An Overview of Secondary Damage

12/10/2019 (Permalink)

Broken water line leaded to secondary damage to a Belton, MO home

An Overview of Secondary Damage

The thought of dealing with a flood in your Belton, MO, home is probably one of the last things you'd want to imagine. At the least, this incident would cause inconvenience. In the worst circumstances, a flood could cause devastation. Sometimes, the initial wave of water itself isn't the biggest concern. You also have to think about the damage that comes later. Issues such as black mold can develop, which is why it's crucial to clean up any water as soon as possible.

Initial Problems

The immediate effects of a flood can be severe. When water infiltrates your home, you risk losing electronics, furniture, clothing, documents and carpet to over-saturation of water. Your first responses to seeing water in your home should be:

• Unplug electronics.
  
• Remove materials and items from the flooded area.
  
• Call a professional water cleanup company.
  
  

The Next Wave of Damage
In the days and weeks after the flood, something known as secondary damage can occur. If the water remains in the home too long, or if the area isn't properly dried and sanitized, fungi can grow on the floors, walls and ceiling of your house. One of the most common types of fungus is black mold, which can grow rapidly in moist conditions. Rotting wood is another concern. When the building materials of your house become saturated with water, the wood can become weakened and threaten the structural integrity.

Preventing Secondary Damage
You may not be able to prevent a flood in every occasion, but you can stop the damage that happens afterward. It's important to get rid of the water and thoroughly dry all affected areas as soon as possible. Mold spores thrive in high humidity. A professional crew will use fans and dehumidifiers to make sure there is no moisture left in your house.
Just because you soak up the standing water after a flood doesn't mean you won't see black mold or other damage. With the help of a professional crew, you can avoid additional concerns.