Ground / Floodwaters

Much of Wake, Johnston and Harnett Counties experienced inches of rain in a short period of time Monday evening. Quickly rising floodwaters made for hazardous driving conditions and eventually made their way into homes and commercial buildings. 

Out of interest for being as least invasive and cost-effective as possible we’re often asked, “why can’t I just put fans in for a few days without having to tear out anything?”  The answer is simple. Flood waters are not clean water. Therefore, most porous building materials must be removed and replaced with new materials.  In fact, flood damage can become more costly if not properly mitigated. Rebuilding too quickly after a flood can cause continuing problems such as mold growth, insect infestations and wood deterioration. 

We’ll take it a step further to make our case for following the standard of care for floodwater damage. Have you ever stopped to think about exactly what could be lurking in the water that entered your home or business? Floodwaters contain many things that pose a human safety risk. While we don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time, we do know that floodwater can contain: 

• Human and livestock waste

• Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)

• Coal ash waste that can contain carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic, chromium, and mercury

• Other contaminants that can lead to illness

So, make sure to take appropriate steps to keep you and your family safe should floodwaters enter your home or business.