24/7 Emergency Service
How to Handle Flooding In Your Business | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston
6/28/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston is your local commercial restoration expert. Contact us if your company experiences any disaster.
Flooding is one of the most common causes of commercial damage in our country. Whether it be from natural causes, like rivers overflowing during storms, or manmade ones like pipes bursting or an appliance malfunction, they all can be devastating to a business.
In Charleston, we see severe storms fairly frequently, and it can seem like there’s never a rest. We face damage from hurricanes every season, but we also see other weather events during the warmer months as well. Like this batch of storms just last month that produced tornadoes, high winds and a trail of damage.
When flooding happens, it’s important to begin the cleanup process quickly to prevent as much damage as possible, especially to the flooring and foundation of your facility. Make sure you and your employees stay safe when experiencing flooding and begin the cleaning process promptly.
Here are some simple tips so you know what to do when experiencing a flooded business:
In many cases, business insurance will cover extensive damage from flooding, but it’s always best to call immediately for verification. Take photos of everything when you notice damage so everyone has a record of the destruction.
As stated previously, some insurance plans will cover flooding, but the costs can vary based on the specific plan and deductible you have in place.
It’s estimated that in America in 2022, flooding will cost businesses over $50 billion between direct losses and lost output due to downtime.
When flooding becomes severe, it’s a smart idea to cut the power or call the city to do so before entering the building or checking on anything. Flooding can often do major structural damage that can affect the electrical systems, putting you at risk of shock and personal injury.
The last thing anyone wants during a flooding disaster is to see someone injured while trying to provide assistance. Always cut the power before touching any standing water inside of your building.
To prevent your business from filling further and possibly spreading out onto the surrounding buildings, make sure you attempt to stop the source of water. If a pipe has burst, make sure the water main is turned off.
This is also a good idea if the water is coming from a sewage backup, as a flushed toilet can easily cause more water to expel into your building.
If you’re unfortunately dealing with a natural disaster like a hurricane or storm surge, stopping the source may not be possible. You can use sandbags to block doorways and spots where water is coming from, but evacuate as directed, since staying safe is most important.
At SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston, we know how damaging and dangerous flooding can be for our business owners. Losing product to the water, losing time from closing for repairs and losing potential thousands in repair costs can be too much for some businesses to overcome.
FEMA has provided a good framework for recovery after a flood happens, but calling us is a great addition to that list.
Thankfully, we offer 24⁄7 availability with a quick response time so that we can be there as soon as you need us. Our expert team will guide you through the process as we clean up, recover and restore your business back to its preloss condition.
If you have experienced damage to your business or want to learn more about our commercial damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7.