Frequently Asked Questions for what you do after your home floods:

What do I do after the the Floods?

• Call us first. We can contact your insurance company for you. We’ll work directly with them so you can concentrate on getting things back to normal.
• Maintain a detailed record of the damage, especially photographs and videos.
• Commission Midwest Flood Restoration, LLC to immediately begin extraction to avoid further damage to your property. This can be undertaken without immediate insurer approval (remember to keep receipts).
• If extensive repairs are needed, be sure to choose a reputable company such as MFR. Beware of bogus tradesmen and always check references. Midwest Flood Restoration, LLC provides references upon request.
• Contact your Utilities providers as needed. Make sure it is safe to turn on power, use water out of the taps, etc.
• Don’t attempt to dry out photos and papers. Place them in plastic bags, and put them in the refrigerator if possible.
• Dispose of any food that may have come into contact with flood water. It may be contaminated.

What do we do during a Water Mitigation project?

• Using improper remediation techniques can affect the health of building occupants.
• Proper diagnosis of disaster damage category is critical to proper remediation.
• High moisture levels may be present inside wall cavities, etc. but are not visible without the use of specialized equipment.
• Disaster damage can cause both fungal and bacterial contamination and may damage structural components in buildings.
• Drying out does not necessarily mean items are not contaminated
• If you suspect a mold contamination, DO NOT simply begin opening up walls, etc. This could spread any contamination and cause you problems down the road with any insurance claims.
• Understand the role of your insurance companies adjuster, they are trying to reduce the amount of the claim and do not work for you.
• If you have experienced disaster damage and your insurance carrier sends a contractor to clean up the water, ask if the contractor is experienced in abatement procedures for microbial contamination. If not, extreme caution should be practiced.
• If microbial contamination has resulted from disaster damage, is the microbial contamination isolated to one area? You may need professional assistance to answer that question. Performing a microbial abatement in one room does little good if the remainder of the home or HVAC system is contaminated.
• Companies claiming to verify the successfulness of a remediation or drying project using thermal imaging are mistaken about what thermal imaging does. Thermography does not detect moisture, it detects thermal anomalies which will require further investigation to determine if anomalies indicate moisture.

Here are some useful links for more information on water damage:

U.S. EPA

Metropolitan Sewer District

FloodSmart.gov

Sewage Mitigation

Sewage is one of the most dangerous substances that can enter buildings. Unfortunately, people don’t understand the hazards that sewage creates, particularly for small children, the elderly, and those with immune system or respiratory problems. Midwest Flood Restoration, LLC offers these facts to dispel some typical myths:

Sewage from lakes or rivers is clean.
This water contains contaminants such as microorganisms, bacteria, and pesticides. Trapped inside walls or under floor coverings, it doesn’t take long to become a “smelly” health hazard.

Chlorine bleach decontaminates sewage.
While bleach is a remedy, it’s quickly inactivated by the sewage. Even dead fungi and bacteria may contain chemicals that cause an allergic response. Affected areas should be cleaned thoroughly, followed by appropriate disinfectant application.

Sewage-saturated carpets can be “saved”.
Absolutely not! Porous materials, such as carpet, pad, upholstery, bedding, wicker, paper goods, or fabrics that can’t be washed in hot water, must be disposed of safely.

Partially sewage-flooded buildings are safe.
Not unless contaminated areas can be sealed off to prevent cross-contamination of other areas. Only trained professionals using specialized equipment are qualified to restore sewage damage.

Mold Remediation

Midwest Flood Restoration, LLC, as part of our commitment to excellence, adheres to the highest standards for mold removal and prevention:

• Verify that the moisture source has been eliminated
• Contain the area to prevent cross contamination
• Create negative pressure to prevent mold from spreading
• Recommend an environmental professional to evaluate the mold problem
• Vacuum affected areas using equipment with high efficiency filters
• Remove and correctly dispose of heavily contaminated materials
• HEPA vacuum exposed pockets of growth
• Dry remaining materials