Floods can be dangerous, regardless of whether they are contained to your basement and large-scale weather events. Flooding large-scale can lead to drowning. However, flooding smaller homes can pose dangers and cause contamination.
If you come in contact with floodwaters or your home is not completely disconnected from the grid, you are at risk of electrocution. You should never enter a flood-prone basement without a licensed electrician (or an emergency worker such as the fire department) having disconnected it from the grid. Even if your power has been cut off due to a storm, a neighbor with a generator may be able to feed electricity into your home. This could put you at risk of electrocution. If you are living in the Rochester region, consult our restoration Rochester ny experts to clean up your water damage.
Flash floods can be extremely dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than half of flood-related drownings are caused by vehicles being driven into floodwater. The National Weather Service states that a mere 6 inch of floodwater can cause drowning. 12in of water is required to transport a small vehicle, but 2ft can take most vehicles away.
Contamination is a serious threat to your health. There are three types possible floodwaters. The floodwaters that are clean and greywater are usually contained to your home. However, blackwater floods can occur at larger scales such as after severe weather events or hurricanes.
Clean Water
Clean water is water that doesn’t pose a health risk. Floods that are clean water can be caused by malfunctioning appliances and toilet holding tanks. They also may result from melting snow and rainwater. You can clean up home floods with clean water by hiring water damage restoration professionals. However, standing water can turn to greywater within 48 hours.
Greywater
Greywater (or sullage) refers to wastewater that has not been contaminated by fecal matter. It is generally less pathogenic than blackwater, and can be used for non-potable purposes such as flushing the toilet. If ingested, greywater can cause illness. Greywater cleanup must begin immediately–greywater can become blackwater in as little as 48 hours.
Blackwater
Blackwater is a term that refers to water contaminated by human waste. Blackwater is the term for the citywide floodwaters that we see on television. Blackwater is defined as raw sewage. Blackwater is home to dangerous bacteria and pathogens. It must be fully decomposed before it can be released into the environment. Contact with it can be made even more hazardous by dissolved chemicals or particulates.
Blackwater floods are most dangerous and destructive in flooding emergencies. Due to the unsanitary conditions of the water, many porous and absorbent materials such as carpets and upholstery are often not salvageable. Blackwater can cause illness in humans and animals through ingestion or skin contact.
Lighthouse Restoration professionals know the devastating consequences water can have on your family and home. Lighthouse Restoration professionals have seen the devastating effects water can have on your home and family. We are available 24 hours a day to assist you in getting your house back to normal. Lighthouse Restoration’s water restoration specialists will perform a free evaluation on your site and coordinate with your insurance company to make the process as easy as possible. There are some things you can do to help protect your home from disasters.
- You should monitor any areas that may have suffered water damage in the past.
- The number of your local Water Damage Professional should be kept on hand at all costs. The number can be saved to your local Lighthouse Restoration plumber and posted near areas that are most at risk of water damage. You can also call to get to your nearest Lighthouse Restoration.
- For potential leaks, inspect pipes, water shutoff valves and appliance connections regularly.
- Flood alarms can be installed in areas that are susceptible to flooding to help you detect and prevent further damage.
