When a Flood Happens

2/18/2020 (Permalink)

When a flood affects your Hesperia / Apple Valley property, the restoration process should begin almost immediately, though various issues can cause problems. Technician safety is a common example of this. The best way to avoid this hang-up is thorough training of all personnel involved in the process. That way, technicians can identify and neutralize safety issues allowing work to proceed smoothly.

Water intrusion is likely to cause electrical hazards. Rising water can reach electrical outlets, causing short circuits and increasing the risk of electrocution for anyone who is in proximity of the loss. Our SERVPRO technicians use their training to respond to such hazards in different ways, including the use of correct circuit testers. We use testers that check whether a circuit is both grounded and protected by a GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.

When flood water collects on the floors, various airborne hazards can develop. With proper training, restoration crews can eliminate or minimize such risks. Using air movers to increase airflow expedites the drying process and helps control the excess moisture introduced into the structure by the flooding. However, it can also create other problems such as aerosolizing contaminants. Inhalation of such contaminants can cause health issues. We train our SERVPRO technicians to set up Air Filtration Devices to remove contaminants from the air during the restoration process. We use devices with advanced features such as HEPA filters and activated carbon, which removes 99.97% of particulate matter in the air.

Sometimes safety issues develop due to poor management of the affected area. Moisture makes most surfaces slick, increasing the risk of slip and fall accidents. Cables and hoses that supply the restoration equipment can also trip people. Our SERVPRO technicians use their skills to plan the loss site, minimizing such risks. We set up a staging area for the equipment used in the restoration, reducing movements to and from the loss site. We also secure cables and hoses to avoid trip hazards.

Flood water can cause a lot of problems. SERVPRO of Hesperia / Apple Valley is ready to help return your property to preloss conditions. We are here to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.