Cleanup after Hurricane Floods
September 21, 2011
Hurricanes are the biggest and continual type of natural disasters that have been consistently hitting the US. The coastline and the Midwest are always at risk; and from the recent hurricanes like Katrina, Irene etc; we have realized that floods are one of the most dangerous repercussions of a hurricane attack. After the attack subsides, it is the job to clean up and make the place habitable again. The cleanup has to be more than just superficial; here is how we can go about doing it:
1. Wait for the clearance given by the emergency officials. Once you get the green signal, you can go back to your home or office. You need to get mandatory permission from the authorities in the area because you start the cleanup. The permission is for your own good because if the area is still at risk, there is no point cleaning it up.
2. Put on protective gear like rubber boots, disposable face mask, long pants and long sleeved shirts, disposable face mask etc. You should keep your skin away from the contact of flood waters. Drink bottled water and remain hydrated, so that you are energetic as well.
3. Get an electrician to look for faulty power lines. Also some of the appliances may have developed short-circuit issues, so it is better to get them checked before you use them. Similarly, get your gas appliances checked because there may be leakage problems.
4. It is important to click pictures or take a video of the damages, which can be used as solid proof if you are claiming for insurance.
5. You u will find two types of items, ones that can be retained and the others that need to be disposed. For instance, carpets, floorboards, furniture, mattresses etc may have water damage, so the best thing is to get rid of them. Also, there are items like some clothing that may need to be correctly laundered. So, you can transport these items in plastic bags to laundries where they can be cleaned and disinfected. You can also clean the items with a disinfectant.
6. Due to the flood waters that may have accumulated in the home, the area may stink. So it is better to run a dehumidifier and open the windows. Keep large fans for smooth air flow. Make sure that the area is dried properly.
7. Once you have removed the items from the floor, walls, ceiling etc, you need to clean the hard surfaces like the tiles, walls, ceilings etc. You can use a bleach solution or disinfectant to clean the areas properly. With a water extractor, you can remove the water that has been pooled in low-lying areas and basements.
New Jersey Cleaning Up From Irene in Spite of New Flooding
September 1, 2011
Many New Jersey residents entered their third day without power Wednesday as utility crews work to restore electricity to a third of a million homes and businesses. Downed trees and flooding in Monmouth, Ocean, Bergen, Somerset and Milddlesex counties have been slowing restoration and cleanup efforts.
Flood levels rose in the city of Paterson yesterday while most areas have seen the water recede. There were many boat rescues occurring there Tuesday as many people did not heed evacuation orders or were too slow in getting out of their homes. In Passaic County, over 1,600 people were evacuated since the storm swept through the area with the main priority being to get senior citizens out of their homes. However, many roads and bridges have been closed due to damage which has made these efforts more difficult for the county’s Office of Emergency Management workers.
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will be visiting flood damaged Lincoln Park in Morris County late Wednesday afternoon, which is located in the northern part of New Jersey. The raging Passaic River hit its crest Tuesday, bringing new misery to towns such as Lodi and Paterson. The river crested at just over 14 feet, its 2nd highest level in history, which sent water gushing into dozens of communities and flooding scores of homes.
Many New Jersey residents are wondering how they can request and receive assistance from FEMA. The governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie must submit a disaster request to the agency along with an estimated cost of the damages. This is expected to take several days as engineers and crews need time to assess damages done to bridges, roads, dams and other structures. While waiting for the word from the feds, residents are being told to take photos or videos of any damages caused by Irene before starting to clean up their properties.
Governor Christie said Wednesday that the hurricane has caused tens of millions of dollars worth of damages to his state and that it will need help from the federal government. Thousands of people are still stuck living in temporary hosing after being forced from their flooded homes, including 3,000 more who had to flee their high rise apartments.
State officials are warning home and business owners in the state not to fall victim to unscrupulous people who are seeking to take advantage of them during their time of despair. Its best to find the services of a professional restoration contractor, who provides estimates in writing with a job scope.
