Understanding the Categories of Water Contamination

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Learn about the different categories of water contamination

Categories Of Water Contamination

As a commercial property owner, damage to your property is serious business. In various parts of the country, storm damage is a real threat to your building and the contents therein for a significant part of the year. A severe storm in Ravenel, SC may leave you facing various types of damage from wind, precipitation, and flood water, among others. There are different types or categories of flooding with respect to contamination, and it’s important to understand the differences, especially when it comes to flood cleanup.

Examining Water Contamination Categories
The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) categorizes water damage based on the level of contamination.

Category 1. This refers to water that originates from a sanitary source, such as the holding tank of a toilet or a water tank. Sometimes this is referred to as clean water.
Category 2. This includes dirty water that has some level of contamination, like that of a leaky dishwasher or washing machine. This is also known as greywater or sullage.
Category 3. This type of damage is commonly referred to as black water and includes wastewater and any water that has come in contact with human waste. Floodwater that comes from storm damage is included in this category.

If you experience Category 3 water damage, it is strongly recommended that you reach out to professional water cleanup and restoration service to bring your property back to pre-damage conditions.

Understanding Water Damage Cleanup
Category 2 and 3 restoration jobs should be left to professionals who are trained and equipped to remove floodwater and any associated damage. Typical cleanup methods aren’t adequate to remove the hazardous contaminants, especially in black water. While you can probably safely clean Category 1 damage, clean water can not only become greywater if left unattended for a certain time period but also lead to the formation of mildew and mold.

Natural Disaster Preparation

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

Remember, the FEMA staff are there to help.

Natural Disaster Preparedness

Many homeowners in John Island, SC, understand that federal agencies such as FEMA exist to help citizens get their lives back on track after a devastating natural disaster. Consider the following extra details about their disbursal process.

1. Initial Stages

After a flood, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will send its own inspectors and assessors to the affected locations. This is because the government needs to create and maintain its own independent record of the damages to apportion limited aid funds based on need. These inspectors will look at individual homes and businesses to determine habitability and what materials and belongings can be salvaged. If the damage is moderate, a qualified local cleanup company may be more appropriate than a total rebuild.

2. Ownership

At this stage, the FEMA staff will likely ask the homeowners (if present) to verify possession of the home. This can be done with a physical deed or a request for public records from a courthouse in your municipality. Without proof of ownership, the distribution of federal aid becomes much more difficult. For the same reason, the prudent homeowner should keep vehicle titles and an inventory of home valuables in a secure location. If you need to evacuate, take these crucial legal documents with you to ensure they remain intact.

3. Insurance

The FEMA agent does not serve the same role as an insurance adjuster. The claim on your homeowner’s policy that you purchased as a private citizen will need to be verified by your specific insurance company. After the flooding has subsided and there is no immediate danger, an adjuster will arrive to assess your claim and take an inventory of damages. If you need to resolve a dispute with your agent, third-party public adjusters are also available.

Remember, the FEMA staff are there to help. Understand their response procedures so that you can quickly respond after a disaster in your area.

Under What Circumstances Is Commercial Flood Insurance Required?

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

While flood insurance is often optional, it is often a wise investment. A flood's losses can be devastating to a business.

In What Situations Is Commercial Flood Insurance Required?

For many businesses in the U.S., flood insurance is an optional affair. It is not required and it is up to the company to decide if the risk/reward calculation makes sense. The management team will consider many items when making this decision:

• What would the premiums cost?
  
• How large could the losses be in a flood?
• How likely is a flood in a specific area?

A company in West Ashley, SC, might gamble that the risk of a flood is low and that they do not need the extra insurance. If the company is right, it will save by not paying premiums and it can put this money to other uses. If the company is wrong and it is hit with a devastating flood, the company could potentially lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mandatory Flood Insurance

In some situations, a commercial enterprise must purchase insurance against floods. The parameters for this requirement include the following situations:

• The company is located in a high-risk floodplain
  
• The company has a mortgage with a federally regulated or insured lender
• The lender requires insurance for floods

The reasons for this requirement are many and fairly complex. However, it boils down to the fact that both lenders and government entities do not want to have to bail out companies that rack up large expenses and losses in a flood.

Helpful Commercial Insurance

Businesses cannot take the risk of not having a primary insurance policy that covers storm damage, fire damage and other perils. In the case of significant damage, the primary policy will pay for a variety of losses as well as the cleanup efforts of a qualified restoration company. In the long run, the services of trained technicians will likely save money by making necessary repairs to get the company back on its feet again.

While flood insurance is often discretionary, it is frequently a worthwhile purchase. The losses from a flood have the potential to cause great hardship to a company.

4 Tips for Avoiding Winter Storm Damage

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Preparing for a winter storm is much easier if you have planned ahead. Call SERVPRO if you need help with it.

4 Winter Storm Damage Prevention Tips

The winter season brings joyous festivities such as company holiday parties, end of year celebrations and beautiful snowfalls in Ravenel, SC. However, along with the snowfalls comes the threat of a heavy winter storm, and if you are caught unprepared, these can wreak havoc on your business and can cause costly damage. Here are four tips for avoiding damage during a storm.

1. Plan Ahead

Preparing for a winter storm is much easier if you have planned ahead. To protect your business, you should create a disaster readiness plan that outlines what to do if a disaster occurs. This plan should include instructions for safe evacuations and a list of emergency contacts, including a storm restoration service.

2. Insulate Your Building

Good insulation is important for keeping your building and its plumbing system warm. The temperature should remain above 55° F to prevent a pipe break, which can lead to flooding and water damage. Show your staff how to control your utilities, such as shutting off the main water valve in case of a flood.

3. Inspect Your Roof

You should routinely inspect your building’s roof to ensure that all shingles are in good condition and firmly nailed down. Heavy snowstorms can cause snow and ice to collect on your roof, which can cause storm damage and leaks if your roof has any wear and tear.

4. Watch the Weather

Keep an eye on your local weather channel and stay abreast of incoming storms and severe weather alerts. If a major storm is looming, keep your employees safe by allowing them to leave work early or work remotely before the storm starts, or provide a place onsite or nearby to stay if driving conditions become treacherous.

A snowy winter can be fun and beautiful, but if you are unprepared, a winter storm can lead to costly repairs. Staying alert of the weather and planning ahead are important for keeping your employees safe and preventing damage.