Have a Plan for Emergencies: Decrease Water Damage To Your Business

1. Have a Plan for Emergencies: Decrease Water Damage To Your Business Commercial water damage can quickly become one of the most costly restoration projects your business can suffer. The practical matter of saving or removing damaged furniture, electronics, capital equipment and client files will become an organizational nightmare. Every minute that water touches your assets, you are losing money. Water damage can lead to structural damage, mold growth, or loss of property and employee productivity. As part of your risk management strategy, you must have a plan of action and established procedures for employees at all sites. While you identify and prioritize the risks, include ERX Emergency Restoration Experts as a resource to minimize the costs, dangers, and damage to your business. When emergency strikes, call a professional water restoration team in as you can after water damage has occurred. The quicker they get to work, the less damage your property will sustain. Areas that have been damp for more than 48 hours can encourage mold growth, and prolonged water exposure can lead to structural damage of your building that will require costly repairs. Professionals like ERX Emergency Restoration use the latest technology to increase drying time, reducing damage and the potential for mold growth. We will get to work as soon as possible to mitigate the damage to your property, enabling you to get back to work. Water Damage –Initial Do’s and Don’ts When you are the victim of water damage at your office, time is of the essence. It is important for you to know that your insurance carrier expects you to take steps to prevent further damage and your coverage stipulates that you make every reasonable effort to minimize the damage. You must make every effort to determine the source of the water and see if it can be shut off if only temporarily, to prevent further damage. It may also be necessary for you to call a licensed plumber for repairs at the source of the water. As part of your risk management plan, instruct your employees to be proactive. While you are waiting for a professional team to arrive, there are things you should and should not do to help contain the damages and prevent further loss: Do’s: •SHUT OFF THE WATER SOURCE WHEN POSSIBLE. •Turn off the circuit breakers supplying electricity to wet areas. •Unplug and remove any small electrical devices. •Execute your document management plan. Prioritize company and client files and have an alternative, secure location to store confidential information. •Open wet cabinet doors and drawers. If swollen, do not force open. •Circulate air for maximum drying by opening windows in cool weather or turning on the air conditioning in warm weather. •Watch slipping hazards when walking from wet carpet onto vinyl or hardwood floors. •Carefully remove miscellaneous items from wood furniture and wipe it down.

2. Dont’s: •Do not turn ceiling fans on when the ceiling is wet. •Do not use a household vacuum to remove standing water. Do not begin to repair or repaint any damage surfaces until they are completely dry. •Don’t use any damaged electric goods, get it checked by an electrician before using it •Don’t use the toilet or tap water if the water lines or sewage pipes are damaged. Be Prepared For an Emergency As a business owner, the question is not how we will be affected, but when? Plan now for the inevitable. Keep the contact information for a successful water restoration team with your other emergency planning documents. This will allow you to restore your business to normal quickly. You also want to learn where the water mains are in your building so that you can shut them down in an emergency. By preparing for an emergency, you can minimize or prevent the costly effects of the water disaster. Emergency Contact List Maintain an up-to-date 24-hour emergency contact list with names and telephone numbers for: •The business maintenance staff •Plumbers •Electricians •Tenants •Local water company after-hours number •Building agent or broker