Climate Change: How It Drives Inland Flooding

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With climate change comes a greater risk of flooding. This includes areas that may be far away from bodies of water. According to the National Climate Assessment, the amount of rainfall in the US has tremendously increased since 1956, particularly in the country’s eastern half. When you add in the increase in population, the potential for flood damage has never been higher. 

What Causes Climate Change

The theory of climate change is that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels increase the temperature in the atmosphere. It acts like a blanket that traps more heat which in turn means more water vapor is present. The result is when it rains, there is more water present which leads to a greater chance of flooding. 

This is not only directly through rainfall, but mostly indirectly as creeks, streams, and other small bodies of water become flooded and overflow into neighborhoods and commercial properties. The asphalt and concrete surfaces in urban areas are not permeable, which causes water to quickly build and overflow. 

When a great amount of rain falls in a short time, it can cause flash flooding which can also be dangerous. This type of flooding has the ability to move homes off their foundations, fill underground subways, and even destroy roads. 

Climate Change Warning & Protection 

Technology has provided some warning of imminent flash flooding. The National Weather Service and local news stations can report the potential for damaging rainfall which is known as Flash Flood Watches. When the potential for an area is realized, the watch changes to a Flash Flood Warning which is sent out over television, radio, and the internet. 

Protection from flash flooding starts with channels and overflow areas that direct the water away from residential and commercial buildings. Forests, wetlands, and retention ponds can absorb a considerable amount of water if they were dry before the rain starts. 

Increasing the size and circumference of underground sewers and pipes can also pull away much of the water to help prevent flooding. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If your property has experienced flooding, call the experts at Brickley Environmental. We offer the best in mold remediation services that identify and remove mold that might be growing in your residence, building, or facility. In addition, we offer the following services: 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Hazardous Waste Removal
  • Demolition & More 

At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help. Please call and talk to our friendly, courteous staff about the services we provide. We will listen to your needs, answer your questions, and help restore your property back to its original condition. 

For more information about flooding, click here to visit the EPA website.

How to Clean Your Home After a Flood 

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Flooding in your home or business can really disrupt your life. Once you have been cleared to go back into the building or residence by the authorities, it becomes a race against time to properly clean the property. It’s not just the water and dirt that causes damage, it is the bacteria, viruses, and potential for mold that can really do damage. 

The first step should be to file a claim with your flood insurance. Be sure to follow the proper steps when filing your claim. But that is only the first step in the recovery process. 

Inspection of Flooding

A flood can often bring with it more damage than you might initially see. This means downed power lines, breaks in gas mains, and other damage that will need to be addressed. Walk both inside and around the outside of your home to fully assess all damage to your home. You’ll want to shut off the gas, power, or water if you detect any leaks in that regard. 

Protection from Flooding

You do not want to conduct your inspection or start the cleaning process until you have properly protected yourself. This not only means wearing gloves, but also eye protection, masks, and even putting on a respirator to filter out the viruses, bacteria, and mold spores that may be present. It is also possible that the flood has brought in unwanted chemicals that may also be dangerous. So, be sure to protect your lungs with the proper equipment. 

Dry, Clean, & Remove

You’ll need to dry out your property as soon as possible. This will not only limit the damage, but also the spread of viruses, bacteria, and mold. Use wet vacs to suck up all the water and fans to dry out the interior. 

As the interior is being dried, clean out all the debris. This means everything that has come into the home or building. Plus, remove all furniture, carpet, and other items that have gotten wet from flood water. These items will need to be cleaned separately. 

Replace Items Damaged from Flooding

Remove any drywall and wooden structural material that has been damaged by the flood. You will need to have this replaced to fully restore the property to its original condition. 

Cleaning up after a flood can be a considerable task. That is why most people call a reputable, professional company that specializes in cleaning up after a flood. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you need to clean your home after a flood, call the professionals at Brickley Environmental. They have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to fully clean your home. Floods can bring with them more than just dirt and debris. Brickley Environmental can also clean away the viruses and bacteria associated with flood water. 

If your home or business has recently experienced a flood, call Brickley Environmental and talk to one of our friendly, courteous staff. We will listen to your needs and arrive quickly to address the situation. Let us help you get your life back to normal. Call today and find out more about our flood cleaning services. 

For more information on how to clean your home after a flood, click here to visit the CDC website.

Consequences of Flooding

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While it may seem that flooding is nothing but catastrophic damage, it is actually more complicated than that. Flooding can destroy lives, properties, and alter the landscape for a long time. With more people living near coastlines, rivers, and flood zones, the increase in damage to properties has escalated over the past century. 

The immediate impact of flooding is apparent, but long-term recovery is something that also needs to be considered. From healing the injured to rebuilding structures, the damage of flooding is considerable. 

Immediate Consequences

The most immediate impact of flooding is the destruction of homes and businesses. While the structures may still be sound, they must be thoroughly dried, cleaned, and sanitized before people can move back in. The type of damage is not going to be limited to the water. There are also contaminants that range from debris to viruses, diseases, toxic chemicals, and in the case of the 2011 tsunami in Japan, radiation from a nuclear power plant. 

While such extreme occurrences with nuclear power are quite rare, the damage caused by flooding averages about $2.4 billion each year. From small floods caused by overflowing streams to massive flooding resulting from dam breaks to snow melting and even earthquakes that change the flow of rivers or signal a tsunami can cause considerable damage. 

Long Term Damage 

Flooding impacts urban areas the most. From the physical damage to the disruption of traffic flow, cities are normally the hardest hit because they have the highest concentration of people. Even rural areas can be heavily damaged by flooding. Although farmland may receive a long-term benefit from the nutrients that many floods bring to the land. 

In addition to the physical damage are the social impacts that flooding has on the community. Families being displaced, the mental trauma of losing loved ones, pets, and property, and the consequences of having to recover from those losses can be considerable. 

Mitigating some of the damage caused by flooding starts with long-term planning by communities and putting guidelines in place. Plus, adding flood control areas to minimize the potential damage. This is something that can also be done by home and business owners.

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

Brickley Environmental offers the knowledge, experience, and tools to ensure that your property is cleaned up if you’ve experienced flood damage. Give the experts at Brickley Environmental a call and they can help you make the best-informed decision about what steps to take next in protecting your family or employees from the dangers that floods bring to your property. 

For more information on flooding, click here to visit the NSSL website.

The Damages of Floodwaters and Mold

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The damage from floodwater caused by massive rainstorms and hurricanes can be substantial. However, once the storms have abated and the damage has been assessed, mold can appear and cause even more destruction.

How Mold Affects Homes Damaged by Floodwater

Mold is present even in the driest of climates, but it does not cause any damage until it is exposed to moist or wet surfaces and allowed to grow. The aftermath of hurricanes and massive rainstorms, which generate floodwater, represents the greatest danger for a mold invasion. Left unchecked, mold can begin to grow inside walls, ceilings, and under floors that cause damage and continue to grow until it is removed.

Generally speaking, mold will begin to take hold and grow in structures that have been exposed to floodwater from 24 to 48 hours after the waters have receded. Substances that are organic in nature, such as wood, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, insulation, ceiling tiles, and more, make for natural homes to the growing mold. The mold consumes the surface material and its spores expand throughout the residence or business while also affecting the health of those who live or work inside.

In rare cases, mold may cause the structure to be condemned and torn down, which causes thousands of dollars in damage as carpets, flooring, and drywall are removed and replaced.

Health Effects of Mold

The health of those living or working inside residences or commercial buildings with growing mold will emulate allergy symptoms in most cases:

  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Runny Nose
  • Eye & Skin Irritation

Those who are susceptible to respiratory illnesses, such as those with asthma, young children, the elderly, and pregnant women, may have a more serious reaction to being exposed to mold spores. In rare cases, such as those involving black mold that has toxic properties, the symptoms may require a hospital visit. However, the symptoms will usually be mild, but persistent.

For areas hit by hurricanes or torrential rainstorms that left behind floodwater, the troubles are only the beginning as the growth of mold not only threatens the health of those who live or work inside, but also the very structure of the residence or business itself.

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you are facing a potential issue with mold, then please call or contact the professionals at Brickley Environmental. They offer their extensive knowledge and years of experience in identifying and removing mold from residences, commercial buildings, and facilities. You can trust the experts at Brickley Environmental to inspect and identify patches of mold, discover their presence in buildings, and remove the substance in a prompt, professional manner.