Can a Business in Sevierville Recover after a Flood?

6/19/2020 (Permalink)

Control losses at your business premises after flooding, contact SERVPRO.

When Commercial Flood Damage Affects your Business, Contact Sevierville's Restorer of choice, SERVPRO.

What are the crucial steps for businesses with flooding?

Taking action is vital to recovering large amounts of your Sevierville business after flooding. Where possible, shut off power to the property and evacuate- this can help to prevent further harm from electrical fires. Most flood insurance policies are separate from business insurance, so you should contact your flood insurer before contacting a professional restorer to mitigate the effects of flooding. In 2019, floods were the cause of $6.2 billion worth of damages. One of the crucial factors in controlling flood losses is early diagnosis and mitigation, which can stem the tide of water against your business premises and contents.

What is the role of commercial flood restorers?

We perform commercial flood damage recovery for businesses all over Sevierville. When flooding occurs, first responders like paramedics, fire marshals and police are the first on the scene. After damages have occurred, remodelers, architects, and general constructors set to work rebuilding residence and businesses. Our role as a restorer is in-between a first-responder and a general contractor. We can enter your property to perform scoping of safety hazards, board up broken doors or windows to prevent looting, and mitigate the damages of flooding. Our mitigation work may include sealing the property to stop further rainfall or floodwater intrusion, draining, drying, and preparing the property for general contractors.

What can flood mitigation do for my business?

The initial impact of flooding is usually the hardest felt. However, damages do not stop at the point of water intrusion. Once water enters a property, it begins to degrade both the structure and the contents. If you run a mechanics, there may be a severe amount of harm caused by rusting of tools or parts in your garage. Equally, a showroom may require temporary storage to avoid floodwaters from causing irreversible damage to stock. SERVPRO technicians can arrive on-site within four hours of notification of loss and begin to take back control of your business premises. We pump water out of the property fast while taking care to prevent mold or water contamination from affecting your premises.

What happens to my business equipment in a significant flood loss?

Business equipment can be vital to your ability to perform your services. The cost of replacing equipment can be high, while insurance claims can take time to come through. SERVPRO is an expert at protecting and restoring contents and equipment in commercial premises. Usually, we aim to restore materials on-site by isolating them in a clean, dry area of the premises. When significant flooding situations occur, we can perform a pack-out procedure where equipment, or stock, can be taken for temporary storage at one of our climate-controlled warehouses. One advantage of removing equipment from the premises altogether is that it allows us to concentrate or restore the structure and provide space for general constructors to perform the repair.

How does a flood pack-out procedure work?

    •    Restorers identify and record items for safe storage
    •    We enlist professional movers to transport goods to our warehouses
    •    Items in secure storage are restored using mechanical washing and drying techniques
    •    Once your business premises is back to a preloss condition, we can return equipment using professional movers

How do I prepare my business for flooding?

One of the leading causes of damage for businesses with flooding is structural absorption and water migration. The difference between category one and category four flooding is the amount that water has spread into building materials as well as cavities. The most effective method of safeguarding your business against flooding is to make it water-resistant. These steps could include using tiles or concrete with a damp proof cover on your floors instead of carpets or wood. The same approach applies to baseboards and structural components. Using flood-resistant varnishes can help to prevent floodwater migration while you wait for restorers to arrive.

What is a good flood preparation plan for businesses?

    •    Make a list of any equipment or items that you can remove quickly from the building or onto upper levels when a flood warning occurs
    •    Order and store sandbags which can help to protect doorways and other openings from water intrusion
    •    Keep a list of vital contacts including restorers, insurance documents and local council emergency numbers
    •    Prepare a plan of evacuation for you and your staff

Control losses at your business premises after flooding, contact SERVPRO of Sevier, Jefferson & Cocke Counties at (865) 429-8885.