4 Immediate Steps To Take for Your Flooded Company

7/26/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding in a commercial building.

Water damage is one of the most common and most expensive causes of concern for your business in Cedar City, UT. Unfortunately, your flooded company will experience much more damage if you hesitate to have the situation corrected right away.

Address Content Cleaning in Your Flooded Company Immediately

Mold growth, mildew, unpleasant odors, and stains are some of the biggest concerns regarding your property and your belongings. In as little as 24 hours, mold spores could begin their work of breaking down the organic materials in your building and furnishings. Secondary damage, such as shorts caused by rust on electronics and wiring, continues as long as moisture is present.

1. Establish a Safe Environment

Depending on the cause of water damage, you may need to evacuate your building and make sure that employees and customers are safely away from all potential sources of risk. You also need to shut off the source of water and turn off all electricity coming into your building. Don’t wait until an emergency strikes to become familiar with the shutoff valves and switches on your property. You must be familiar with these fixtures, maintain access to them and practice using them.
There are risks to approaching cleanup in your flooded company. These include contamination from black water, exposure to structural weakness and injuries or additional damage because of hidden dangers.

2. Contact Insurance and Cleanup Providers

It takes time for your insurance company to respond to your claim. Several professionals are involved, including an adjuster and the water damage cleanup and repair technicians. The sooner you get your case moving forward, the sooner you’ll get your property back in business. Your insurance company may recommend a cleanup agency that should arrive right away to tarp and board up any damaged doors, windows and building structures.

3. Begin the Drying Process

When it is safe for you to return to your property, work with professionals to remove water and reduce humidity throughout the building. This generally involves the installation of commercial-grade fans, increasing ventilation and removing soggy contents from the building. As you carry out equipment and furniture, be aware of the potential for damaging your belongings and for physical injuries. Make sure that you have a place to store your belongings where they can continue to dry without becoming vulnerable to more damage.

4. Clean, Repair, Restore and Replace

While technicians focus on high-priority tasks inside, you can begin sorting through your belongings. Electronics, books, sensitive paperwork, computers and similar items should be sorted according to the attention they need. Some may require a simple cleaning while others will be thrown out and replaced. Cleanup pros may provide specialized cleaning, including dry cleaning and disinfection, for some of your furnishings. Some possessions may have more value than others, and these should be cared for right away. For example, valuable artwork or hardwood furniture needs to be treated by professionals and not allowed to sit.

Whether you are responding to a broken pipe or water stains after a heavy downpour, the actions you take right after a water disaster will affect the long-term outcome on your property. Keep your flooded company safe by acting immediately.