Prattville Flood Damage Precautions To Take

6/3/2020 (Permalink)

Prattville Flood Damage Precautions To Take 

When you first see Prattville flood damage invading your business or home, you’ll have that sinking feeling as your belongings are under mud and debris. Possessions and important papers are likely soaked through after a Lilburn flood has gone through the building, however before you wade into the water and try to salvage anything essential that you can, think about your own safety and be careful. 

There are several steps you can take according to FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency to keep yourself safe from water damage in Prattville:  

Put on protective clothing first, such as boots and rubber gloves to protect yourself from possible infections and bacteria.

Do not put your hands near your mouth or face while you are working.

Turn off the main power to your business or home before beginning any work.

Look for shifts in the building and cracks in the foundation.

Open up windows and doors to assist in drying out the rooms and prevent mold from forming.

Get rid of any standing water. Pump out basements slowly, about a third of the water each day to avoid any added pressure on walls and flooring. The water soaked grounds can cause the basement walls to collapse.

Clean up any silt, mud or other debris before it dries out.

As soon as you can, hose down walls and then hose them a second time with water that has disinfectant or bleach. Disinfect surfaces such as shelving.

Any appliances which have insulation will not be easy to clean up. Instead, have them checked by a professional service person before you try using them again.

Take out any furnishings and soaked materials after experiencing flood damage in Lilburn. Mattresses and fully upholstered furnishings can’t be cleaned and will need to be destroyed to avoid any health problems.

Rugs and carpeting can be cleaned. Carpeting which is permanently attached needs to be removed first before you try cleaning it. Clean the items outside or have them cleaned by a professional company.

Items such as bedspreads, sheets, draperies and curtains will need to be washed with detergents and very hot water, or they can be dry-cleaned professionally.

Any food items which got flooded need to be thrown away unless they are in cans which are not damaged by the flood, or in glass jars that are commercially sealed. Make sure to sanitize the container before you open it.

Sanitize your pans, pots, glassware, dishes, utensils and any other items that you plan on keeping. Many of these can be boiled for ten minutes to kill any germs.

When you are suffering from flood damage, it is important that you take the necessary precautions for cleaning up so you can prevent further damage and any dangerous health hazards to yourself and your family. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

For professional clean up help, get in touch with SERVPRO of Prattville. We will be happy to help you anytime when you call us at 334-358-1186.