Flood Facts – Water is a Powerful Force

7/8/2024 (Permalink)

House flood from a broken washer drain line

Running water is the most powerful force on earth, so powerful that it can shape landscapes, erase population centers, and create changes to entire ecosystems. Yet, despite this information, many people are unable to put the force of water into terms that they can truly understand.

Water, By the Numbers

6 inches of rushing water can sweep an adult human being off their feet. It is essential to exercise caution when trying to cross moving water, especially during flooding conditions.

12 inches of water can move a small car, and 24 inches can move a truck, SUV, or a mobile home. Moving water at 2 miles per hour can move a vehicle off a bridge or overpass.

5 minutes in heavy rainy conditions would be enough to create flash flood conditions. Flash floods can be particularly dangerous as they can uproot trees, dislodge boulders, and move significant quantities of dangerous debris very quickly.

All 50 states are susceptible to flash flooding. The average speed of rushing water ranges between 6 and 12 miles per hour (9 feet per second), creating a very dangerous situation which can lead to fatalities.

66% of all floods related casualties occur when people try to drive through flooded areas, only to discover it is too deep to navigate safely.

A 2,000 square foot house with 12 inches of water damage will cost nearly $50,000 to repair to its original condition.

After the Disaster

When the water recedes enough for traffic to move, make your first call to SERVPRO® of Downtown Honolulu. Once our trained team arrives on site, we’ll quickly assess the situation, pump out any remaining water in the structure, and begin a thorough process of drying your property.

Water can compromise the structural integrity of buildings, weakening walls, supports, and foundations. Additionally, heating, cooling, electrical, and other utility services which are often found in basements can be severely damaged. SERVPRO of Downtown Honolulu has the right equipment and training to make sure your property is dried to the highest standard, ensuring mold or other bacterial growth has no place to start.

Preventing Mold Through Proper Drying Techniques

6/20/2024 (Permalink)

Image showing extensive mold growth due to an unoccupied water-damaged room.

Mold is an ongoing problem on Oahu due to the tropical climate of the island. Frequent rains, prevalent high humidity, and overall damp conditions combined with year-around heat create a near-perfect environment for mold to emerge and then thrive. The opportunity for mold growth can increase when major water damage occurs, often from flooding due to natural causes or damaged plumbing.  Many of the homes and businesses on Oahu are constructed with materials that are favorable to mold growth, especially when improperly dried or not dried at all. Organic materials such as wood and drywall are porous and can trap moisture. When this trapped moisture is kept warm for a long period, mold can grow.  If left unchecked under these conditions, mold can spread rapidly, leading to potentially dangerous air quality, especially for those individuals with mold allergies. At SERVPRO of Downtown Honolulu, we follow a tried and tested program to make sure your home or business is properly dried. After the initial extraction of standing water and removal of any permanently damaged materials, our team will manipulate temperature and relative humidity to remove the remaining moisture. We use specialized equipment, including industrial air movers and dehumidifiers, to remove water retained by building materials and other hard-to-access moisture. We’ll carefully monitor the progress using moisture meters until the materials return to acceptable drying goals. Without moisture, mold cannot grow.  

Health Risks Associated With Mold

 Mold releases microscopic spores into the air, and microbial volatile organic compounds, which can make you sick. How quickly you react to mold depends on your immune system and if you have an allergy to mold. Long-term exposure to mold can lead to more serious health problems. Some of the symptoms observed from mold exposure are runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, asthma attacks, headache, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightening, dry coughing, and painful breathing.  If you smell or see mold, call your local SERVPRO^® to come out an assess the situation. If mold is discovered, our team has the training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

Fire Damage Recovery and Restoration

6/20/2024 (Permalink)

Image of a fire damaged home pre-restoration.

A house fire can be one of the most traumatic events your family will face in their lifetime. Family heirlooms, documents, and precious memories might be forever lost, as well as the family home. Once the fire is extinguished, the challenges of how to move on will be difficult, but not impossible. SERVPRO of Downtown Honolulu technicians will arrive on-site, day or night, and give you and your family the peace of mind that comes with knowing your property is in good hands. We will board up and tarp exposed areas to protect the undamaged contents inside, then work with you to start remediation and restoration. 

Comprehensive Fire Damage Restoration

 Damage caused by the fire and firefighting efforts can be significant, including structural damage, water damage, soot, and smoke damage. As a leading fire damage restoration company, SERVPRO of Downtown Honolulu specializes in all aspects of fire cleanup, water removal, and fire damage restoration. We'll extract any remaining water, initiate drying procedures, and begin the removal of damaged building materials. While the structure is being dried, our team will carefully clean and deodorize items not touched by the flames, preserving as many of your items as possible. Water-soaked documents or other paper items such as photographs or books, or birth certificates, will be carefully packed and transported to our document restoration facility. 

Advanced Document Restoration Services

 Once they arrive, our highly trained document restoration team will begin the process of photo restoration services, document freeze-drying and old document restoration. We use state-of-the-art technology to help restore your paper goods to as close to their pre-damaged condition as possible. Our goal is to preserve as much as possible and return them to you as soon as possible. Document restoration in one of the many reasons that sets SERVPRO^® apart from the competition.