The first 24 hours after a flood are crucial. Starting flood restoration as soon as possible is important for successful outcomes and minimal damage. A professional flood restoration company like S&S Restoration will manage your home properly, taking the guesswork out of your hands.
Personal Protective Equipment is Essential
Floods can leave quite a mess in their wake, often leaving hazards of all types littering the space in and around your building – even items that don’t belong to you. Before you enter the property, it’s very important that you are equipped with the correct safety gear. Ideally you should have:
- Hard hats
- Closed toed shoes
- N95 masks – or a respirator
- Work gloves
- Hazmat suits
These safety personal protective equipment (PPE) items will ensure you do not harm yourself while examining the property. Hard hats protect your head from falling objects such as unstable ceilings and roofing materials, and closed toed shoes prevent harming yourself on exposed nails, metal, wood, and hazardous substances. Hazmat suits and N95 masks are important to protect your entire body and your respiratory system from potential mold, gas, or biohazards.
It’s always best to let a professional flood restoration company enter the building first to ensure there are no critical hazards or compromised foundation spots. They have the tools to see inside the walls for water buildup as well – making the assessment phase much easier.
Consult a Professional Assessor
If your building is safe to enter, you may do so. However, we suggest consulting with the local fire and police departments before entering any flood damaged building. Damaged electrical utilities or water could be incredibly dangerous to be near, especially if standing water remains. Your flood restoration team will assess the damage and remove as much water as possible within the first 24-48 hours to prevent the growth of mold or water damage to the foundation of the home.
If the authorities have given you the go-ahead, enter with extreme caution. We suggest taking as many pictures as possible during the initial walk-through. These pictures will be helpful for both insurance and flood restoration companies, informing them on how to approach the project.
Although it may be tempting to begin the clean-up process right then and there, you should really wait for a professional crew to come in for the best results and to minimize additional damage and keep you and your family safe. Removing small items such as family heirlooms, photographs, medications, documents, and other personal sentimental items is typically okay, but larger items such as appliances and furniture should stay put for insurance claims.
Call the Experts
It’s ideal to call your flood restoration company as soon as possible after your home has been impacted. The sooner they’re able to get out to your property the smoother the restoration process will be. Preparing for home or business restoration is quite simple, and providers like S&S Restoration handle your property from start to finish. From assessment to clean-up, water extraction, utility management, and repairs – the S&S Restoration team is prepared to bring you calm in the eye of the storm.
About S&S Restoration
S&S Restoration is a Temecula, California restoration company that specializes in both residential and commercial buildings affected by fire, flooding, mold, and storms. We proudly serve the Inland Empire, San Diego, High Desert, and San Bernardino County areas. Give us a call at (800) 608-8447 or visit our website at ssrestorationinc.com, we’re available 24/7 for emergency response to guarantee the best outcomes.