Safety Site

Monica Palmer, RSRC Safety Administrator

Recreational Safety takes Responsibility & Control

Emergency Water Restoration

From excess rain to a broken pipe, flooding can wreak havoc on your home and belongings. Although it almost always happens when you’re least expecting it, reaction time is critical. To minimize the damage, water removal must happen quickly. When a flooding emergency occurs, you need expert help.

You can minimize the water damage until a crew arrives.

 Minimize the Damage

• If possible, stop the water at its source.
• Turn off the electricity and remove small electrical devices from the areas with excess water, if it is safe to do so.
• Avoid walking on wet carpet.
• Remove small furnishings from carpeted areas or place aluminum foil under furniture legs. This helps prevent permanent rust of furniture stains.
• Hang draperies and pin up furniture skirts to avoid contact with wet floors.
• Remove any breakables, moisture-sensitive and high value items, as well as items that may stain floor coverings. Check under the beds and other furnishings.
• Plan for restoration crews to move furniture into dry areas.
• Wash your hands after handling damaged items.
• Avoid the possibility of electric shock. Do not use home vacuum or shop vacuum to remove the water.
• Avoid the temptation to turn on fans or heating and air conditioning units as they may spread contamination if the situation is sewage-related. 

PROFESSIONALS will remove the water

• Extraction equipment is brought into the home to physically remove any freestanding water. Water is extracted from carpet, padding and upholstery.
• If necessary, carpet and/or padding may be removed for proper drying.
• Professional grade drying and dehumidifying equipment is used to dry the affected areas and return the humidity levels in your home to normal. Special instruments will be used to identify hidden pockets of water.
• Proper extraction and drying techniques help minimize the possibility of secondary damage, potential microbial growth and reduces costs.
• Professionals will monitor the drying process daily, repositioning drying equipment as needed.

                                                                                                                                     Courtesy of Stanley Steemer

I know from my own experience that the process can take a few weeks, and you likely will need to stay somewhere else for a few weeks.  Depending on the extent of the damage, your belongings may be put into storage until the repair is complete.