Steps to Take If Your Hotel Floods

2/4/2020 (Permalink)

Has your hotel been affected by flooding? This is a serious issue and the right steps need to be taken to ensure the safety of the residents along with the integrity of the building. If there are high levels of flooding in your hotel, call SERVPRO of North Nashville immediately to ensure that there is no additional damage being made. If the levels of flooding are not severe, here are the steps to follow so your hotel can be up and running in no time. While it is hard to be prepared for flooding, know that it can happen at any place and at any time. 

• Evacuate everyone from the premises as soon as possible once the flooding starts. Find a dry, safe spot outside of the hotel occupy while waiting for the flooding to stop. Make sure everyone is accounted for. If flooding is caused by a natural disaster, call the authorities or listen to the local news to find a temporary shelter and relocate to that shelter when possible.
• Call 911 if anyone needs medical attention. Ensure that everyone who was evacuated is safe.
• Attempt to find the source of the flooding if it is not from a natural disaster. Stop it at the source, and if possible, try to turn it off or seal it up. Turning off the main water valve may also solve the issue.
• Turn off the electricity, but do not attempt to reach the fuse box if you have to walk through water. Water is a conductor of electricity and you could be shocked. If you cannot reach the fuse box without stepping on water, call an electrician.
• Document everything: take photos and videos of all the affected areas. Use this information for insurance purposes.

Once the flooding has stopped, you can start the clean-up process.

• Do not touch the water without the proper equipment as it may be contaminated with sewage or other hazardous material. If you have to enter the establishment, at the very least wear waders and waterproof boots.
• This will be a long, difficult process. All of the water has to be removed, then a wet vacuum or a pump can be used to dispose of any standing water.
• Attempt to salvage any items that were not seriously damaged. Do not eat any food that has been contaminated by floodwater.
• If the water damage is not too bad, dry the space out with fans and dehumidifiers. Anything that was touched by the water also needs to be disinfected.

Warm, wet spaces are a breeding ground for mold growth, such as a flooded hotel. Act as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth.

• The property needs to be as dry as possible to prevent mold spores from growing. Once it starts growing, it is difficult to remove. This includes toxic black mold that is dangerous to one’s health. To avoid mold from growing, keep the affected areas as dry as possible and treat it with a strong cleaner, such as a bleach solution. 
• If it is not humid outside, open any windows and doors to let fresh air in and circulate. 

Flooding does not mean the end of the world. Even if your hotel was flooded, it can still be salvaged. If the damage is critical or you are not capable of fixing the issue by yourself, do not hesitate to call SERVPRO of North Nashville to aid you in returning your hotel back to peak condition. Here at SERVPRO of North Nashville, we are experts at water damage repair and restoration along with mold removal and remediation. We are here to help!