Act Fast: The First 100 Minutes After Flooding

Michael Haws, Ready 2 Respond Assessor

When water damage happens, the first 100 minutes will make or break the drying process and significantly impact results. Water begins to spread rapidly and seeps into porous materials such as drywall, flooring, and furniture. The longer the water remains stagnant, the more quickly it leads to unsafe conditions for occupants as well. Taking fast action not only limits disruptions and reduces the overall drying time, but it also minimizes potential for mold growth, mildew, and more serious structural damage.

However, in times of widespread weather-related flooding problems and pipe freeze-ups, it can be impossible to find a contractor who can be onsite within days or weeks – much less within an hour.

Having internal facilities teams trained and ready to respond offers significant benefits: it enables quicker reoccupation of spaces, saves money on high insurance deductibles, and prevents major tear-out and reconstruction projects.

Among the critical first steps:

1. Stopping the water source
2. Eliminating safety hazards
3. Protecting furniture and contents
4. Extracting water thoroughly and as quickly as possible
5. Determining how far water and moisture has spread
6. Deploying air scrubbers, plus dehumidifiers and airmovers in the damp area

These initial steps are part of the “Quick Start Guide for First Responders to Water Damage,” part of the extensive resources available from Ready 2 Respond™ (R2R) program – which provides facilities with professional tools and training for the best water remediation results.

Through R2R, facilities can get preparedness assessments, in-person training, personalized equipment packages, and ongoing support from long-time leaders in the water damage Industry.

Download the full Quick Start Guide with detailed instructions here.

Or reach out to our team of experts to learn more about how R2R can improve your facilities management team.