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Water Damage - Over the ground flooding
Over-the-ground flooding can cause tremendous damage
and presents unique problems to property owners as they
remediate and restore their property. Restoration businesses
are faced with a literal “flood” of calls since these
events often cover very large areas and can impact thousands
of homes and businesses.
If you live in a recognized flood plain, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that your
home has better than a 25% chance of being damaged by
a flood during the course of a 30-year mortgage, compared
to a 9% chance of damage from fire. And, of course,
many floods occur outside of “flood plains” and they
can happen in all 50 states. Thunderstorms, hurricanes,
and even slow-moving tropical depressions can bring
extensive flooding – sometimes hundreds of miles from
any coastal area.
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All over-the-ground flooding brings contaminants into
the home from outside. These contaminants can cause
damage to property and also present a serious health
risk. According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning
and Restoration Certification (IICRC), S500 Standard,
all such flooding is classified as Category 3 damage.
In Category 3 situations the IICRC recommends that all
porous materials be removed and properly disposed of,
because of the obvious damage, and the difficulty in
sanitizing such materials. These materials include:
carpet, pad, upholstered furniture, drywall, particle
board furniture and other materials, paper, cardboard,
insulation, etc. Structural wood (2x4, etc.) is classified
as “semi-porous” and can be successfully sanitized and
can remain in place. The same is true for solid wood
furniture (although the furniture will probably need
to be refinished and that cost needs to be considered
in evaluating the save/dispose decision.)
In many instances, the extent of the damage is simply
beyond the ability of most property owners and they
recognize the need to call on professionals. A professional
restoration business has the equipment and supplies,
and the trained and certified staff to properly deal
with damage resulting from an over-the-ground flood.
The first step is to remove all contaminated materials
from the structure. This includes any remaining water,
mud, sludge, etc., as well as any contents and structural
materials that cannot be properly restored, as discussed
above. The next step for a professional is to be sure
to use professional-strength products and an EPA-approved
disinfectant to clean and sanitize all remaining materials:
structure, fixtures and any salvageable contents. A
professional will also be certain to examine and properly
treat all “hidden” spaces and areas, such as: behind
bath/shower inserts; under remaining cabinets, crawl
spaces, etc. All of this can be done even if there is
no power at the structure.
The final step in the remediation process is to professionally
and thoroughly dry the structure. In a home, this normally
means that the power needs to be restored. In commercial
property (and sometimes with homes), large generators
will be brought to the site to provide the necessary
power. A professional restoration business has state-of-the-science
dehumidifiers (Low Grain Refrigerant, or Desiccant,
depending on the situation) and High Capacity Air Movers.
The professional will know how to calculate how much
equipment is necessary to accomplish needed drying effectively,
and efficiently. In all water damage situations, cleaning
and drying are accomplished as quickly as possible to
help prevent the development of mold and other fungi
in the structure. This is especially true with over-the-ground
flooding, because the additional contamination that
is brought into the structure is usually additional
food sources for fungi.
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In addition to the “drying” equipment, today’s professional
will also install one or more Air Scrubbers. This equipment
contains a HEPA filter to remove all particulates in
the air that are 3/10 of a micron (approximately 3/25,000
inches) or larger. Installing an Air Scrubber is a prudent
step to help maintain the health and well-being of employees,
as well as owners and other persons, who may be inside
the structure.
A restoration professional will accomplish all of the
above as quickly as possible, and with genuine consideration
for the owners of the property throughout the process.
After the removal, decontamination and drying have
been completed, the home or other structure is now ready
for any structural repairs that need to be made, and
for new furnishing to be put into place.
Regardless of the circumstances - dealing with floods
or other water damage, fire/smoke damage, mold, or biohazard
remediation - call PuroClean Home Rescue (866-722-7876),
the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property
damage situations, these professionals are standing
by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage
and will then provide restoration services to return
the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible.
All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional
technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science
services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke,
mold, and other disasters.
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