Knoxville, TN – When the team from Nisus Corporation arrived in Houston shortly after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, it quickly became apparent that many people there had no experience with flooding and no idea what to do after a flood. “That prompted us to create the Basic Cleanup After Flooding video posted on the www.fixflood.com website so people could more easily walk through the steps needed to clean and repair their homes,” says Jim Gorman, Corporate VP Marketing for Nisus. “Many people are not aware that flood waters often contain bacteria, including high levels of e-Coli, oil, gasoline and a number of other contaminants from garages, sewers and garbage areas. Once the waters have receded, it is critical to disinfect the area before cleanup. People should wear rubber boots and gloves and wear a respirator or mask to protect themselves while cleaning.”
The impact of flooding goes far beyond what you may see at first glance. After water recedes, recovery and restoration can go on for months. It is important to follow initial precautions and restoration steps when returning to a flood-damaged building, not only for personal health and safety, but also to ensure that the repairs are long-term.
After Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and others, Nisus had boots on the ground within weeks to educate homeowners and train pest companies about how to help by disinfecting homes before and after cleanup. They also educated people about treating the wood studs after the drywall has been removed to kill and prevent mold growth, wood decay and termites.
“One of the big problems in Baton Rouge,” according to Lee Barrett, President of Nisus Corporation, “is that some companies would put up new drywall before the wood was actually dry. You need 19% or lower moisture content on the wood studs before you close the walls. Our pest companies were being called in to fix the problem in homes that were drywalled too soon because those homes started growing mold in the walls within a few months of being completed.”
TEMA, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, declared a state of emergency in Tennessee after recent flooding, so people need resources to help them make long-lasting repairs. If you are looking for assistance with cleanup, www.fixflood.com is a valuable resource. Watch the video “Basic Cleanup After Flooding” and download the 10 Step Guide to get a fast look at what needs to be done. Fixflood.com has a variety of videos and documents, as well as CDC, EPA and FEMA guidelines to give homeowners and businesses the information they need to do the job right.
Nisus Corporation is the leading manufacturer of sustainable pest control products and also provides sustainable wood preservatives to the railroad, utility and lumber industries from its headquarters in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Rockford, Tennessee.
Pictures and footage of cleanup after Hurricane Harvey are available as well as the footage in the Basic Cleanup After Flooding video. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Jim Gorman at 800-264-0870.
