Flood Damage Cleanup Services
Floods are common in the Houston, Texas area with hurricane Harvey, Rite, Ike, and several other dangerous storms.
24/7 Emergency Flood Damage Restoration Services
Flooding can be very devastating especially when you are not prepared for it. A storm for a non-prepared community can cause chaos in need for emergency items and restoration of properties.
Hallmark Mitigation & Construction is a local professional flood damage cleanup company. We have helped business owners during the hurricane Harvey and other major storms.
Common Flood Damages
A Flood can be explained as a temporary overflow of water that covers land that is usually dry. Floods are caused by two main ways, natural or human causes. Flooding can be very devastating to a region and the water damage done to an area can be very costly. The following are some of the reasons that can make a region experience flooding at any given time.
- Heavy rainfall
- Congested drainages
- Storms/Hurricanes
- Urbanization
- River overflows
- Dams breaking
- Tsunamis
These are some of the reasons that can cause a region to experience heavy/temporary flooding. When flooding occurs, it has a devastating effect on a region.
24 Hour Flood Cleanup
EFFECTS OF FLOOD/FLOODING
The results of flooding can be categorized into primary, secondary and third level effects.
Primary Outcomes: this is where the effects are caused by direct contact with the flooding water. Some examples of the primary outcomes are:
- Economic
Floods destroy houses, farms, bridges, and roads leaving millions of people homeless. Furthermore when such disasters occur first aid is highly needed immediately, and all of this comes with a significant cost to the government and individuals. The government and insurance companies are responsible for the cost of water cleanup. Some insurance firms do not cover damage done by floods as they categorize it as a natural calamity, unless you have flood insurance from FEMA.
2. Environment
With a flood, you also get erosion, destroyed buildings, damaged landscape, and fully submerged buildings.
3. Displacement
When a region experiences flooding, people and animals are forced to move to higher ground to escape the wrath of water. Water is a powerful force of nature which usually has it’s way no matter the situation and displacement of people and animals is imminent when it occurs.
4. Disruption of all transport and communications
When water covers land which is usually dry, the areas become impassable by foot or vehicles. Making it difficult to nearly impossible to get food, gas and other necessary resources.
5. Diseases
There is an increase in water-borne diseases to the areas affected by the flood. There is also an increase in decay of organic matter which eventually leads to the growth of germs that cause infections.
6. Destruction of agricultural land
Plants need water to grow well, but when the water becomes excessive, it destroys the crops in the farmlands. The water washes away anything on its path and causes a huge economic blow to a country/region and the farmers as well. Some sediment that may be deposited on the farmlands may make it impossible for farmers to grow crops again in the future.
7. Death
Death occurs when people drown in the water or when some are conducting rescue efforts.
Secondary effects and third level effects: Secondary effects occur as a result of the initial impact while the third level effects are the long term changes that affect the environment as a result of the flooding.
1. Interruption of key services:
- The supply of clean drinking water is disrupted because the water may become polluted by the flooding water especially if a sewerage plant in an area is flooded. This will cause an outbreak of diseases and other health complications.
- The flood may disrupt gas and electrical services. Some of these services are usually shut down to avert catastrophic disasters.
- The transportation system is affected and makes it difficult to access basic needs such as food and also clean-up supplies may be difficult to transport in heavily flooded areas.
Third level effects/long term effects:
- The increase of insurance rates – Some firms that are in regions that experience regular flooding increases their rates of insuring property and life. They see it as an opportunity to make more money while also protecting themselves.
- River channels may change their normal course after a flood.
- Some sediment deposited by the flood may be harmful to agricultural lands in some cases.
Secondary effects and third level effects: Secondary effects occur as a result of the initial impact while the third level effects are the long term changes that affect the environment as a result of the flooding.
1. Interruption of key services:
- The supply of clean drinking water is disrupted because the water may become polluted by the flooding water especially if a sewerage plant in an area is flooded. This will cause an outbreak of diseases and other health complications.
- The flood may disrupt gas and electrical services. Some of these services are usually shut down to avert catastrophic disasters.
- The transportation system is affected and makes it difficult to access basic needs such as food and also clean-up supplies may be difficult to transport in heavily flooded areas.
Third level effects/long term effects:
- The increase of insurance rates – Some firms that are in regions that experience regular flooding increases their rates of insuring property and life. They see it as an opportunity to make more money while also protecting themselves.
- River channels may change their normal course after a flood.
- Some sediment deposited by the flood may be harmful to agricultural lands in some cases.
Flood Damage F.A.Q.
Business owners don’t deal with water damage every day, so it can be difficult to know not only what to do, but the right questions to ask. Here are some of our most common frequently asked questions.
Should I call my insurance first?
No, not necessarily. You want to get a professional restoration contractor on site as fast as possible to review the water damage and begin the cleanup process. Your insurance company wants you to be proactive when it comes to dealing with damage, not waiting and causing more damage. Filing an additional claim may make your insurance premium go up. Call Hallmark Mitigation, and we can help you review the affected area and provide an estimate you can use to submit to your insurance company.
How long is the water restoration cleanup process?
Most water damage removal & drying jobs are complete in 3-5 days. However, this depends on the severity and category of water damage. The more saturated an area is, more contaminated the water is, and more widespread the water is, the longer the drying process takes. This does NOT include the putback and repairs after the emergency phase is complete.
Can water damage cause mold to grow?
Short answer, absolutely. Water is one of the necessary ingredients needed for mold to grow. If you have water damage and you don’t react fast enough to extract the water and properly dry the affected area, you could have mold growth within 48 hrs.
What can I do while I wait for you to arrive?
While you wait for us to arrive there are some things you can do. Here is a simple list;
- Locate the source of water and shut it off
- Move furniture and personal contents away from affected water damage area
- Remove any standing water if possible, with a shop vac or squeegee
- Get the air moving, open windows, use box fans, and residential dehumidifiers until professional equipment arrives.
Can you handle the project from beginning to end?
Yes. We can manage your water damage, fire damage, mold damage and any restoration project you might have in your business from beginning to end.
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Fire Damage
Mold Removal
