How Go Mini’s Can Help Restore Your Business From Flooding
If your business is located in a flood prone area, you should take the necessary precautionary measures to protect your business. Soon after a flood, make sure you start the recovery process as soon as possible to minimize the cost and damage to your business, and prevent farther damage from happening.
Move Inventory to Portable Storage Containers
Portable storage containers are a must when cleaning flood damage because you need some place to store your inventory. As soon as it is safely possible, you will want to remove all undamaged and unopened items from your flooded location and put them somewhere safe and dry. Take all your salvageable inventory into portable storage containers on your property, as you won’t be able to move your items back into your business until all the moisture has dried out. Containers can be rented for as long as you need them, and provide a safe and secure facility for all your valuable items. Besides preventing theft, this is a handy way to demonstrate your inventory is secure and accounted for.
Move Everything Else Outside
Unless you can get items completely dry in a very quick amount of time, existing water damage will continue to deteriorate items and lead to mold and mildew. Walls with sheetrock can act like a sponge, and so can carpets. Remove damaged items from your building so that no lingering moisture is hiding and further damaging your premises. Floodsafety.com recommends thoroughly cleaning all areas and items, and air drying as much as possible either outdoors or with a blow dryer. Depending on the amount of damaged items, you may need to rent a dumpster, or if unavailable a storage unit that will let you make trips to the local dump.
It’s important to be prepared before moving your stored items back into your business. If you serve or sell food, you will have to take some additional steps before you can be considered contamination free. Understand how to sterilize your facility before moving your salvaged machines like stoves and drink machines back in. While bleach is a major key, specific steps need to be taken for preserving canned goods and beverages, in addition to standard cleaning. For any type of business you may need to call in both health and building inspectors, and get approval before moving back in.
What Should I Store?
A quick checklist, for items that should be stored and salvaged could include:
- Furniture – cleaned and dried
- Removable carpets and rugs
- Unopened inventory – in plastic or sturdy boxes
- Unopened cans and bottles
- Industrial machines – like soda machines and mixers
- Clean up supplies – basically anything needed to complete the job
Follow these steps to make the most of a bad situation. Use portable storage containers and professional techniques to restore your business after flooding.
