooding, then spray them with a bleach solution. Kaplan says you might have to remove any drywall that has been seriously waterlogged. Getting a mold testing kit will alert you if this problem starts to appear.

Submit an insurance claim to help pay for the damages. Policies generally don't cover damage caused by natural flooding, since a separate flood insurance policy is needed for this purpose. However, most policies will help you recover from issues such as burst pipes.

Once you have restored your basement, take steps to prevent flooding in the future. Wiebe says you may want to install a sump pump, make sure your backwater valve is in good shape and can prevent sewage backups, and insulate pipes to keep them from freezing. You can also consider getting a leak detector or high water alarm to help you address flooding more quickly.

Other problems can stem from condensation or inadequate design. John D. Wagner, writing for This Old House, says runoff from rainwater and melting snow should be diverted a safe distance from your home. You can also seal cracks in your foundation to prevent groundwater intrusion, set up a system to ventilate and dehumidify the space, and consider an interior drainage setup to keep high groundwater levels at bay.