Our Professionals Discuss Tips For Managing Flood Damage In Your Chicago Retail Store

8/19/2019 (Permalink)

If floodwater has entered your retail store, call SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville at (312) 509-5000 for help.

Tips For Managing Commercial Flood Damage In A Chicago Retail Store

Flooding is a common natural disaster, and climate change is increasing its risk. Heavy downpours can cause groundwater to rise, and it can enter your retail business premises. Flooding can ruin the building materials, electronic equipment, supplies, sales records, store fixtures, furnishings, and stock in your retail store. If flooding forces you to close operations while you are repairing the damage, you may lose contracts or customers.

When there is commercial flood damage in your Chicago retail store, you may also lose some customers if they find an alternative store to buy goods. Apart from heavy financial losses, flooding can expose your enterprise to civil liability. The most crucial thing to do after a flood is ensuring that you and your employees stay safe. Floodwater is usually dangerous because of its hidden debris, speed, depth, and contamination. Therefore, after a flood, it is advisable to move to the upper parts of the property or leave it by a dry, safe route. Turning off electricity is also essential to prevent electrical shock.

Avoid entering your business premises until you are sure it is safe to do so. Even if the building may appear harmless, it may have suffered structural damage and may collapse. If it is safe to enter your rental store, record the flood damage by capturing photos of ruined equipment, building materials, and inventory. Check with your insurer before you salvage goods and repair the damage.

It is advisable to work with a competent restoration firm like SERVPRO to clean up your flood-damaged retail store. Floodwater can contain waste matter, chemicals, pesticides, and sewage. Therefore, our technicians wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent infection. We also apply EPA-registered biocides upon arriving at a flooded property to neutralize disease-causing microorganisms.

We can remove mud, debris, and soil from your business premises using different equipment, including high-pressure washers. Our technicians also use powerful pumps to remove the standing water professionally and speedily so that a building can dry faster. We pump out as much water as possible, so we do not have to remove much of it with dehumidifiers. It is faster and easier to remove a liquid compared to removing a gas.

Our water damage restoration services help prevent mold infestation. If moisture gets trapped in the walls and floors, it encourages mold growth, which can cause health problems for your staff and customers. We position air movers correctly in a building to blow damp air outside and bring in the dry, warm air to expedite drying. We change the location of air movers as drying happens to ensure that affected surfaces dry evenly and thoroughly. Our SERVPRO team can customize the water restoration project to meet your specific needs.

If floodwater has entered your Hyde Park, Bronzeville, or Bridgeport retail store, call SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville at (312) 509-5000 for help. We deliver high-quality flood restoration services 24/7. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

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