Earlier this month, a storm system spawning tornadoes and floods ripped through the south. Affecting 17 states, these storms caused the deaths of 40 people and millions of dollars in property damage.

In addition to damaging structures and property, Weather.com reported that flooding caused a landslide, which destroyed a Boston neighborhood, swept away sections of road in Florida and damaged a 10-mile stretch of I-10, caused a gas explosion in a Florida jail, and a mudslide in New York that buried train tracks! These are just a few examples of the unanticipated areas in which water damage clean up is needed after flooding.

Luckily, with the help of public service announcements and government insurance initiatives, most businesses and homeowners have flood insurance to cover the cost of water damage clean up.

Despite increased awareness and insurance coverage, most home and business owners still don’t understand the ramifications that even a few inches of floodwater can have the safety of a structure.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers a tool for measuring the cost of water damage to a home. According to the NFIP flood assessment tool, a flood of just 6 inches can cost a homeowner of 2,000 square feet nearly $40,000.

For commercial spaces, the cost of water damage clean up can soar. During Hurricane Sandy for example, the New York Times reportedthat water damage clean up of the NYU Langone hospital, academic center, and clinical research facility would cost between $700 million and $1 billion.

Additional costs such as unanticipated mold growth within just 1-2 days of a flood and consequent mold removal also compound a flood situation, especially for medical facilities, with immediate needs for safety and a clean environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“Failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the flood.”

(See more and download digital information booklets at the EPA’s water damage clean up page.)

SRP Environmental’s water damage clean up teams offers a variety of services aimed at restoring a flood site to a safe and original condition. When contacted at the onset of a water-related loss, our company’s water damage clean up team works to ensure the following:

– Overall duration of water damage restoration activities is minimized;

– Clear scope of work with achievable goals is developed and circulated; and

– Final scientific verification of restoration activities is conducted to protect facilities, restoration contractors, and insurance companies involved in each loss.

Additionally, SRP Environmental LLC specializes in catastrophe response to hospitals and medical facilities with specialized water damage clean up services targeted at allowing the medical site to remain operational during a time of need.

Trained specialists meet with hospital personnel to identify water damage clean up priorities, plan a list of restoration activities, and assess the risk of fungal, bacterial, or mold growth.