Tips to Keep in Mind for Warehouses with Water Damage

4/6/2022 (Permalink)

It is important to keep an up to date list of all inventory in your warehouse or commercial space in the case of water damage.

The nature of most warehouses means that floods can create unique and challenging safety situations. If the warehouse space begins to flood, restorations can be complicated, and safety conditions are often less than ideal. While SERVPRO technicians are experienced enough to recognize the risks and stipulations of water damage to a warehouse in Columbus, employees, managers, and other individuals associated with the building may not be. Keep these words of advice in mind if your warehouse should ever flood, in a storm or otherwise.

Damage Can Happen High Up, But Only If You Let It

Even if the floodwaters stop short of specific elevations in your Columbus warehouse, water damage may still occur to items and materials above water level with time. This is a result of relative humidity: whenever an enclosed space floods, the relative humidity in that space tends to rise drastically. Only by contacting SERVPRO quickly and receiving emergency mitigation service can you avoid the risks associated with high humidity. With time, excessively humid conditions can foster mold growth, oxidize some metals, and hasten the degradation of sensitive organic matter such as paper and cardboard. We bring in heavy dehumidifying equipment to take care of humidity before it becomes an issue.

High Places Should Be Accessible in an Emergency

Should the flood happen suddenly, you want to make sure that higher places in the building can be reached quickly. While it may make sense to cordon these places off from most workers during day-to-day operations, keeping them locked away could lead to a costly lawsuit in an emergency. Try to keep access points spread out so that two workers on opposite ends of the facility can both be safe.

Keep Your Inventory Updated and Verifiable

When insurance adjusters and representatives come to do their business, they typically want to see recent, verifiable, and complete inventory lists to determine appropriate coverage. Remember that it is in their best interests not to cover your losses - make sure that you have proof of everything lost in the disaster. SERVPRO can assist here on request with professional inventory evaluation services.

SERVPRO of Northeast Columbus has the tools, personnel, and contacts necessary to take on even the most significant industrial-scale disasters in the local area. Contact us at (614) 888-5700.