For important information, view the links below:
Posted by: alproberbitz on: January 25, 2009
To apply for FEMA AID, click the link below:
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm
or you can call them at (800) 621-FEMA
For the city of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department click here:
http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/life/index.htm
For the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department, click here:
http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/fire-rescue/index.htm
or dial (954) 828-6843
Hazards of Flood Damage Cleanup
Posted by: alproberbitz on: March 20, 2009
Before returning to your neighborhood and home to do flood damage cleanup, you should be aware that the tasks has potential health risks and hazards. Determine if you have allergies or illnesses that can be triggered by exposure to the different hazardous substances present during flood damage cleanup before proceeding with the task to avoid endangering yourself.
Electrical hazard is the most common and most anticipated danger associated with flood damage cleanup. Water can enter electric lines through outlets in your home. The only way to prevent exposing yourself to electrical hazards is by turning off the main power supply before entering your water-drenched home.
Another potential risk is exposure to chemical and biological contaminants present in floodwater. Flood can carry harmful byproducts. Such substances may come from household cleaning products, garden chemicals, and agricultural and industrial wastes.
Before doing flood damage cleanup, learn what preventive and protective measures you should take in order to avoid recklessly endangering yourself. Make sure that waterproof boots, impervious gloves, and disposable long-sleeved and long pants are part of your cleaning outfit. If you are going to step into water that is more than knee-level (or level of your boots), don waterproof over-clothing. This is done in order to avoid contact with contaminated water during the flood damage cleanup.
Household products and wastes
Flood water, heavy wind, or heavy downpour may knock down household cleaning products or damage them causing the content to be spilled and mixed with flood water.
If your home had a sewage backup, then the risk is even greater. Untreated sewage carry viruses, germs, and other pathogenic microorganisms that can cause numerous diseases— some of which are serious; some, totally fatal.
Garden and farm chemicals
Garden chemicals are sometimes solid in form. When they get in contact with flood water, these chemicals may dissolve and combine with flood water. Floodwater may also carry chemical wash-offs from heavily fertilized farms.
Industrial chemicals
If there are factories or pharmaceuticals near your home, or if there’s a river suspected of being contaminated with industrial chemicals or sewages, then it is be better to presume that the flood has been contaminated than not. This way, you can increase your protective measures against exposure to health risks while doing flood damage cleanup.
If you get exposed to contaminated floodwater and develop illnesses, allergic reactions, or something unusual in how you generally feel, discontinue work right away. Remove your protective suits, take off your clothes, wash parts of your body that has come into contact with flood water, then seek medical attention.
Meanwhile, the clothing that you used during flood damage cleanup should be laundered right away. Cleaning apparels that cannot be laundered should be properly disposed.
While doing flood damage cleanup on your own can give you a lot of potential savings, you should take extreme care when doing it. A flood-damaged property poses electrical, bio-chemical, and other hazards. These hazards do not only pose serious problems to health, they can be fatal, too. And if you get exposed to these hazards because of carelessness or because you failed to follow preventive measures, the result might lead to larger costs and more serious consequences.
Boulder Psychological Services provides Boulder, Colorado BPS and Louisville, Colorado Boulder Psychological Service (BPS) when residents of Boulder, Colorado need them after house disasters happen.
Flood Damage Cleanup: Proper Cleaning and Sanitation
Posted by: alproberbitz on: February 15, 2009
Many household furnishings and items are often exposed to contaminated flood waters. The correct way of cleaning and sanitizing is a must for any flood damage cleanup process because it is important to get rid of pathogens and other harmful microorganisms that pose as health hazards within your home.
The following are recommended procedures and methods that you could employ when doing a flood damage cleanup:
Cellars – wash the walls and floors with a soapy water solution mixed with chlorine bleach to remove the grime and dirt; and at the same time killing the fungi or germs spores. Then rinse off with clean water by using a cloth rag and a mop. Ventilate and dry by putting fans and a dehumidifier. Always wear elbow length rubber working gloves to protect your hands while working.
Furniture – flood damage cleanup for house furniture should start with rinsing off the furniture with clean water to remove any attached grime or mud on the surface. Then prepare a warm soap suds mixture and wipe or brush the furniture surface as the need arises. Rinse out the suds then apply a disinfectant, but read the label and directions carefully first. Remember that when using any bleach disinfecting agent it should never be mixed with other cleaning chemicals which contain ammonia that are either in a powder or liquid form. Because when these two chemical combine they produce lethal fumes that are hazardous once inhaled.
- it is also suggested that when mixing a disinfecting solution, use the correct ratio and proportion of the chemical with water. This is to protect the surface of the furniture and achieve maximum sanitation efficiency.
- allow furniture to dry thoroughly under the sun or in an enclosed shaded space if the weather predicts rain or shower.
Household Tools and Children’s Toys – the recommended flood damage cleanup for household tools and children’s toys that were contaminated by the flood water is to soak and wash the items in a warm soapy water and then rinsing them with clean tap water. Dry the items by wiping them with a clean cloth rag and then spray or wipe on a disinfecting chemical solution. Disinfecting the tools and toys is necessary when performing a flood damage cleanup in any household to adequately remove the presence of harmful bacterial spores. But just like in any other cleaning guidelines, take every precaution when using bleach or any other sanitizing or disinfecting chemical sold commercially.
Food exposed to flood water – when flooding occurs it is inevitable that food and food utensils come in contact with the contaminated water. Foods that are raw or uncooked should either be cleaned thoroughly or thrown away. If bottled jars and capped or sealed foods within a bottle suffer cracks or their caps have been removed then discard them as well. Sealed cans and bottles in a good condition should be washed and soaked in a bleach disinfecting solution of 2 ounces (oz.) of bleach per gallon of water for a duration of five minutes. The flood damage cleanup process necessitates the proper cleaning and disinfecting of all food and other cooking paraphernalia which is used for eating or preparing food. Do not however, apply bleach on your silver ware or aluminum pots and pans since the bleach will ruin their smooth finish.
Electric Appliances and Equipment – when doing any flood damage cleanup remedial activity make sure to shut off the main electrical switch of the house. This is to adhere to the safety side and to avoid accidents like short-circuits. Most electrical appliances like refrigerator, television, heaters, etc, must never be used or turned on if you are not sure if it is thoroughly dried. Most electric appliances should be inspected by an expert and evaluated properly before it is used again.
Mold Removal: Finally Getting rid of Mold in Your Home
Posted by: alproberbitz on: January 26, 2009
There are various factors on why mold can be present in a home – too much moisture, poor ventilation and even poor cleaning habits in the part of the homeowner. All these can cause molds to exist in one’s home. They usually form in places where moist and damp exist. In any case that molds had already infested your home, the air would change in the location were the moist is located, creating a musty smell in the air. It is necessary to find the problem and eliminate them to bring back healthy air inside the home.
Mold removal problems need a continuous action which is very important in the success of getting rid of those molds. This includes knowing the extent of mold contamination then planning and doing actual mold removal activities.
Doing mold removal can be easy if you always conduct regular checks and perform proper maintenance inside the home. Even though molds are always present in indoor air, they cannot form without moisture. Common causes of moisture problems inside and outside the house are from plumbing and roof leaks, poor air duct of household appliances, not sufficient airway in the kitchen and bathroom and overflowing of water from tubs, toilets and sink.
The best defense aside from doing proper maintenance is to control the humidity inside the home and to know how high or how low the humidity level should be. For example, during the winter months, the level of humidity inside the house should be at least 30-50 percent; and in summer, should be less than 60 percent. Having a better air circulation and proper ventilation systems with the use of dehumidifier can all be of use to lower the humidity inside the home.
But before considering mold removal, better change clothes and wear gears appropriate for the activity such as an approved N-95 respirator, gloves and goggles. These should be used so you will not get in contact with molds and mold spores or get irritated with the cleaning solution.
The most efficient procedure in doing mold removal is to kill mold growth by removing it from the materials it lingers from and clean them thoroughly. But for those items that cannot be cleaned and that are totally damaged beyond repair, it is best to just discard them so that it won’t have any more chances of spreading out its mold spores.
Solid wood, hard plastic, concrete, glass and metal can be normally conducted mold removal by scrubbing the mold off with water and detergent and then drying it off completely. Cleaning hard surfaces should require disinfecting. Make a homemade disinfectant solution by mixing 1/4 to 1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water with vinegar. It is much better to let the solution dry on the surface instead of wiping up. Do not forget to open all windows and doors to obviate inhaling the fumes.
Mold, like any other potentially harmful guests, will take every opportunity to come into your home. But this can be easily averted if homeowners would be attentive to any possible contamination in their homes.
Home – Water Damage Restoration – The Toll of Doing Water Damage Restoration and the Professionals that can help
Posted by: alproberbitz on: January 19, 2009
Seeing news on the television about houses being flooded could be shocking for those viewers who watch them but of course it is still different if you were the one facing these circumstances. A successful water damage restoration can be such an overwhelming experience especially for those victims of flood. The process of cleaning could even take the best on anyone dealing with this type of tragedy.
From the time the flood comes into the home, when trying to save all of those electrical appliances that can get hit by the flood water and those appliances and expensive items laying on the floor and from the time the rain stop and the cleanup begins. These could add up to a much higher stress level to those dwellers that are in need of water damage restoration. Getting rid of the water inside a home and putting all your items in proper order may be difficult especially if the flood water carried mud and sewage water.
There are boundless problems you may face when dealing with a major flood incident and this could lead to an unhealthy home. The best solution for you and your family at a time of crisis is to hire a water damage restoration professional that could help you with clearing up the flood water from your home and to make the whole structure dry and microbe free once more. Hiring a water damage restoration contractor can also lead to a much happier environment for you since you can provide your family emotional support and you could also focus on other things that you need to do in your life instead on focusing too much on your flooded home. Of course you still need to look over that water damage restoration project to see how they are going and what improvement your house is in. But the burden will not be on your shoulders anymore since you have some water damage restoration professionals to work with.
But in the case that you decide to do the water damage restoration yourself and with the aid of your family and friends then it is advisable to take added precautions since making a mistake while cleaning can even be a reason for some of your items to be thrown away like carpets and upholstery.
The first important aspect in doing water damage restoration is to be sure that your health and your well-being and those people around you are safe before starting. Never let a child or a pregnant woman get in contact with flood water since they contain bacteria and microbes. Turn off the electricity to avoid possible electrocution and let a licensed electrician check up on your electrical installations before turning it back on.
Get rid of the standing water using a sump pump but don’t get rid of the water too fast since this could lead to the deterioration of the house. Take it slowly and carefully. This may even take days but don’t give your hopes up. After removing the water, you have to clean, sanitize and deodorize every square inch of the affected areas by using a chlorine solution or a commercial cleaner.
Wet Carpet: All Natural Ways to Clean and Freshen Your Carpet
Posted by: alproberbitz on: December 18, 2008
Everywhere you turn there is an article touting green products and encouraging us all to take better care of our planet. It is the only one we have, after all. So, when you woke up this morning to find that the washing machine had spewed all of its sudsy water across your new Berber carpet, you were mortified and wondered what you could do to both save your wet carpet and the planet. In most cases, all natural products are cheaper than the harsh alternatives and are kinder to your nose, skin and your flooring.
The first step is to maintain the water to as small an area as possible. If the water looks like it might run into an adjoining room for instance, use rolled, color safe towels to dam it up. Once you have the water contained, you can begin with getting rid of it. Soak up as much as possible, either with a mop or towels. Again, take care that the towels are color safe to avoid transferring color to your carpet.
Once you have dried as much of the water up as possible, then you can move on to drying the wet carpet. If you do that too quickly, there might be issues with staining or shrinking. Make sure that the wet carpet is thoroughly dry, including the backing and padding and then you can begin to clean and freshen. Mold and mildew can set in within a matter of minutes- so the faster you work the less likely you will be to have to deal with these issues. If you do have to remove mold, do so thoroughly and then use a mixture of white vinegar and water to scrub the area. (Check a small area of the wet carpet before trying this or other solutions to avoid further staining and damage.)
After cleaning and eradication of mold and mildew, it will be time to freshen the carpet so that it can smell great. Sprinkle baking soda on the floor to neutralize and absorb any residual vinegar odor as well as the smell of wet carpet. Thoroughly vacuum to pick the baking soda back up. You can add a light sprinkle of cinnamon if you choose, or toss a cinnamon stick in your vacuum’s cup or bag. Other aromatic herbs can be used as well, including lavender. A very light sprinkling of vanilla could be used, but may cause staining so proceed with caution.
Of course, these ideas are not just for when you are dealing with a wet carpet- they can be employed whenever you vacuum to freshen the carpet and whole house. Adjust the amount of scent that you wish to have by the amount of cinnamon that you sprinkle on, just be sure that you are thoroughly vacuuming it back up so that it does not cause further damages. Use the warm smell of cinnamon in the fall and winter months and it will smell like you have baked all day, and switch to lighter, more floral scents in the spring and summer.
Disaster Recovery from Water Damage
Posted by: alproberbitz on: December 18, 2008
A house can suffer from water damage for various reasons like bursting of pipes, leakage of appliances or flood. If you live in a very cold area a frozen pipe can lead to water damage. Depending on your home insurance policy, you may or may not be covered for water damage. Water damage can affect almost each and every part of your home. If you do face water damage, you can do some basic disaster recovery on your own.
Disaster recovery in case of water damage is also dependent on the type of water damage. Water in case of water damage maybe classified into three types:
* Clean water- An overflowing tub or a leaky pipe can lead to flooding through clean water. Clean water damage can affect furniture and flooring but it does not pose threat to human health.
* Gray water- Water containing chemicals or other physical or biological contaminants is termed as gray water. It can cause human beings and animals to fall sick.
* Black water- Water containing harmful agents like bacteria and fungus is termed as black water. This type of water can lead to severe illness.
In case of water damage through gray or black water, it is extremely essential to contact the nearest environmental protection agency. Two popular disaster recovery methods in case of water damage are:
* Desiccant Dehumidification- This process removes excess moisture from air in a fast and safe manner, thereby preventing the growth of mold and saving documents.
* Freeze Drying- This process is used for books or any other bounded printed manner. It is a process that involves dehumidification at a lower temperature.
In case of water damage, the fist thing that you should do as a disaster recovery measure is to remove your old plasterboard that has already been damaged by water. You need to be careful about mould and damp in case of water damage. Therefore after removing the old plasterboard, wipe and clean the ceiling and walls with a bleach solution.
Water damage may leave holes in the ceiling therefore these holes must be filled with a plaster mixture as a step towards disaster recovery. The holes must be allowed to try after patching it with plaster. It is not easy to repair holes in the ceiling but the plaster mixture can be prevented from sagging by using a cling wrap and old board. The board and prop will keep it in position till the mixture dries. The use of a plaster can leave bumps in which case an angle grinder must be used to smoothen it out. The area must then be painted with a sealing and bonding agent.
Water flooding can affect the flooring very badly, often disaster recovery of carpets and flooring seems impossible. Carpets may get easily damaged therefore it would be best to send your carpets to professional for disaster recovery. If you have wooden flooring like pine flooring, you can paint the pine floors with light finish oil. After painting it with light finish oil, light sanding must be performed on the pine floor and then paint the floor with another coat.
What Will The Water Damage Restoration Services Do?
Posted by: alproberbitz on: November 30, 2008
These are the services that are offered by the various water damage restoration companies
* They are on call 24 hours a day.
* The company will do the water extraction as well as dehumidification process of the property and its artefacts.
* The companies will also perform structural drying and content drying. Along with this dry verification as well as odor removal.
* With new technology, the water damage restoration companies may also perform thermal imaging for moisture detection and drying verification. It’s not possible to detect the moisture or the water remaining inside the house, instead thermal imaging is a very useful tool that is used by the companies.
* Drying equipment for drying out the premises. The water damage restoration companies will service both residential and commercial buildings.
* They also provide direct insurance billing to their clients and customers.
The staff of the water damage restoration companies should be trained as per IICRC standards and have the requisite certification to deal with water damage restoration. They should be able to hold and mitigate the effects of various water damage crises such as broken water pipes and supply lines, toilet overflows, flooding of basement and attics, leaky roofs, hurricane and storm damage and other incidents.
Primary damage containment
The initial damage is known as the primary damage. The water damage restoration companies will work to mitigate the effects of discoloration, warping, crackling, swelling, and splitting of building material and many of its contents. Since the primary damage can be seen, the water damage restoration company can work on it easily.
Secondary damage containment
What’s more difficult to ascertain is the secondary damage. When the water evaporates and changes into its gaseous form vapor, it’s harder to see. The vapor causes the increase in humidity levels or the level of moisture in the air increase. High humidity levels can also be bad for the structure and can cause structural damage and promote the growth of mold.
The condensation process will speed up if the temperatures are higher and this moisture will enter further porous materials such as fabric, wood, leather and paper. This will lead to destruction of other things as well which is extremely bad also. The condensation can also happen on ceilings and walls and this can be very bad for the structure. Once the wood starts to rot or warp, efforts and costs for water damage restoration will considerably rise.
Since water can travel both horizontally and vertically, it can also affect the areas that were previously unaffected. Accurate precise instruments can be used to gauge the path and the flow of the water and prevent secondary damage by the water damage restoration companies. Please ask for this service if you feel it’s necessary.
The extraction process is followed by the drying out of the premises
The extraction process done by the water damage restoration is usually based on the principle of top down water extraction. Following which the drying process is done by the water damage restoration company.
Ft. Lauderdale Flood Damage CleanUp Weather
- Conditions for Fort Lauderdale, FL at 10:51 am EST January 30, 2012Current Conditions: Partly Cloudy, 76 F Forecast: Mon - Partly Cloudy/Wind. High: 76 Low: 67 Tue - Scattered Showers. High: 79 Low: 69 Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather (provided by The Weather Channel)
Temporary Heat (Temporary HVAC)
- Providing Temporary Heating Safely During Construction Work July 24, 2009During cold weather, using temporary heating equipment is crucial in a construction project to allow workers to continue working in a comfortable environment and, ultimately, make it possible for the project to be completed on time.
- Temporary HVAC Types And Uses July 24, 2009HVAC stands for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning. It is usually found within offices, homes and infrastructures built for businesses. Its primary function is for climate and temperature control.
- Understanding The Need For Maintaining Optimally Functioning Temporary Heat (HVAC) July 10, 2009HVAC, or heating, ventilating and air conditioning, systems are a significant system in any modern household. These interconnected network of devices all function to provide thermal comfort and a more acceptable quality of indoor air.
Smoke Damage Cleaning
- How To Getting Rid Of the Smoke Smell From Clothing At Home? August 21, 2009One of the characteristics of smoke is that it tends to cling to clothing. Whether this is a result of mundane situations such as cigarette smoke or an occasion that is more severe like a fire, smoke can be a serious problem.
- Health And Economic Implications Of A Sound Smoke Damage Cleaning Plan July 31, 2009Every household, whether in the technologically advanced communities or otherwise backward societies, the effective management of fire and smoke damage has its economic repercussions.
- Smoke Damage Cleanup Tips, Technological Information And Preventive Measures For Homeowners June 15, 2009When it comes to smoke damage, you must always remember that the longer you leave your house exposed to smoke, the harder it will be to clean everything out. The thing about smoke damage is that it sticks to almost everything inside the house.
