In Texas, flooding is already an issue in certain cities. With climate change reaching an all-time high, it is imperative to prepare not only the home but also the office workstations for potential flooding.
Between important documents and the even more important workforce that could be trapped in workstations and require assistance, you need to do a lot of safety preparation as head of the company.
Yet even with a lot of preparation, sometimes floods can strike and still deal with unexpected damage. If your office gets hit with flooding here are some steps you can take to bring the workplace back in order.
Dehumidify Workstations
Humidity is your biggest enemy after flooding occurs. Regardless if the water that came into the workplace is just a few inches from the floor or the unlucky incident of having a basement office, humidity needs to be addressed.
Assess the severity of flooding and explore the best options to use. Even the smallest flooding can hide bigger damage, even when things dry out and seem normal. While fans and personal dehumidifiers can help, they may not address the issue of mold growth.
Professional dehumidification will mean taking away excess and unseen moisture using industrial drying equipment. These can include industrial blowers and desiccants. Professionally licensed restoration services may also monitor developments, to keep mold growth at bay even days following the incident.
Make sure that the restoration company you tap will have its own procedure for assessing the progress of your workplace’s sanitation and dehumidification. Air filtering systems and carpet restoration may also be required, depending on your office’s makeup and needs.
Protect Assets, Dry Up Documents Professionally
Flash floods are the most dangerous as you may barely have time to salvage anything at work. But for warned flooding, you may still be able to identify the most critical assets and keep them from being destroyed.
While manpower should always come first, try to check any important and irreplaceable documents and technology in the office. For documents, it helps to have waterproof containers on hand where you can store the most important assets, including bank records, license permits, personnel records, insurance policies and other contracts, and accounting records.
If the worst comes to pass, make sure your restoration service offers document drying. This goes beyond simple air exposure. Some restoration companies use document drying systems that help in restoring photographs, certificates, licenses, contracts, receipts, tax documents, and books.
Be Prepared For a Next Time
Of course, nothing beats safety and preparation at all times. Besides the company-related items and units that need to be salvaged, another key area of preparation is employee response to flooding.
In offices with a lot of technology and electronics, be careful of cables and wires, which can lead to electrocution. Saving electronic equipment is necessary but not when you are standing in the middle of floodwaters.
Be careful of any debris that may be hidden by the floodwaters. Try to seek higher ground or an exit path slowly and steadily, keeping an alert countenance at all times.
Be prepared for whatever comes, especially in this age of unpredictable climate. Once the biggest calamity is over, the next thing you need to deal with is restoring your workspace and bringing routine back into you and your employees’ everyday operations.
To hasten this procedure, check out the services of Blackhill Restoration. From flood water damage service to restoration of critical assets, it features a wide range of services that help businesses get back in gear.