Safety Tips

9/11/2020 (Permalink)

Call or text SERVPRO of Kirksville 660-665-3390 for helpful tips.

Safety First

Account that all employees or family members are safe by establishing evacuation plans in advance, identifying areas outside the building that are designated meeting places. Assign select individuals to keep a list of their assigned team’s names and contact numbers in order to account for their whereabouts.

If floodwaters enter your building and evacuation becomes impossible, move to an upper floor, and wait for rescuers. While evacuating, avoid attempting to drive through floods or rising water, nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are auto related.

Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

Do not walk through moving water. Even six inches of moving water can make you fall.

Use no open flames, there may be gas escaping from ruptured mains.

Avoid floodwaters. Water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged. If the water has entered the structure through the flooding of a creek, stream, or river, or if it has filtered through insulation during its intrusion, it is considered to be black water and could be hazardous to your health.

Avoid contact with contaminated items as much as possible. Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters. Listen for news reports to learn if the community’s water supply is safe to drink.

Return only when authorities indicate it is safe.

SECURE THE PROPERTY

Contact local emergency officials. If you can, always call 911.

Secure main entrances to building. To prevent any one or pets from entering the structure.

Alert Security company and Alarm company of the situation with the aid of your EMERGENCY READY PROFILE (ERP)

STABILIZE THE PROPERTY

Wait for local emergency officials deem the structure safe to enter.

Notify your insurance agent or Risk Manager to determine insurance policy guidelines and steps to take.

Take the greatest caution while entering your home or commercial structure and wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing when dealing with flooded areas. Always wear protective clothing .

Open basement or low-level windows to equalize water pressure on the building’s foundation and walls

Take photos or video to record conditions of the structure and collections. Make sure images clearly record damages.

Do not enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.

Do not attempt to operate any electrical equipment while standing in wet or damp locations.

Do not use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

 Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Do not turn on heat unless required for human comfort.

Do not move objects or collections without documenting their condition.

Throw away all foods – even canned goods – that have come into contact with flood waters.

Call or text SERVPRO of Kirksville 660-665-3390 for helpful tips.