My Ranch Style Home Was Hit Hard By Storms – How Does The Flooding Impact My Home?

9/11/2020 (Permalink)

When a storm damages your Stony Brook home, call SERVPRO we can be right over.

Homes in Stony Brook Can Be Hit By Storms at Any Time – Flooding Can Do Serious Damage to a Residence if Left Unattended 

Stony Brook started as a resort area and grew into a hamlet that caters to tourists. As a coastal town, storms could put all of that to a stop with severe flooding. According to RiskFinder.org, Stony Brook is in the top half of Cities in NY for total exposure of homes on land below 6 feet for cities under 100,000 in population. Over the past 34 years, Stony Brook has had approximately 5” of sea-level rise. This means that storm surges and high tides are at an increase, and the storms are becoming more severe.

 What Are Some Main Concerns With Flooding?

With any flood damage in Stony Brook, contaminated water is one of the main concerns. There are three types of water that SERVPRO deals with in the restoration business. These include:

•   Category I – Clean Water – this is water from a non-contaminated source such as the kitchen sink.
•   Category II – Gray Water – this is water that is “dirty” but not a biohazard. Examples are dishwater, washing machine overflow, or toilet with urine only.
•   Category III – Blackwater – highly contaminated and unsafe. Floodwater and raw sewage are in this category. Clean and gray water can turn into black if left untreated.

Storms can cause flash flooding and bring water surging through your home. With that comes things such as bacteria, dirt, debris, dead animals, and chemical waste. Avoid contact with flood water if at all possible. Our crew has the proper PPE to safely deal with the situation.

Another concern is structural damage. Moisture can cause structural components to weaken and deteriorate the longer they are exposed to it. Construction materials and the content of your home can deteriorate rapidly in standing water. Secondary damage, such as mold, is always a potential problem with floods. Mold develops in as little as 24 hours and can cause health effects. The sooner you call SERVPRO the better to avoid problems like this.

 What Does SERVPRO Do to Mitigate Flood Damage?

Safety is the first concern. When our technicians arrive on the scene, any emergency mitigation needs are addressed. This can include tarping the roof to prevent more water from entering the home. Containment is another process that is often used to keep moisture from spreading to unaffected areas. The crew ensures that there are no electrical safety hazards. 

One of the problems with flood damage is that porous material such as sheetrock, insulation, and drywall absorb the contaminated water. These have to get removed as quickly as possible as they continue to wick moisture. Unlike clean water damage, there are items that cannot merely be dried and cleaned with flooding. The technicians typically implement the following processes:

• Muck Out – The removal of mud, silt, and debris that floodwaters deposit in a home. 
• Water Extraction – SERVPRO has several pump options, including trash, truck-mounted, and submersible. 
• Removal – Items and materials that cannot be salvaged are removed and disposed of properly.
• Cleaning – Scrubbing the interior of the home. This includes walls and floors.
• Sanitizing – Disinfecting takes place several times. Antimicrobials and antifungal agents are used.
• Content Management –Items are cleaned on-site if possible. If not, they are removed to our warehouse for cleaning.
• Deodorizing – This can include air scrubbers, time-released products, and other odor removal methods.
• Restoration – Rebuilding and restoring the interior of the home to preloss condition.

Giving You Peace of Mind

When floodwaters overtake your home, it can be devastating. It may mean you cannot stay in your home until the flood restoration is complete. Some things cannot be salvaged when it comes to flooding, such as carpet. That can be difficult to deal with too. Your family’s safety is your primary concern. The last thing you need to worry about is whether or not your house is going to be taken care of properly. SERVPRO provides peace of mind for our customers. You can trust our technicians to treat your home like they would their own. We have homes and families in the same town as you do. We know the importance of needing your residence returned to you so life can continue as normal.

 Flooding can throw your family into chaos. Once everyone is safe, and you are able, give SERVPRO a call. The faster the restoration intervention begins, the fewer problems there are in the end. Our Green Team is available 24/7. We are typically at your door within a few hours of you contacting us. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

 Contact SERVPRO of Port Jefferson at (631) 476-5300 for quality flood damage service.