It’s something many people wouldn’t give a second thought: a slip, an accident, and suddenly there’s a small pool of blood on the floor. Instinctively the thought is, “Clean it up, get on with the business at hand.” Simple.
It’s happened again. Freezing weather, snow building up on roofs of structures in northern climates or mountainous areas, thawing and freezing cycles and, ultimately, water damage from ice dams.
Bioterrorism is defined as, “The unlawful use, or threatened use, of microorganisms or toxins derived from living organisms to produce death or disease in humans, animals or plants. The act is intended to create fear and/or intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of political, religious, or ideological goals.”
I have never been comfortable with many of the remediation procedures recommended for mold remediation; they just didn’t feel right, either intuitively or instinctively. But these procedures have to be right; after all, they had been developed by people with impressive initials after their names that were much smarter and much more experienced than I.
In my role as a large-loss adjuster, I have often seen drying contractors overextend themselves on a major drying job. This is doubly true during catastrophe situations where there is widespread demand for drying services. While it is true that many contractors did well from the Florida hurricanes and Katrina, it is also true that too many lost money, or worse.
The New Orleans Notarial Archives maintained a one-of-a-kind collection of documents at its 1340 Poydras St. location – some dating to the 1700s – including slave records and land grants, as well as a letter from Jean Lafitte to Washington, D.C., demanding payment for his expenditures in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Many of these documents were recorded on linen.
Grand
Lake, Colorado is located 8,500 feet up in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is
a beautiful, pristine area, subject to great temperature changes and a variety
of precipitation, including snow, rain and hail, as well as amazing sunshine.
And the homes there, as you might well imagine, see their fair share of water
damage.
There are thousands of companies in the United States serving customers with moisture- and mold-related issues. Moisture is everywhere. Like many things, it is good when in balance. But too much moisture in buildings can result in costly deterioration of the materials and mold growth, potentially leading to unsafe living or working conditions.
It seems that in the last few years a hot topic has been contents restoration. There is so much more information available in industry publications, more contents vendors at trade shows, and increased subject matter delivered on industry programs.
When dealing with a commercial water damage scenario, getting the water out can be the least of your problems. Having great drying equipment and a well-trained staff will take care of the water, but the logistical and financial obstacles will most often be your biggest challenges.