The Surprising Danger In A Flood Or Sewage Back-up

3/14/2017 (Permalink)

Don’t allow children into the flooded area during dean-up.

When your Bloomfield property experiences a flood or a sewage back-up the greatest danger is not the risk of disease. The greatest danger is the risk of electrocution or explosion. Do not enter a flooded basement or light matches until the utility companies have shut off the gas and electric service.

If flood waters or sewage enters your basement, you must clean properly to prevent you and your family from becoming sick or injured. Don’t allow children into the flooded area during cleanup.
If you experience a sewer backup in Bloomfield we recommend you call in a professionally trained restoration firm. If it is a small event and you prefer to do the work yourself, the following are suggestions on Bloomfield flood cleanup or sewage problem.

Cleaning and Sanitizing
1. Drain all flood waters and/or sewage by natural draining or pumping.
2. Remove dirt, soil, and debris from surfaces that came in contact with flood waters.
3. Wash down all walls, floors, and surfaces that the flood water or sewage touched with clean, warm or hot water and a low suds detergent.
4. Rinse again with warm or hot water.
5. Sanitize by rinsing walls, floors, and surfaces using one of the following mixtures:
    o 2½ tablespoons (tbs) of Lysol/Pine Sol per gallon of water used, or
    o 8 tablespoons (tbs) of laundry bleach (i.e., Clorox, Roman Cleanser) in each gallon of water used.
6. Air the area by opening windows or using fans.
7. Prevent tracking flood debris and sewage into clean areas.

For Cleanup Or Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785 Anytime

Utilities
Follow these guidelines when you enter a flooded area with gas and/or electricity present:
1. Have the utility companies shut off the gas and electricity.
2. Don't touch the fuse box or any plugged in cords or appliances until the electricity is shut off.
3. If an electrical appliance motor or its controls are submerged under water, don't start it until consulting with the dealer or service company.
4. Do not relight your gas appliances until the gas company has checked them. Make sure all pilot lights are on before relighting burners.
5. Don't light matches until the gas is turned off. If there is a gas leak, it could cause an explosion.

Clothing, Bedding, Furniture Often Must Be Thrown Out
What do you do with clothing, carpets, furniture, toys and/or bedding that have been affected by a flood or sewage back up? You may have to throw them out unless they are professionally and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Movable objects can be put outdoors for cleaning and drying in the sun. Put all discarded clothing in a tightly closed container until pick-up or disposal.

After clean up, make sure that all clothing and parts of the body that came in contact with the flood waters and/or sewage are thoroughly washed. Be sure to wash your hands immediately afterwards.

Anyone who helps clean up should be particularly mindful of their personal hygiene. Keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Don’t smoke because even slightly soiled fingers can carry disease germs to the cigarette and then to the mouth. After the flood or sewage damage is cleaned up, thoroughly wash your hands using a nail brush and a lot of soap.

Check All Foods Carefully
Contaminated foods can make you and your family sick. Here’s how to handle your foods after a flood or sewage event:
1. Destroy and discard all contaminated bottled and boxed foods.
2. Canned goods (including home canned jars) may be kept if cleaned thoroughly. To clean containers:
    o Scrub with soap and water. (Use a brush around the rim of home canned jars.)
    o Submerge in chlorinated water for 15 minutes (1 ounce of bleach per gallon of water).
    o Air dry to prevent rusting.
3. Food stored in a freezer will keep for 2 days after losing power, if the freezer is full (1 day for a half-full freezer) and not opened.
4. If your freezer cannot be started in a day or two, store food in someone else's freezer.
5. You may safely re-freeze meat that has ice crystals on it. If the meat is only "cool-feeling" you’re better off to cook it, and then re-freeze it.
6. Food stored in a refrigerator will keep for 4-6 hours after losing power, depending on how warm the room temperature is. Do not open the refrigerator unless absolutely necessary. You may add ice to the refrigerator if you know it will be turned on soon.
7. Throw out anything with an unusual color, order, or if a perishable food is above 45° F internally.
8. Place discarded food in a tightly closed container until pick up or disposal.



You might also want to explore the educational information on our sister franchise’s blog, SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield.

For Cleanup Or Restoration Needs Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785 Anytime

Here For You
In Bloomfield the team at SERVPRO has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire damage restoration services, mold remediation, commercial services, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield  in Bloomfield at 860-216-2785 anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-216-2785 anytime