Hazardous Water During Property Water Damage Repair

Water is a necessary component of life, and here in Grand Island, Nebraska, it’s an integral part of our hot and humid summers too. But not all water is created equal, especially when it comes to flooding.  Some can be simply inconvenient, while others can be deadly. The following are a few general types of hazardous water that can be found during and after a flood:

Rushing Water

Fast-moving water is likely the water that most people envision when imagining a flood, and it is easily the most recognizable too. Rushing water combines the power of speed with the unpredictability of a destructive body of water.  Water flowing at 10 mph can exert the same amount of power as winds blowing at 270 mph, and it is common to have floods with waters starting at over 6 mph, enough force to move a 100-lb. boulder.  Additionally, it only takes 6 inches of powerful water to sweep an entire vehicle off the road.  Rushing water is an obvious drowning risk, and is in fact the cause of over half of flood-related deaths.  Regardless of how deep or how quick the water may be, it is never wise to enter unrestrained rushing water during a flood.

Standing Water

Standing water offers a multitude of concerns in as few as 48 hours.  Standing water can soak into any porous material in your home, such as carpet, drywall, wallpaper, and furniture.  This can lead to unsightly staining that is impossible to remove without professional assistance, and can deteriorate the quality of your home. More than just stains and ruined furniture, standing water can affect your health. Hazardous molds thrive in warm, dark, wet conditions. Additionally, insects that carry potential diseases, such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies, are often found laying their eggs and proliferating on the surfaces of many stagnant pools of water, regardless of the size of the area. Removal of standing water in a swift and complete manner is essential to saving your home and health.

Clean, Grey, and Black Water

Clean water, or “white water”, is water that has not come in contact with any contaminants or pathogens, and is relatively safe.  This doesn’t mean it is easy to clean up, and should still be removed by a water damage repair professional, as flood water can sometimes appear to be clean, but may be in fact grey water containing settled sediment. Grey water is water that is not clean, but is not toxic. Grey flood water can come from large broken aquariums or faulty house appliances. Black water has been tainted with possibly toxic or poisonous waste, such as sewage or soil. In serious cases, contact with black water can cause the contraction of serious illnesses such as Hepatitis and Cholera. Black water is by far the most dangerous of these three categories, and should never be touched or handled without water damage specialists present and actively involved.

Electrified Water

Electrified water is not only dangerous, but sneaky too. It’s very easy to mistake a puddle as the least of your worries after a serious flood, but even the smallest collection of water can have catastrophic consequences when it comes to the potential of electrocution. Downed power lines across the street, frayed cords in your home, and any other source of residential electric current can cause water that is in contact with the source or a conductor to become electrified. Coming in contact with electrified water can cause Electric Shock Drowning, or ESD, during which a low level AC current runs through your body, causing paralysis, which eventually causes you to drown in the body of water, however shallow. If there is any potential for an “electricity leakage” in or around your home, do not touch the water. Remain in dry areas of your home and avoid any water.  If you are unsure of the type of water you have encountered, it’s very important you don’t try to clean the area up yourself. Contact your local water damage repair business, whose professionals will know how to safely remove any dangerous flood water and damaged materials.

Water Damage Repair In Grand Island

Yellow Van Cleaning & Restoration is a water damage repair company that has been servicing Grand Island, Nebraska since 1981. The Nebraska native company offers water damage repair services such as, “Water extraction, structural drying, dehumidification, thermal energy drying, mold prevention, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and structural repairs.” Furthermore, team members utilize industry-proven technology and equipment to ensure the water damage repair process is as swift and effective as possible. They offer emergency services 24/7 to over 25 counties and areas, including Custer, Franklin, and York. Flooding can be stressful and confusing, and knowing what type of dangerous water situation you’re dealing with can seem daunting. Luckily,our water damage repair experts know everything about flooding so you don’t have to.