 Recovery and Clean-up after an Emergency or Disaster
Many times, the physical labor and emotional impact of cleaning up after an emergency or disaster can be as traumatic as the disaster itself. The process of recovering and cleaning up after an emergency or disaster can vary significantly, depending on the kind of disaster you have experienced. Here are some helpful general guidelines to get you through the often-arduous process of cleaning up after a disaster.
Prioritize Recovery and Clean-up Efforts and Proceed with Caution
The amount of work involved in a clean-up effort can be intimidating. Begin by prioritizing recovery efforts. The highest priority is ensuring your safety during the recovery and clean-up process. Before beginning inspection of your damaged home, make certain you are wearing sturdy shoes and that your skin is well protected. Use a wooden rod to poke and
explore areas that you are unsure of.
When inspecting a building for the first time, bring battery-powered flashlights and lanterns to prevent a fire hazard. Walk slowly and take careful steps. If the building has suffered from floodwater damage, hazards may not be readily noticeable.
Check for gas leaks and down or frayed electrical lines or wires. Report these to the local utility company. Examine the building structure, checking the foundation for cracks, settling, or other signs of damage. Check walls, floors, doors, windows and staircases for damage. Make a list of all repairs that must be done.
If your home has suffered floodwater damage and there is still water in the basement, pump the water out of the basement in stages. Do not pump the water out all at once. Instead, pump roughly a third of the water each day. This will help prevent causing damage to the structural integrity of the walls.
You will want to get the electrical system in operation as soon as possible to assist you in your clean-up efforts. If your main switchbox is located near a puddle of water or you suspect the electrical system has been damaged, call an electrician.
Before the house has dried, use a hose to wash down flooded walls and floors. Start spraying upward and move downwards. Use a shovel to get out any mud before it dries completely. Put together a cache of cleaning supplies. You will need detergents, bleaches, ammonia, scouring powers, disinfectants, various-sized sponges and washing rags, rubber gloves, and a good sturdy pair of boots or shoes. Scrub down walls and floors with disinfectant.
After all the walls, doors, floors, and other contaminated or damaged areas have been cleaned, you will want to get the heating system running in order to dry the structure out as quickly as possible. Before turning on your heating system, you may want to clean and dry it, and possibly reconditioned, depending on the extent of the damage. Drying out a flood damaged home completely may take up to several months, although with care it can be re-inhabited much earlier than that.
Cleaning and Repairing Household Furniture and Items
One of the most trying aspects of post-disaster clean up is taking inventory of damage done to personal items. When inspecting your household items, consider each item carefully when deciding what to repair, and what to throw away. Consider the extent of the damage, the original cost of the item, cost of repair or restoration, and sentimental value. All pieces of furniture or household items that you deem worthy for repair should be kept in a safe dry location.
Most solid wood furniture can be restored. Unless the damage is severe, wooden items can usually be cleaned, drying, and re-glued. Upholstered furniture can also be restored, depending on the extent of damage. Damp or wet furniture is very susceptible of mildew, a grayish mold that stains and rots the fabric. To remove mildew from upholstered items, remove the mold with a brush or broom outside. Vacuum the fabric and then wash the fabric with a thick soap. Avoid using water. Let it dry thoroughly and fumigate with a low-pressure spray.
If you suspect that mold has grown in the inner parts of the furniture, but you do not to get rid of it, send it to a dry cleaning or storage company for a thorough cleaning and fumigating.
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