Flood Damage: What Exactly Are We Up Against?
Flood damage, easily the most overwhelming result of a hurricane, is one puzzle that can be solved if only you understand the underlying problem. This article strives to identify the salient points of flood damage to enable you to approach the problem with the right mindset.
First of all, it may not be necessary to state the obvious, but then again it is. In a flood, there is just too much water, and even that is just an understatement. This is the source of all flood damage; not the flood itself. Sure, the velocity of flowing water can cause structural damage, but when all that has ceased, bulk of the problem still remains. And this above all is what flood damage is all about.
So what then are the consequences of having too much water?
Structural instability
Much of a building’s structure is made up of materials that are very sensitive to having too much water; wood being one of them. Wood is a very good absorber of water, and the problem with this is that it swells. When this happens, its structural interaction with surrounding materials is compromised. Hence, wooden beams might become twisted and distorted; panels and sheets warp and loosen; planks bend and push one another off. Imagine a structure with at least 50% of it made up of wood, and you’ve got a building just waiting to fall apart due to flood damage… even without additional external intervention.
Molds and Mildew
When there is too much water in the surroundings, the moisture in the air rises. When this happens, the surfaces in the vicinity instantly become an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew. Now, mold and mildew alone aren’t that harmful. It is their very tiny spores, especially those that are brought airborne that pose a health hazard to anybody who inhales them. The moment this happens, the person inhaling instantly becomes susceptible to respiratory problems that range from simple allergic irritations to death.
Paper Damage
Perhaps the most water-sensitive possessions, and subsequently, flood damage, in any household are those made up of paper. These include pictures, books, documents, cards, posters, etc. This is because paper products readily absorb water. In fact, even just a high moisture content in the air can result in paper damage. Too much water allows paper to swell, become very fragile, and cause the ink on it to diffuse, rendering them virtually unreadable, and hence, utterly useless.
Pests and Diseases
Water, dirty or otherwise, can be carriers of various health hazards. In this case, flood damage can come in the form of tiny microorganisms such as bacteria and some uni-celled living things, to larger predators such as snakes, rodents, and in some extreme cases, crocodiles. This is because water from a flood can cover a lot of ground, and since this body of water can be very strong it is capable of carrying away a lot of objects along the way.
Wendi Watson distributes information on water damage issues for Dallas Flood Damage Cleanup and Miami Flood Damage Cleanup
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