The Importance of Storm Damage Remediation in Slidell

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

Keep yourself and your family safe by contacting SERVPRO in times of flooding.  Call right away for best results.

Understanding Containment Systems Used to Recover from Flood Damage in Slidell

Flood waters contain hazardous waste, frightening to Slidell homeowners concerned about their family's health. We inspect for contaminants and devise a plan including containment strategies for the safety of you and your loved ones and our crews. Here are some of the hazards we guard against with containment systems and what those containment systems might look like in your home.

Flood Water Hazards that Require Containment Systems

When flood damage occurs in Slidell, a broad range of contaminants enters your home. As building materials become damaged additional concerns can surface.

• Sewage contains fecal and bloodborne pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.
• Industrial waste picked up by overland flooding contains chemicals, asbestos, lead, and other harmful substances.
• Landscaping and roadway chemicals suspend or dissolve into floodwaters.
• Dirt, mud, and silt build up inside your home, consisting of many harmful substances in addition to mucking up and soiling surfaces. 
• Deteriorating materials inside your home might contain asbestos, lead, and other biohazards.

Basic Safety Considerations

Expect the SERVPRO flood damage mitigation and remediation plan to recommend that occupants stay clear of the affected spaces. We prepare by spraying an EPA-registered disinfectant on waste materials and surfaces. Our crews wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including:

• Respirators
• Chemical resistant gloves
• Rubber boots
• Splash goggles
• Full bodysuits

Examples of Residential Containment Systems

To stop contamination from spreading into non-affected areas and protect occupants and workers, SERVPRO  constructs containment systems under The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)  levels of containment:

• Source containment -- used for minimal contamination. Removing, wrapping, and properly disposing of materials is sufficient.
• Local or mini containment -- used for moderate contamination. Building a small enclosure with 6-mil polyethylene around a PVC frame large enough for one worker to remove, wrap and bag, and pass contaminated items out of the containment area for lawful disposal is appropriate and minimally disruptive.
• Full-scale containment -- used in extreme contamination circumstances, including the flooding of significant spaces in a home. A combination of the following could be employed:
• Construction of a contained work area of any size with 6-mil polyethylene.
• A contained, smaller space adjacent as a floor-to-ceiling wrapped decontamination area for workers, equipment, and bagged waste. 
• An equipment room to store contaminated tools and workers’ clothing.
• An uncontaminated room to clean contents. 
• A clean room for uncontaminated items and clothing.
• A load-out area to store bagged waste. 

Any of these systems can include one or more negative pressure air scrubbers to pass airborne particles through HEPA filters and vent to the outside. 

Count on the flood damage containment experts SERVPRO of Slidell to keep you and your family safe during recovery from a flooding incident. Call us day or night at (985) 649-1516.

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