With the recent flooding in the Nashville are, the following was emailed to our client base when dealing with Category 3 flood waters:
Flood Damage Restoration Recommendations for Uninsured Losses
The following recommendation assume a flooding situation with horizontally traveling Category 3 (unsanitary) water containing silt and other contaminants that infiltrate into homes and businesses to a depth of a few inches or feet for several days. When structures are completely submerged or remain substantially flooded for several weeks, more elaborate procedures may be required.
1. Foremost, consider safety:
a. Evacuate potentially respiratory or immune-compromised, or unprotected persons (e.g., children, the elderly, pregnant women; those recovering from extended illness or surgery, or those on regimens of prescription drugs or chemotherapy). When medical questions arise, consult with public health professionals.
b. Before entering a heavily flood-damaged structure, open windows and doors and air it out thoroughly. Ventilation must be maintained during and following the restoration effort. This reduces, but does not eliminate the potential for inhaling pathogenic (disease causing) microorganisms. Also, allow as much sunlight into the structure as practical, since fresh air and ultraviolet light help inhibit microorganism growth.
c. Ensure that electrical shock hazards have been eliminated. Consult a licensed and qualified electrician when questions arise.
d. Consider the structural integrity of a damaged building before entering. Wear protective clothing, boots with steel or fiberglass shanks, and a hard hat. Have the building checked by a qualified builder or structural engineer when in doubt.
e. Protect yourself from pathogenic microorganisms. Wear protective gloves before handling contaminated materials. Splash goggles are recommended to protect eyes and to prevent microorganism entry through the eyes. A vapor respirator (paint respirator) is recommended to prevent inhalation of most microorganisms or spores.
2. Remove quantities of debris (silt, vegetation, floating objects) with shovels, rakes or any safe means practical. Clean and sanitize all tools when complete.
3. Remove and dispose of drywall (Sheetrock®), paneling or other wall materials up to a point 15-24″ inches above the visible water line. If possible, stay within four feet of the floor to salvage as much wall material as practical, since drywall is usually installed horizontally in 4’x8’ or 4’x12’ panels.
4. Remove and dispose of insulation materials exposed during wall removal. Look for evidence of moisture wicking up insulation materials. Leave only materials that are durable, dry and minimally porous, and which can be cleaned and decontaminated with relative ease.
5. Remove and dispose of floor coverings; carpet, cushion, pad, felt and sheet vinyl, or laminate flooring materials. Porous materials may absorb considerable quantities of water and contaminant, and non-porous materials may trap moisture to prolong drying. The inevitable result will be rapid microbial growth, along with associated odor and potential health hazards. Solid wood flooring should be removed since contaminants and moisture collect underneath in hollow areas between the wood and subfloor.
The following procedures may require the assistance of a professional water-damage restorer, who has specialized biocides, and application and extraction equipment, if available.
6. While maintaining ventilation and respiratory protection, liberally spray durable salvageable materials (e.g., studs, decking, joists) with appropriate biocides. Household chlorine bleach (e.g., Clorox®) mixed 1 part bleach to 10 parts water (½%) may be used on durable, colorfast surfaces. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or strong acids!
7. Following application of properly diluted biocides, brush agitate all areas to remove visible soils and to encourage biocide penetration into cracks and crevices. Professional restorers use pressure spraying to accomplish this step.
8. When fresh water is restored within the structure, flush contaminants from salvageable surfaces with a water hose or pressure washer. Work from top to bottom and from walls to flooring.
9. Wet vacuum or mop up excess rinse water from flooring materials immediately. Be sure to thoroughly flush all contamination from wall plate areas. Pressure washing, if available, is specifically recommended to flush contaminants from hard-to-access areas, following contaminated water removal with industrial wet vacuuming equipment.
10. Repeat steps 6-9 as necessary, until all surfaces are clean and contamination is physically removed.
11. Lightly spray a final application of an approved disinfectant to all salvageable surfaces.
12. Dry structural components with plenty of air circulation, while maintaining constant ventilation (weather conditions permitting). If practical, take advantage of low outside humidity (check local weather reports). Use oscillating or box fans, moving them around the structure every few hours. Avoid temperature extremes that might slow drying or promote microorganism growth (68-75oF/20-24oC is ideal). Rent high-volume professional drying equipment (airmovers and dehumidifiers) if available, especially in areas where ventilation is not possible (sealed buildings, security problems). All electrical components that were below the water line should be checked for operational safety by a qualified contractor.
13. Leave cleaned structural surfaces exposed for several days or even weeks, or until you are sure that they have returned to within four percentage points of normal moisture content (generally the normal moisture content of structural wood is around 10%). Otherwise, subsequent structural damage and health hazards may result after wall and flooring materials have been replaced or painted.
14. Durable, colorfast contents (e.g., washable clothing, dishes, glassware, furniture) might be salvageable if washed in hot detergent solutions. Common sense and caution should be used in determining contents salvageability.
Where financial resources permit, comprehensive restoration should be accomplished by trained, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Water Damage Restoration Technicians. They may be located by calling the IICRC referral line at 800 835-4624 (www.iicrc.org). Consider hiring a professional restorer to evaluate moisture levels in structural materials before reconstruction.
[This paper was prepared by Clean Care Seminar, Inc., Dothan, Alabama, a professional disaster restoration consulting firm. Neither L.J. Bishop or Clean Care Seminars, Inc., nor any other person acting on behalf of them: makes any warranty, express or implied, with respect to the use of any information, method or process related to this publication; assumes liability with respect to the use of, or for direct or consequential damages resulting from the use of any information, method or process related in this publication; or has any liability for damages that result from any negligent act or omission involved in the preparation of the material contained in this publication. Any implied warranty of merchantability of fitness for a particular use is specifically excluded.]
