What To Do If Your Small Business Becomes Flooded
If you have recently had flooding occur within your small business, you will need to act swiftly in order to remove the water before it damages property and the structure of your building. Calling a water damage restoration service is best, but if they cannot get to your business as quickly as you would like due to an abundance of flooded homes and businesses in your area, you may need to take matters into your own hands. Here are some instructions for you to use when dealing with a flooded business.
Remove Salvageable Items
Get a hold of a few employees and see if they will help you move any furniture or large equipment from the building to the outside. Leave these items to dry in the sun or under a covered area. Place items upside-down to help get any embedded moisture to drip out of the item.
Take Safety Precautions
If the power has not been shut off, flip the switch at the main electrical supply area so no one gets hurt from unnecessary shock. Have your employees wear gloves, waders or boots, and long-sleeves and pants when working with flood water, as it can have bacterial and mold spores floating throughout.
Remove The Water
If you can find a way to get power, such as via an adapter you can plug into a vehicle, you would be able to use a water pump with a long extension cord. This would save you a lot of time when trying to remove water from your building. Simply direct the hose outside away from the building and allow the pump to do its job.
If you do not have a power source, you will need to have employees go in and out of the building several times to dump out buckets of water. This can be tedious work, but very necessary as the water will continue to damage the interior the longer it sits.
Dry And Clean The Interior
After the water has been removed, use towels to sop up any puddles left behind. Open all the windows and doors to your business to help in the drying process. When power has been restored, set up fans and a dehumidifier to help get excess moisture out of your building. After everything has dried, clean down all surfaces where water had touched with a household cleaner containing bleach.
If you have carpeting in your business, it may need to be removed to avoid mold growth. Any drywall that has crumbled should also be removed, as it will also harbor mold spores. A contractor and carpet installation service will need to be called to replace these items. Spray a mold and mildew remover on areas you have cleaned and wipe them down afterward to help in getting all mold out of your building.