As tropical storm Imelda pummeled the gulf coast last week, meteorologists worriedly watched not one but six more storm systems begin to take shape. Imelda brought a devastating amount of rain to Houston, Baytown, and many small towns in between. Splendora and Winnie (two communities you’ve probably never even heard of) received twenty-four inches of rain in as many hours, leaving countless homes and businesses flooded. 

Cleanup efforts for these disasters is just beginning–and will continue for some time. If you were among the many Texans hoping for just a few drops of precious water on a drought-stricken Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, what can you do? There are two things, I think. The first is to support your fellow Texans through reputable disaster-response organizations (either through financial gifts or by serving on a cleanup team when you have a free weekend). The second is to take a moment to learn about mold and why it is the “secondary natural disaster” to strike a flooded building. 

If you are a building owner, you want to be as informed as possible about mold and have an action plan at the ready should you need it. Now Dallas and Fort Worth may not be as susceptible to flooding as other cities, but that does not mean you’re “safe.” In fact, the homes and businesses that fare best after a storm-induced flood are the ones who prepare. Because the disaster does not have the element of surprise, they are quick to respond. This quick response is the best offense against mold, which can grow in wet conditions with impressive speed. 

Unwanted water can come from a variety of sources–excess rain, clogged storm drains, construction runoff, burst pipes (think both plumbing pipes and fire control systems), overflowing toilets, and even vandalism. No matter where you live, you can be affected by water intrusion. So what do you need to know that will help you be prepared? The first is that excessive water removal probably won’t be your biggest problem. In many cases, the large majority of the water clears out of the building quickly and of its own accord. Many businesses that had up to a foot of water during Imelda were “all clear” within an hour or two of the rain ceasing. And this is where the opportunity begins. As soon as the water is gone, you have a small window of time to dry things out before major deconstruction must happen. Mold remediation is the number one priority. Mold likes to grow in warm, damp places. That’s why you want to remove that “ideal mold habitat” in a hurry. 

In the case of devastating water damage–such as that caused by a natural disaster–a specialist may be needed to assess the extent of damages to the structure (including drywall, cabinetry, and appliance removal). But what about all those other types of water damage? While natural disaster flooding may be in the headlines, the far more common water problem is when a toilet overflows or a pipe bursts, leaving you with soggy carpets and a serious headache. 

Here’s the good news–you can skip the headache when you contract your regular janitorial cleaning through Sonlight Cleaning Services. We know that it’s hard to expect the unexpected. That’s why we do it for you. Our carpet cleaning flood restoration team works seamlessly with our janitorial team to make sure that the water is removed. When you contract with us, you will receive emergency contact numbers and emergency project prices. This means that if you’re the first one to arrive in the morning and you step in a puddle near the employee bathrooms, you won’t waste a moment wondering who to call (or how much it will cost–you’ve already had enough surprises for one day).

Just because small water woes won’t make headlines doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about them. It just means you need to be informed. When you talk with a contract specialist at Sonlight Cleaning Services, we’ll walk you through getting an everyday clean as well as an out-of-the-ordinary clean.