The Water Damage You Can’t See

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

Living through a catastrophic storm of any kind in South Oceanside, CA can be devastating. In addition to the disruption of daily life, you home may also suffer physical damage that requires extensive repair. High winds, torrential rain, and infrastructure damage can easily leave you in the midst of a flood.

When you think of the water damage from flooding, you may envision waterlogged carpets and furnishings, structural damage, and ruined documents or keepsakes. However, the damage from contaminated water under these conditions can be far more dangerous and harder to fix.

What Is Contaminated Water?

Any floodwaters that include raw sewage are considered black water. They can carry a variety of potentially dangerous pathogens, including salmonella, E. coli, hepatitis, and rotavirus. These and other contaminants can cause serious diseases including the following:

• Gastroenteritis
• Hepatitis A
• Shigellosis
• Giardiasis

This kind of contamination can occur as a result of runoff from waterways, or backed up sewer drains or systems. People and pets can be infected by contact with contaminated water, by surfaces that have been saturated, or even by breathing in microbes that are present in the environment where this kind of water damage has happened. Most professionals suggest that you treat any residential flooding, particularly in urban and suburban areas, as if this sort of damage has occurred.

What Should You Do?

It’s important to take action as soon as possible, since even clean water left standing can become gray or black. It’s important to call a restoration professional as soon as possible; do not try to clean up on your own. Without proper cleaning, microbes may linger in the air and in dust, leaving you at risk of illness. Professional restoration experts in South Oceanside, CA can assess the damage, test for pathogens, and create an action plan. They have the tools and equipment needed to safely extract the water, thoroughly dry out and clean up your property, and repair the water damage left behind.

If your home is affected by a flood, call in the professionals quickly. Doing so can prevent further damage. Visit http://www.SERVPROfallbrooksouthoceanside.com for more information on water damage.