Steps To Take If Your Hotel Floods

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding is a serious issue, and the proper steps need to be taken to ensure both the safety of the residents and the integrity of the building. If there are high levels of flooding in your hotel, call SERVPRO of Huron and East Seneca Counties immediately to ensure that there is no additional damage being made. While it is hard to be prepared for flooding, know that it can happen at any place and at any time. 

• Evacuate everyone from the premises as soon as possible before serious flooding happens, if at all possible, and find a dry, safe spot outside of the hotel while waiting for the flooding to stop. If flooding is caused by a natural disaster, call the authorities or listen to the local news to find a temporary shelter and relocate to that shelter when possible. Ensure that everyone who was evacuated is safe.
• If the flooding is not from a natural disaster, find the source of the flooding and stop it at the source. Turning off the main water valve may solve the issue.
• Turn off electricity, and be sure you do not attempt to reach the fuse box if you have to walk through standing water; water is a conductor of electricity and you could be shocked. If you cannot reach the fuse box without stepping on water, call an electrician.
• Document everything: take photos and videos of all the affected areas. Use this information for insurance purposes.

Once the flooding has stopped, you can start the clean-up process.

• Do not touch the water without the proper equipment as it may be contaminated with sewage or other hazardous material. If you have to enter the establishment, wear waders and waterproof boots.
• All of the water has to be removed, then a wet vacuum or a pump can be used to dispose of any standing water.
• Attempt to salvage any items that were not seriously damaged. Do not eat any food that has been contaminated by floodwater.
• If the water damage is not too bad, dry the space out with fans and dehumidifiers. Anything that was touched by the water also needs to be disinfected.

Warm, wet spaces are a breeding ground for mold growth, so you will want to act as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth.

• The property needs to be as dry as possible to prevent mold spores from growing. Once it starts growing, it is difficult to remove. To avoid mold from growing, keep the affected areas as dry as possible, and treat it with a strong cleaner, such as a bleach solution. 
• Open any windows and doors to let fresh air in and circulate, unless the weather is humid. In the case of humid weather, you can use dehumidifiers and fans, instead. 

Flooding does not mean the end of the world. Even if your hotel was flooded, it can still be salvaged, and If the damage is critical or you are not capable of fixing the issue by yourself, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Huron and East Seneca Counties to aid you in returning your hotel back to peak condition. Here at SERVPRO of Huron and East Seneca Counties, we are experts at water damage repair and restoration along with mold removal and remediation. We are committed to getting your home, hotel, or business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned!