Tips for Minimizing Water Damage During Severe Storms

9/21/2023 (Permalink)

Minimize water damage by being aware and prepared to avoid damage to exterior of your property.

Severe storms have the potential to wreak havoc on homes and businesses, causing significant water damage. The key to mitigating the effects of water damage is preparation and quick action. In this blog post, we will discuss some essential tips for minimizing water damage during severe storms.

Maintain Gutters and Downspouts

Regularly clean and maintain your gutters and downspouts to ensure proper water flow. Clear any debris that may block the gutters and downspouts, allowing rainwater to drain effectively. This helps prevent water overflow and reduces the risk of water seeping into your home or business.

Consider installing a sump pump in your basement if you live in an area prone to flooding. A sump pump automatically removes water that collects in the basement, helping prevent extensive water damage. Make sure to test and maintain your sump pump regularly to ensure its proper functionality during a storm.

Seal Entry Points

Water can find its way into your home or business through even the smallest openings. Inspect your property for any cracks or gaps in windows, doors, and foundations, and seal them with weatherstripping, caulk, or other suitable methods. This will minimize the potential entry points for water during a storm and help protect your property.

In areas prone to flooding, it is wise to elevate your valuable belongings and important documents. Raise furniture, electronics, and appliances onto blocks or higher surfaces to keep them out of the path of potential floodwaters. Similarly, store important documents in waterproof containers, preferably at a higher level.

Install Backup Power Sources

During severe storms, power outages are common, which can hinder your ability to pump out water or address other emergency situations. Consider installing a backup power source, such as a generator, to ensure that crucial systems like sump pumps, dehumidifiers, and emergency lighting continue to operate.

If your property is situated on a slope, make sure you have proper drainage channels in place to direct water away from your home or business. This can include grading the landscape, installing French drains, or utilizing other drainage systems. Effective drainage will help minimize the pooling of water near your property, reducing the risk of water damage.

Secure Important Documents Digitally

In the event of severe water damage, important documents like insurance policies, birth certificates, and financial records can easily be destroyed. To safeguard these documents, consider creating digital copies stored securely in the cloud or on an external hard drive. This ensures that even if the physical copies get damaged, you have easy access to the digital versions.

Stay informed about severe weather conditions by monitoring local weather reports and alerts. Familiarize yourself with emergency plans and evacuation routes in your area. Create an emergency kit with essentials like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, and first aid supplies. Being prepared allows you to respond quickly and effectively during severe storms, minimizing potential water damage.

Minimizing water damage during severe storms requires proactive measures and preparedness. By maintaining gutters and downspouts, installing a sump pump, sealing entry points, you can greatly reduce the risk of water damage to your home or business. Remember, quick action during a storm can make a significant difference in mitigating water damage and preserving your property.

Battling the Elements: Weathering the Storm with Resilience and Resolve

6/29/2023 (Permalink)

After a flood, SERVPRO can help restore your content and living environment.

One of the distressing consequences of flooding is the lingering odor it leaves behind. The combination of moisture, organic matter, and stagnant water can create a musty and unpleasant smell that permeates your home. To restore a fresh and clean environment after a flood, it's important to address odor removal effectively. In this blog, we will explore proven methods and techniques to eliminate odors caused by flooding and reclaim a pleasant living space.

Safety First

Before starting any odor removal process, prioritize safety by wearing protective gear such as gloves, goggles, and a mask to avoid exposure to potentially harmful substances or contaminants present in floodwater.

Remove Water and Moisture

Extract Standing Water. Use pumps, wet/dry vacuums, or professional water removal services to remove standing water from your home promptly.

Dry Out the Area. Utilize fans, dehumidifiers, and open windows to facilitate air circulation and promote faster drying. Aim for relative humidity levels below 50% to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew, which can contribute to unpleasant odors.

Clean and Disinfect

Clean Flooded Areas: Thoroughly clean all affected surfaces, including walls, floors, and furniture, using a mild detergent or specialized cleaning solutions. Pay extra attention to areas with visible mold or mildew growth.

Disinfect Surfaces: Use a disinfectant solution recommended for flood cleanup to kill bacteria and remove any remaining contaminants that contribute to foul odors.

Treat and Remove Mold and Mildew

Identify Mold and Mildew: Inspect your home for signs of mold or mildew growth, which can produce strong odors. If present, engage in mold remediation efforts following proper guidelines or seek professional assistance.

Remove Moldy Materials: Discard porous materials that have been extensively affected by mold or mildew, such as carpeting, upholstered furniture, and insulation. Replace them with new, uncontaminated materials.

Odor Elimination Techniques

1. Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spritz the solution on affected surfaces and let it air dry. Vinegar is known for its natural deodorizing properties.
2. Baking Soda: Place bowls of baking soda in different areas of your home to absorb and neutralize unpleasant odors. Leave them for several days before discarding and replacing with fresh ones.
3. Activated Charcoal: Utilize activated charcoal or charcoal briquettes in mesh bags or containers placed strategically around the house. Charcoal absorbs odors effectively.
4. Odor Neutralizers: Consider using commercial odor neutralizers or deodorizing products specifically designed for flood-related odors. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for best results.

Ventilation and Fresh Air

Maximize ventilation by opening windows and using fans to circulate fresh air throughout your home. This helps remove trapped odors and promotes faster drying.

Professional Assistance

If your efforts to remove the odor are unsuccessful or if you encounter extensive mold growth, consider seeking professional help from experienced restoration specialists who can provide advanced odor removal techniques and ensure thorough restoration.

Effective odor removal from flooding requires a systematic approach that includes removing water and moisture, cleaning and disinfecting, addressing mold and mildew, utilizing odor elimination techniques, and promoting ventilation. By following these steps and exercising caution, you can eliminate unpleasant odors and restore a fresh, clean, and healthy living environment in your home.

What To Do About Sewage Backup

10/1/2022 (Permalink)

If you have a sewage backup, proceed with caution.

What To Do About Sewage Backup

A flooded basement is a homeowner’s nightmare, particularly when it’s a sewage backup resulting from storms and heavy rains. Heavy rainfall, especially over a prolonged period, can place a burden on public sewage systems that have a limited capacity. Once the rainwater exceeds this capacity, excess water may begin backing up and overflowing into your sewer line. This can happen quickly and unexpectedly in White House, MO, as well as most areas of the U.S. When it does, you should take the following three steps.

1. Evaluate the Situation

The first thing you should do after you discover a flooded basement is evaluate the situation. If you have a sewage backup, proceed with caution. Sewage spills that contain infectious waste can create health hazards. Keep humans and pets away from the flooded area until you know what you’re dealing with.

2. Put Safety First

Disconnect all electrical items, including furnaces, before entering a flooded area. It’s a good idea to cut off both the electric and water mains for safety and to stop any water flow. Don't use any appliances or fixtures that utilize water, either, such as showers or washing machines. If a burst pipe played a role in the backup, you don't want to add any additional water or pressure to the situation.

3. Take Quick Action

Take action quickly. Remove any items that have not been affected by the backup to minimize damage. If possible and weather permits, open all windows. Remove as much excess water as you can and run dehumidifiers if you have them. The goal is to dry out the wet area within 24-48 hours to reduce the risk of mold forming. Remember to wear safety clothing such as rubber boots, gloves, and face masks when working in the affected area.

If you have a flooded basement, you should contact a professional cleaning and restoration service. If you have minimum flooding, you might be able to clean it yourself, but it’s still best to consult a professional, particularly when dealing with basement sewage.

5 Essential Storm Preparation Tips

9/27/2022 (Permalink)

An emergency response kit can help keep your household safe during a storm

Protect Your Home And Family From Severe Weather

Preparation is key when it comes to protecting your home in White House, MO, from severe weather, floodwater and other types of water damage. Planning ahead and making sure you're prepared before a storm hits is key to reducing flood damage and keeping your family safe. Follow the tips below to help protect your home and family from severe weather.

1. Create an Emergency Preparedness Plan.
Craft a clear emergency response plan for your family that is easy to follow. Make sure everyone knows where to go and what to do in the case of a severe storm. Make time to regularly discuss and practice this plan, especially if your local weather channel predicts an incoming storm.

2. Build an Emergency Supply Kit.
An emergency response kit can help keep your household safe during a storm. Suggested items to stock include, but are not limited to, batteries, bandages, gauze, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio.

3. Pay Attention to Local Emergency Alerts.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) can provide reliable, real-time updates regarding the storm. Make sure everyone in your household signs up for this system so that you can stay updated on new developments.

4. Protect and Waterproof Valuable Items.
Any valuable items that are unlikely to survive a flooded building need to be sealed in waterproof containers and relocated to a high shelf that's at least one foot above the floodwater level. This includes important documents, electronic devices and other important possessions that are susceptible to water damage.

5. Trim Back Overgrown Tree Branches.
Severe winds can quickly transform overgrown tree branches into dangerous projectiles. You can help prevent tree limbs from flying in through your windows by trimming back any branches that are growing too close to your property.
Rising floodwater, dangerously high winds and heavy rains can all inflict devastating damage on your property if you aren't prepared. Contact flood remediation experts if your home has suffered damage from a recent storm or flood.

3 Things To Know About Flood Water

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

Flood water is classified as black water.

3 Things To Know About Flooding

When you have a storm approaching your White House, MO, business, there’s a risk of floodwater, causing potential damages. Any time this is a risk it’s important to know how to handle the cleanup and repair procedures. Here are three things you may need to know about flooding when preparing to clean up any damage.

1. Flooding Can Happen in a Number of Ways

There are a number of ways storm damage can lead to flooding. Gutters and downspouts can overflow flooding the roof, storm drains can back up, water can pool in low places in the yard and flow back toward the building, and windows or doors may leak.

2. Flooding is Black Water

It’s important to understand that floodwater is classified as black water. This means that there is a chance the water has come in contact with fecal matter meaning it may be contaminated with bacteria. This is why any time flooding occurs it’s best to contact a professional to ensure that proper cleanup and sensitization procedures are followed.

3. A Professional Should Handle Cleanup

Anytime you have flood-caused water in your business it’s highly recommended to contact a water damage restoration service. These professionals have the tools to remove the water, the training to inspect for the various damage types that may have occurred, and the ability to make any repairs. They should also be able to thoroughly clean and sanitize the space to remove and prevent the spread of any bacteria the water may have brought in.

When restoring flood damage on your company property it’s important to know the source of the flooding to ensure that there’s no further risk. It’s also important to remember that flood waterfalls are under the black category meaning they may be contaminated. This means that it’s best to have a professional do the restoration so they can ensure the affected space has been properly cleaned as well.

3 Tips for Flood-Proofing Your Business

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

Sump pumps are useful for small floods or areas of your building, like basements, that frequently experience flooding.

Flood Proofing Techniques

The damage that can occur to your business from flooding is no small matter. In fact, the National Flood Insurance Program claims that approximately 25 percent of businesses that have to close after a flood occurs never reopen their doors. For this reason, it is important you take measures to protect your company’s building against flooding if there is any risk of a storm or flood in Lemay, MO. While a water damage cleanup company can help restore your building to its original condition, it is important you are proactive in protecting your building and reducing costs ahead of time. Here are three useful tips for reducing flood damage to your business’ building.

1. Install a Sump Pump

Sump pumps are useful for small floods or areas of your building, like basements, that frequently experience flooding. They even make models with a backup battery in case storm damage causes the power to go out. They allow water to flow through the building and provide an outlet for it instead of allowing water to pool around the building and cause immense pressure.

2. Store All Important Items High Up

If you are in areas where flooding occurs often or have heard a flood might be on its way, make sure all important documents and electronics are on the top floor or at least raise them 18 inches off the ground. You can install shelves ahead of time to make this easier. The worse flood damage occurs to lower floors and basements.

3. Invest in Flood-Resistant Materials

For frequent floods, you should use flood-resistant materials that can handle being in contact with water for up to three days. If it is too costly to use these materials everywhere, at least make sure the bottom floor and basement use them.

Flood damage can ruin your company’s building and put you in a bad spot financially. Make sure you are prepared for the worst by trying out these flood-proofing techniques!

Failure To Do These Two Things May Increase Chances of Flood Damage to Your Home

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure storm drains near your home are free of blockage. A blocked drain can cause flooding in your home.

Did you know that even if you don’t live in a flood zone, failure to perform two simple things in Mehlville, MO, may result in flooding in your home? A clogged gutter can cause storm damage to your roof, walls, windows and doors. Likewise, a clogged or blocked storm drain at the curb or sidewalk can cause water to flood on the road and onto your property.

What Steps Can Be Taken To Avoid Flood Damage From a Blocked Storm Drain?

Here are two important steps to take that may reduce your chances of damage from a blocked storm drain.

1. Discard debris properly. Always discard raked leaves, straw, twigs, etc., in trash bags or grind them for use as mulch or compost. Avoid piling them on the street for pickup by your trash service.

2. Locate your storm drains. Know where the storm drains near your home are located and periodically monitor them. If you see them covered with debris, notify your city storm water management office in Mehlville, MO, so measures can be taken to remove the debris before a storm to avoid flooding.

How Do Storm Drains Get Blocked?

Storm drains can get blocked by debris, such as twigs, leaves, pine straw, etc., when it collects on top of the grate covering the drain, preventing rainwater from draining through the debris. As a result, the water may start to pool and back up into the street and/or surrounding property. If not caught soon enough, this pooling may result in a localized flood that not only has the potential to damage the outside of your property but may damage the inside of your home as well.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, flooding may still occur. This is when you may need the assistance of a remediation company to assess the level of damage and provide options for cleanup. Making sure that your storm drains are clear could be your first step to safeguarding your property against a storm.