After the Storm; What Can Be Saved?

5/21/2018 (Permalink)

When the storm is over, the SERVPRO of Milford-Orange-Stratford crew will help you go through the contents of your home to determine what can be saved

New Haven County is still is still in the recovery stage after last weeks devastating storm and tornadoes.  Our office has been responding to calls from homeowners who have damage from a tree falling on their house, high winds and water damage from rain and flooding.  Each of these homes has a unique restoration plan depending on the type and level of damage. Not only has the structure of the homes we are working on been damaged, but the home furnishings and belongings have been affected as well.  SERVPRO of Milford-Orange-Stratford crew members assist our customers in determining which of their possessions are salvageable, and which cannot be saved.  

We go through the contents of a home on a piece by piece basis and while each item is a unique case, we do use a few factors to determine whether it gets boxed, sent to our facility for cleaning or put in the dumpster. 

The type of water that has flooded the home is an important factor in determining what stays and what goes. Clean water does not pose as much of a health hazard as potentially contaminated water does. If there is concern that water is contaminated from sewage or chemicals, we are unlikely to suggest it be cleaned. It's not worth the risk.  

Typically, porous fabrics such as mattresses, pillows, carpeting and particle board cannot be salvaged. They absorb water quickly and are breeding grounds for mold spores to grow.  However, there are cases in which we are able to clean area rugs and wood if we are called to the job quickly and the piece has not become oversaturated.  

Our ability to be on the job quickly helps us minimize damage to personal possessions that have water damage. The perfect example of this is wooden furniture. It takes quite a bit of time for it to really absorb and become completely water logged. If you get personal belongings out of the standing water and begin the drying process right away, you have a good chance of being able to save them. 

The SERVPRO of Milford-Orange-Stratford team has the experience in caring for the belongings of your Oxford area home. Experiencing damage to your home is an upsetting ordeal. We understand that it can be difficult to part with treasured items, and do our best to help save them.