In 2011, Schenectady saw some of the worst flooding in years thanks to Hurricane Irene. At one point, it was thought that a record flood, the worst in 500 years, would hit the area. Luckily, things were not quite as bad, although the Stockade in particular was badly hit by the floods. Disaster clean up companies in the region were fully booked, providing their round the clock services to those homes and businesses most in need.
Damage from Flooding
Damage caused by flooding can fall into one of three categories:
1. Black water – this is water from sewage pipes or toilet overflow containing faeces
2. Gray water – water from appliances, fish tanks and toilet bowls which have overflowed
3. Clean water – such as water from broken pipes or faulty appliances, or an overflowing bath or sink
Obviously, black water is the most dangerous to health, with the risk of contamination, and needs to be dealt with urgently – but any flood water needs to be reported to a disaster clean up company as soon as possible – the quicker the clean-up crew start, the less damage can occur to your property or business.
Steps to take
Whilst waiting for a disaster clean-up company to arrive, locals with flooded basements in Schenectady took advice from experts and started to prepare their homes – those with minimal flooding were able to remove wet items of furniture and rugs and dry excess water from walls and furnishings. It’s important to turn the water all the electrics off in the event of flooding, although this may not always be possible. When your basement in Schenectady is flooded, it can often affect the rest of the house, with damp and mold requiring ventilation and specialist cleaning services.
Choosing a clean-up company
Luckily, those hit hardest by the flooding benefitted from the assistance of various disaster clean up companies in the area. With their expert knowledge and professional technicians, these companies are able to help in all kinds of disasters, not just flooding; they can also assist with fire damage and storm damage of any kind. Resourced lists were placed on flood help websites for local county residents, including information on companies who could help with cleaning and damage.
Insurance Hikes
With the proposed changes to the federally backed flood insurance in the US, a repeat of the damage caused by Hurricane Irene would be devastating for Schenectady residents. Without subsidized flood insurance, and with little chance of obtaining flood insurance from a regular provider, many people would require to pay for cleanup and repairs by themselves, which is just not realistic.
Disaster cleanup companies were a lifeline to people affected by Irene’s floods, but in the future, they may not be of so much help, when residents and businesses struggle to pay for their services thanks to the removal of federal flood insurance.
