Responding to a Flood at Work With Confidence | SERVPRO of Bellevue

9/22/2024 (Permalink)

Get your business back on track fast! Call SERVPRO of Bellevue after a flood for expert restoration.

When you think about floods, many of us will automatically think of weather situations where it rained heavily and flooded streets. While that is a common reason for flooding, it’s not the only way you could wind up with water in your home or commercial property!

Flooding emergencies can happen from manmade accidents like burst water mains or overflowing sinks and can cause just as much damage as a flood that was caused by Mother Nature. Knowing what to do when faced with a flood at work can help you avoid more serious closures and significant water damage.

Floods Caused By Weather 

Always keep a close eye on the forecast and know what each day and week is predicted to bring to the Seattle area. If there is going to be a lot of rain or a strong storm that brings quick bursts of heavy downpours, get your business ready ahead of time. Get your outdoor furniture tied down or pulled inside, secure signage and make sure to bring anything inside that cannot get wet.

You should also consider at least closing your patio if not your entire store while you wait for the storm to blow through. Flooding conditions can be dangerous to anyone who is out and about in the elements, but especially for pedestrians. 

If anyone is caught outside when the storm starts, let them shelter inside safely until the storm is gone. If water does start flowing in under your door or comes in from the ceiling, stay calm and keep everyone away from the water.

Manmade Flood Situations

Manmade floods are a different beast because they can happen unexpectedly, leaving you to respond to a situation you perhaps weren’t prepared for. If a water pipe bursts and starts pumping water onto your floor, you could be dealing with inches of standing water in just a few minutes. 

If you are present when the situation starts, get your custodial or maintenance staff to shut off the water valve that controls the flow of water to that pipe as soon as possible. This will halt the water and stop the issue from getting worse.  over the situation, locate the appropriate water valve and shut it off to stop the flow of water.

Do your best to avoid walking through the water as it could have infiltrated your electrical systems and become charged or it could be harboring dangerous substances like sewage. Stay safe by staying dry and call us instead. 

Our SERVPRO® Flood Response 

Use extreme caution when walking around your business while you wait for us to arrive. Floods can compromise walls and cause your floors to become unstable, so be really careful if you do some investigating before we get there. Take photos from a safe location so you can give them to your insurance company for your claim.

Once we arrive, we will take over the space and get started by removing the standing water, addressing and fixing the source of the leak and then tackling any repairs. Water is known to cause serious structural damage to building materials, so we will work quickly to reverse any damage and help you make a full recovery right away. 

We can help you get back open for business. Call SERVPRO of Bellevue after suffering a flood.