Flood and wind damage from storms are sources of worry for those of us running business in the Northeast. However, having a plan and knowing how to protect your property will give you the upper hand and get you back on your feet when wind, rain, and floods threaten your business.
Water and storm damage in our tristate area is an all-too-common cause of damage many businesses deal with each year. Flood damage can cause major messes and significant cleanup efforts.
With a little preparation and knowledge, there are several steps a business can take when it suffers damage that will make the process easier and less stressful.
Clear the Water from the Space
After a storm that has caused your building to flood, it is important to remove humidity from the building as quickly as possible. This includes clearing water as soon as it is safe to do so.
Once it is safe to enter the building, immediately shut off the power. If you are unable to, or if it is unsafe, have your power company turn of the power from the outside.
Next, you need to begin pushing water out of the building through exits and floor drains by using squeegees, push brooms, and mops. It is suggested you bring in as many dehumidifiers as you can and place them at floor drains so that they can run continuously.
Air Out the Space
If your business has suffered from water damage, the first step is to move all items away from the wall and spaced apart so they can dry. This will also help stop other types of damage like mold growth in dark corners.
Open all of the windows to help circulate air and if safe, run fans to increase airflow and help items dry out more quickly.
Don’t Wait to Clean Up
You may be feeling overwhelmed as you begin to assess the damage of your flooded building, but it is critical to start cleaning as soon as it is safe. Waiting can result in more damage.
Remove appliances, electronics, furniture, and any other important items immediately. The quicker you can get these items out of the water the better chance you will have of saving them.
Another key to prevent further damage and additional costs is to try to pull up your carpets and under-padding to help the carpets dry out and prevent mold from growing.
Avoid Using Electrical Items
When evaluating the damage, you may want to see if your appliances or machinery still work. However, using electrical items that may have been damaged by water can be incredibly dangerous.
Make sure not to use any sort of electrical items to clean up the area as outlets in your building may be damaged.
As your make your way through the cleaning process, be sure to work with professionals who can provide repairs safely. Having a disaster recovery plan can help you get back on your feet faster and reduce the stress of this overwhelming and unexpected project.
Clean, Sanitize, and Disinfect Your Building
Once the property has been thoroughly dried, you will want to start the sanitation process. It is essential to use a good disinfectant to remove any bacteria that might have come up through sewers, plumbing, or from outside depending on your water source.
Various affordable and accessible cleaning solutions can help clean the area, including bleach, ammonia, borax, vinegar, and baking soda.
This may be the best time to bring in professional cleaners to help.
Because of mold and other contaminates that form in standing water, a commercial cleaning company will ensure everything is cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected properly.
Take Steps to Stop Mold Growth
Once the damaged area has been dried and cleaned, you need to take preventative steps to stop mold from growing.
Apply a mold control spray over the affected area while following directions on the bottle’s label. After the spray dries overnight, it will destroy any mold spores and provide continued blockage. Continue to monitor damaged areas for signs of mold.
Let Us Help
Cleaning a flooded or weather damaged building may seem impossible, but by working quickly and safely, and knowing when to enlist the aid of professionals, you can be up and running in no time.
Commercial Cleaning Corporation offers electrostatic disinfection, a tool used to apply mold preventatives, disinfectants, and sanitizers to 3D surfaces for a 360-degree complete clean.
Electrostatic disinfection is often used in facilities that are experiencing mold or bacteria outbreaks, but also makes a great addition to everyday cleaning within corporate offices, medical and healthcare facilities, schools and universities, commercial kitchens, and clean rooms, and research/development facilities.
If you are experiencing mold or mildew growth in your facility and are interested in our electrostatic disinfection service, click here now to fill out a brief form and we will get back to you within four hours!