How To Clean Your Business After a Storm

5/15/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial storm loss in Gladstone, MO.

Storm Cleanup

A flood caused by heavy rains, sewage backups, or another disaster can cause a lot of damage to your business that needs to be cleaned up. Here are some tips for how you can get started on cleanup safely.

Inspect the Area for Safety
Buildings affected by flooding in Gladstone, MO, can be dangerous. Before content cleaning can begin, you need to assess the area for safety. If you choose not to hire a storm cleanup crew, you need to take the following safety measures:

• Notify your insurance of the disaster
  
• Avoid stepping in standing water
  
• Examine the foundation before entering
  
• Ensure utilities are turned off
  
• Get utility systems checked by professionals
  
• Create an inventory of damaged items
  
• Wear protective clothing in case of sewage water
  
• Look for wildlife that seeking shelter in your building
  
  

Remove Damaged Contents
Remove any contents from your building, assess them for damage immediately, and take them to a cleaning service. Leaving them for more than 24 hours after the disaster will do enough damage that even a professional content cleaning service won't be able to repair them.

Clean and Dry Out the Building
Start your building clean-up by removing any mud or debris with a shovel and using water to wash hard surfaces. You should start this process as soon as standing water recedes to avoid mold growth. When it is safe to turn the power back on, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the air while waiting for your content cleaning to finish. During this time, you should also take aggressive measures to prevent mold.
Taking immediate measures to dry out and clean up your business after a disaster will ensure it is returned to normal as soon as possible. Take the proper safety measures to ensure you don't touch black water and start removing contents and cleaning within 24 hours for the best results.