Joaquin Flood Cleanup

Joaquin Flood CleanupIn the wake of Joaquin, a lot of families throughout the mid-Atlantic have been left with a terrible task ahead – flood cleanup. We’ve seen the dramatic footage on the nightly news, homes underwater, vehicles and streets completely swept away, bridges and dam gone. And while the most dramatic of these makes for more eyeballs watching, what is often under reported are the millions of people who haven’t lost everything but nonetheless face a difficult climb back to normalcy.

For those whose homes aren’t a total loss after an event that is best described as a 1000 year rain storm, the Joaquin flood cleanup begins as soon as the water recede, and for most the first steps are clearing out the affected areas and drying them out.

Like with most natural disasters, the unscrupulous are not far behind. From insurers to contractors, there is rarely a shortage of those looking to capitalize on a tragedy. While some see disasters such as this as the perfect opportunity to take advantage of “supply and demand” economics. In times of need, the price of essential commodities goes up. From bottled water and every day personal care items to clean up necessities, this can and sometimes does happen.

So while the Joaquin flood cleanup continues, we want to take this opportunity to mention two things. First, we have products that can help, and second, they’re priced the same today as they were two weeks ago as they were two months ago.

For cleaning up, opt for a HEPA mask. We have a few to choose from, but all do the same thing – remove 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns or larger. For items that can be cleaned, consider Vital Oxide or AllerMold. I give a heads up to Vital Oxide since it’s an EPA registered disinfectant that contains no harsh chemicals, produces no fumes, and can be used on just about anything.

For the extra large task of drying out, consider one of these dehumidifiers. Dri-Eaz makes a variety of dehumidifiers specifically designed for drying out water damaged areas. They’re heavy duty, powerful, and can extract a high amount of moisture, quickly. Ebac also makes several dehumidifiers designed for flood damage clean up. If you’re looking for something a little more long term (something that can help you dry out now but keep your basement or crawlspace dry and free of mold & insects for years to come), take a look at an Aprilaire dehumidifier or a Santa Fe. Both feature durable steel construction, powerful fans, and high moisture extraction rates. Plus, many of these models are Energy Star certified and make little noise. With the exception of Ebac, all of the models mentioned here are Made in the USA.

Regardless of how you clean up and choose to restore you home, stay vigilante for scam artists and cons. Events that cause us to rely on others the most are often the ones that reveal some of best (and worst) in others.

For more information on cleaning up after a flood or the health risks of flood waters and excess moisture, browse our Dehumidifier Buying Guide, or view the Top Five Restoration Dehumidifiers.

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