Monday, February 06, 2012

Natural disasters can bring on sudden unexpected damage to our homes. As such, the need for planning and the necessity of a fast disaster restoration response are important to any business.
Damage from floods and fires can often be irreparable if it is not dealt with immediately. Emergency services, including preventative measures and disaster restoration, can help significantly reduce the severity of the losses that your business experiences, in addition to ensuring the safety of your employees. Here are a few emergency tips to keep in mind should any fire or water related damage occur in your office:

Water Damage Tips
Did you know that damage from water and bacteria growth (mold) can begin within hours? It is important to act quickly by calling a water damage cleanup professional shortly after the damage occurs. In the meantime, move as much furniture as possible to a dry location to prevent further damage. You should also remove all loose floor coverings and stop all long drapery from touching the floor by lifting it up.
To keep the environment safe, create as much air movement as possible until a disaster restoration professional can place drying equipment in your office. If you spot any visible mold, however, do not use fans yourself, as they may spread contaminants. Also remember to turn off the electricity in a room which contains standing water before entering it, and be sure to check all computers, printers and other electrical devices before using them.

Smoke/Fire Damage Tips
In as few as 48 hours, corrosive smoke residue can cause irreversible surface damage. So, be sure to quickly contact a fire damage restoration professional for help. Until they arrive, do not touch anything with your bare hands, as their natural oils can create soot. You should also wait for a professional before cleaning walls that have been contaminated with smoke.

Another important issue is the spread of smoke-contaminated air, which should be dealt with immediately. Use filters to cover all supply and return registers; this will help to minimize the transfer of smoke through the ducts in your office. As with any type of disaster damage, we advise you not to use your electrical devices until they have been checked by a disaster restoration expert.

When water or fire and smoke damage affect your business, your immediate response could mean the difference between a small cleanup and a more time-consuming disaster restoration project. It is important to take these tips into consideration, so that you can minimize the damage done to your office should a fire or flood ever occur.

Source: http://local.servicemasterclean.com

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