Is your store, business, or other commercial property dealing with a recent flood? Or are you perhaps just looking for more information about what to do in case a flood occurs? If you live in an area that is prone to flooding or you’re expecting some bad weather in the near future, you may want to brush up on the best ways to deal with flood damage repair needs. Below, we’ll outline some of the most common issues related to flood damage and its restoration, and we’ll give you some tips about how to deal with each one of these points, too.
If you can, stop the source of the water and turn off the electricity.
Depending on the cause of the flooding, this may not be possible. If not, there isn’t much you can do about this problem. However, if there is any way to stop the source of the water that is flooding your water, do this right away when you notice the problem. You may be able to manually turn off the water to the property, or you may be able to contact an emergency number for the water company and have them shut it off instead. This is the best way to handle the problem if it comes from burst pipes or a leak in your plumbing.
Of course, sometimes, water damage comes from a natural disaster like a hurricane or a flood. If this happens, there’s no way you can shut off the source of the water, but you should still have the power turned off (if it hasn’t already gone off). Electrical outlets and devices exposed to that much water can be a fire hazard.
Solve this by:
Turning off the water to the property, if possible, and cutting off the power if possible, as well.
Understand that bacteria is an issue right away.
Before water removal can begin, bacteria may already have become an issue. Depending on where the flood water comes from, it may be contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and other pollutants and contaminants that can be very harmful to you and others. For this reason, it’s crucial to evacuate the property as soon as possible. Do not return for any merchandise or documents that may be stored on-site, as you may be exposed to hazardous water.
Your disaster restoration technicians will be able to remove the water and clean up the surfaces inside the property, ridding them of bacteria and other contaminants. They will also work to restore or repair all possible items that they retrieve from the property. This may take some time, but it is a crucial step in the process of making your property safe to do business in once again.
Keep in mind that some items, particularly any food that may have been on-site, may need to be discarded due to the presence of bacteria. You may lose some merchandise if you own a store, as the merchandise in question may be unsafe to sell to customers following a flood.
Solve this by:
Getting out of the property as quickly as possible and not allowing anyone to enter again until the water damage restoration team you contact has given you the all clear.
Keep in mind that mold and mildew will be an issue very quickly.
Shortly after water damage occurs, walls and drywall may develop mold and mildew. Mold can also grow on items in your commercial property, such as fabric, in carpeting, and pretty much anywhere else the water reaches. For this reason, you should always contact a professional restoration company to handle all water and mold issues. Dealing with mold is risky, and just because you can’t see any signs of it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Mold can be extremely dangerous when breathed in, so you don’t want to risk leaving it lurking in your walls. A professional team will check all the visible surfaces as well as the less visible parts of the property to determine whether or not mold is an issue. If so, it will be cleaned completely so it will not grow back. After the entire cleanup process is complete, restoration services will dry the property using dehumidifiers and circulation systems to ensure there is no risk of mold taking hold once again.
Solve this by:
Contacting a restoration contractor to provide restoration services can help you handle the cleanup of the mold and mildew in a professional and timely manner.
Expect to be unable to return to the property for some time.
This is an issue for many commercial property owners, but you will need to give your restoration company time to handle the issues and restoration required to get your property back to normal. Understand that the team will do their best to retrieve any specific items or documents you may need from your property in the interim, but otherwise, you will need to wait until they let you know it’s safe to go back inside the building.
You will also need to keep in mind that you won’t be able to do business at all from your property’s location during this time. It will be unsafe for you or any customers or clients to go in the building until you get the all clear. Although you may be tempted to try to find ways to hurry the process along, keep in mind that your technicians are working hard to restore your property and to salvage any items that may be able to be repaired as well. Try to remain patient as they do this, and you’ll be back to your property as soon as possible.
Solve this by:
Trusting your flood repair team to handle the cleanup and to let you know as soon as it’s safe to return.
Need Assistance With Flood Damage Repair?
If you are in need of flood damage restoration assistance in or around North Aurora, IL, get in touch with Restoration Techs today. You can reach us 24/7 for estimates and emergency services, and we will be glad to help you take care of any flood damage issues your commercial property may be experiencing. Give us a call at 800-600-3594 or 630-761-4900 today. Or, fill out the form below.