Water Damage - Storm Water Damage
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LOCATION
ADDRESS:
11315 Sunrise Gold Circle
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
866-722-7876
(Toll Free)
916-354-9743 (Business)
Fax:
916-647-0999
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Water
Damage: Keeping Households Safe Following Storm Water
Damage
As we have just witnessed in Sacramento
with the recent lightning storms, these warm months
can still offer a wide range of weather activity - including
storms with heavy rainfall that can cause ground flooding.
These floods often result in water damage to homes,
which may appear on the surface as a minor loss, but
can quickly escalate into needless, extensive damage
to both property and health.
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According to the restoration industry
benchmark (IICRC Water Damage Standard S500), all such
flooding is defined as Category 3 damage - the highest
level of contamination. This includes all instances
where water travels over the ground and then enters
the home through basement windows or rises higher than
the level of the floors. Category 3 floodwater is sometimes
referred to as black water. This designation applies
to water that contains unsanitary materials with the
potential to cause illness in humans. Examples of black
water include sewage backflows and rising water from
rivers, streams, runoff, and seawater that enter a structure.
Safety must be the very first consideration
when exposure to Category 3 contaminates are a possibility.
Category 3 water can contain harmful organisms such
as viruses (Hepatitis A, rotaviruses, adenoviruses,
enteroviruses, etc.), parasites, and many kinds of harmful
bacteria. In addition, numerous fungi in the form of
mold spores are always present. This can become a problem
if timely decontamination does not occur, followed by
professional drying within 24 to 48 hours after water
enters the home.
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When dealing with Category 3 water damage,
it is very important to contact a professional remediation
company such as PuroClean Home Rescue (866-722-7876)
to handle the loss. Professionals will accomplish several
basic functions:
- First, the safety of the building
occupants and all workers are the primary consideration.
- Second, a thorough inspection to
determine the severity and extent of the damage and
the appropriate restoration
process.
- Third, the quick removal of excess
water and contaminated porous items (carpet and pad,
drywall, upholstered
furniture, etc.) and any sewage, wastes, and other
materials.
- Finally, the restoration of the environment
to its pre-loss dry state as quickly as possible using
an established
Balanced Drying System.
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Flooding from outside the building causes
a large area of direct contamination and an elevated
health risk. All porous and many non-porous materials
are affected by the contamination. All contaminated
porous items, such as drywall, carpet and pad, upholstery,
drapery, and particleboard furniture, must be removed
and properly disposed. Restoration must be thorough
to include removing moisture barriers such as vinyl
and plastics that will conceal and retain the contamination.
Cabinets and other structural enclosures must be inspected
and possibly removed if contamination is present - especially
if it is inside the walls behind these items.
As stated, all Category 3 losses present
serious risk of illness. Therefore, Contractors should
ensure that all employees wear appropriate personal
protective equipment. The protection needs to be extensive,
which could include waterproof coveralls, face shields,
and even respirators.
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The professional restoration company
will know when to use an air scrubber to help clean
the air and when to set up a Negative Air Machine to
prevent contamination from spreading to unaffected areas.
This is important if the flooded area is limited to
a specific area of a structure, to prevent additional
contamination from moving to other areas. The professional
restoration company will also insure that all remaining
surfaces and materials (such as structural lumber, subfloors,
concrete, etc.) are cleaned and sanitized with approved
cleaners and disinfectants. In some cases, structural
materials are sealed to stop further contamination and
to help prevent the development of mold.
Following a Category 3 black water loss,
a professional restoration business will know and apply
the proper procedures, techniques, products, and equipment
to help restore property to its pre-loss condition safely
and as rapidly as possible - at the same time protecting
the health and well-being of employees and others who
might need to enter the area.
Regardless of the circumstances - if
water damage occurs from storms, floods or other sources,
call your local PuroClean Home Rescue office, the "Paramedics
of Property Damage." For all water damage or damage
from fire or smoke, these professionals are standing
by and will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage,
and will then provide restoration services to return
the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible.
All PuroClean offices have professional, well-trained
and certified Technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science
services to all property damaged from water, fire/smoke,
mold, and other disasters.
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Reproduction of the material is prohibited without
prior permission.
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