Understanding the Risks of Entering a House with Flood Damage in Jamestown

3/17/2020 (Permalink)

We are ready with the equipment to help with all your flood damage needs.

Our Highly Trained Crews can Help After Flood Damage

Floodwater is noticeably dirty and often carries visible pieces of garbage, organic matter like tree branches, and other debris. Dissolved chemicals and liquids might include acids, oils, and pesticides. The residual mess can harbor pathogens long after floodwaters leave your residence, adding to the health risks now in existence inside your Jamestown property. Drying out your home and replacing damaged items must happen only after the elimination of such risks.

Contamination is not the only risk that residents face when entering their property in Jamestown after flood damage occurs. Weakened floors can collapse, as can ceilings in basements if they contain floodwater. The weight of people and water can warp flooring tiles and crumpled carpeting, thus creating trip hazards. Waterlogged walls made of drywall or covered in plaster can also collapse sideways. Electrical hazards exist throughout a property after even a minor flood, including cords, appliances, outlets, and inside walls.

We rely on our building specialists to handle drywall tear-outs, carpet and tile removal, electrical testing, and repairs. Also, clearing out the main drain line and ensuring the sump pump works correctly, as we work on removing soil and silt dumped into corners and closets. 

When we finish clearing a floor of debris, we rinse it with clean running water. While we do not power wash it, it has a similar effect of removing the finer sediments that our shovels and squeegees did not remove. Then we can apply a disinfectant that kills any leftover pathogens.

Once we have cleared floors of debris and we have removed contaminated materials like drywall, we can start drying out the house for you. Our building crew works to ensure that the house’s frame remains not only stable but also strong. Reinforcements might need to occur throughout your home, before the installation of new drywall but after drying takes place. 

SERVPRO of Jamestown / Olean understands the precise steps that must take place to bring your house back to normal, safe living conditions. Call (716) 241-2930, 24-hours a day, year-round, to speak with someone who understands how to make a difficult situation manageable.