By Betsy Finklea
Avery Fox, a flood recovery volunteer with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief South Carolina, made presentations on Thursday and Saturday on how to properly clean a flooded home.
Fox has been volunteering since 2005 and is a chemical/environmental engineer with a specialty in water treatment. Fox said there were several things to consider about flood clean-up. He said the process is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. When cleaning up a flooded home, one will be exposed to things such as mold, chemicals, etc. and hazards such as sharp edges, upturned nails, and hidden dangers. He said it is dirty, hot, and sweaty work.
The biggest thing to be aware of is the exposure to mold and sewage. These contain pathogens which are microorganism that can do harm to the body. He said the goal is to keep them out of you while you are working.
Fox said it is important to do a good job from the start as opposed to hit or miss.
He stressed that one doesn’t want to take dirt or pathogens where one is sleeping.
Fox said if one takes immune suppressant medication then he or she should consult with a doctor before beginning clean-up. One should also consider getting a tetanus shot and diphtheria shot. He said if one has allergies or asthma then he or she should carry sufficient quantities of medication.
The main items needed for flood recovery are a hammer, a shovel, and a bucket. Other useful tools include a fan to get air moving throughout the home to dry it out, disinfectants and synthetic fungicides, safety gear such as respirators, which are very important, hard hats, safety glasses, and Tyvek suits. He said a respirator is key. The best way to keep healthy is to carry a water jug and soap. He said hand sanitizer is good if your hands are clean, but one should not rely on hand sanitizer alone.
Fox said mold flourishes in warm, moist, and dark places. Exposure can cause irritation such as burning eyes, congestion, cough, post-nasal drip, and allergies. In extreme cases, there can be poisoning.
Fox said dust masks and surgical masks do not offer the protection of a respirator. The respirators should have a N95 or P95 minimum rating or greater. This is the efficiency needed to keep out particles. He said anything lower than 95 is not protecting oneself the best one can. The respirator should form a seal around the face. A full beard impairs the fit. Placing the respirator on your forehead will contaminate it. Your hands also transfer contaminants to your respirator every time one removes it. As long as the inside of the respirator is still clean, the respirator is functioning properly. There are two or three styles that can be purchased.
Fox said on the walk-through of the home to look for things that have fallen, things that are swelled and buckled, downed trees, and anything that might have entered the home.
Fox said to check receptacles. He said a neighbor could be back feeding a generator which can make your lines hot. He said to check the status of gas, electricity, and water.
Fox said to watch for things holding water. Some light fixtures hold water. He said bowls and glasses in upper cabinets can hold water. Wherever the water line got to, everything up to that point is holding water.
He said to assess the slipperiness of stairs and to put down nailing strips or something to give you grip.
Fox said to check the soundness of the structure and foundation. He said to make sure the house is still sitting where you left it.
As the clean-up starts, work methodically. Share information from the walk-through, form work teams, and assign areas. Designate debris areas so utility boxes are not covered. Stack neatly. Stack forward and tall and high and far forward.
Use the three-pile method -a keep pile, a maybe pile, and a debris pile. The keep pile should contain items that are salvageable such as dishes, Tupperware, and non-porous items. “If you can save it, save it,” Fox said. He suggests putting the keep pile far away from the debris pile. Fox said the maybe pile should contain items that may be salvageable including certain papers and photos, some family heirlooms, and some solid wood objects without intricate joints. The debris pile has unsalvageable household items, demolition debris, appliances, etc. He said to place these items near the curb or in dumpsters.
Fox said you cannot keep wet mattresses or mattresses that sat in moisture, wet sofas and cushions, and molded, slimy clothes. He said some clothes can be kept if they are washed with bleach.
Sheetrock should be torn out one foot above the water mark. Linens not found in water and not showing mildew can be kept. He said pillows cannot be kept. Gas furnaces many times can be savaged, but electric air handlers typically cannot be cleaned.
Safety should be of utmost importance. Be sure to take regular shade breaks, eat, and work diligently to keep hydrated. Wash prior to eating and drinking, and don’t put items handled such as drinks back into the cooler. Know your limitations and get assistance as needed. Pace yourself and watch your buddy. Take care of cuts and punctures as soon as possible. If you use the new skin product, paint on two to three layers.
Do not use tools or equipment that you are untrained on, and remain aware of your surroundings and your location in relation to others. Do not stack tools on a ladder, and use dollies, ramps, and other load carrying equipment. Use fans to ventilate the home and cool yourself. Do not attempt to befriend animals, and do not reach blindly in the dark.
Fox reviewed the steps to cleaning a home. He said to get out the accumulated mud; this is the bucket and shovel work. Remove wet and molded personal possessions and household contents. Expose the framing to facilitate drying. Pressure wash exposed surfaces. Disinfest the structure. Let the home dry to equilibrium. He said one must remove household items, and one should not open the refrigerator or freezer. Also, remove flooring, carpet, and vinyl; wall coverings and cabinets; insulation; and flooring boards down to the sub-floor. Fox said if you see it you can disinfect it.
Fox then discussed the method for cleaning. He said to carry household items in buckets, baskets, crates, wheelbarrows, and with dollies. Hand items out of window and use a bucket brigade to remove materials. Work from the rear forward to prevent jams. If possible, build a ramp and place grip strips and stairwell treads. Cut larger items such as mattresses into pieces. Cut carpeting into two to three-foot strips. Use a circular saw to cut hardwood into shorter lengths. Cut sheetrock at a practical height, but at least one foot above the water mark. Fully remove sheet paneling. Evaluate solid wood paneling to determine the best cut off height. Pressed wood and particle furniture cannot be saved. Pull nails as you progress from the wall and the floor. Watch for rotten subfloor. Multiple layers of siding should be removed to above the high water mark.
The goal is to get air, sunlight, and disinfectants to the maximum exposable area to save your home for as long as it takes to dry it.
Ducts if saturated must be removed because there is no foolproof way to sterilize and entire length of the duct. Typically the coils of the electric air handler become contaminated, and electrical systems will breakdown.
Indirect mechanicals such as furnaces and water heaters may be salvageable. He said to consult with a plumber or HVAC professional.
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets are sealed against the wall and are untreatable. Vinyl (linoleum), hardwood, or floating floor traps moisture against the subfloor and must be removed.
It is important to get air moving under the house, but openings leading under the house should be covered with chicken wire to prevent possums and other creatures from going under the house.
Dry set or mortar bed shower basins are inherently porous. Bacteria will be inaccessible.
To facilitate drying, leave windows and doors open as much as possible. Place fans strategically thought the home and in crawl spaces. The more air that can be pushed through the house and gotten out, the quicker the drying.
Things that one can typically leave in the home include water lines, PVC/ABS drain and sewer line, electrical equipment, gas piping, and ceramic tile adhered directly to a concrete slab.
To wash down the home, use shovels, brooms, dust pans, a pump and water to flush out the bulk of the dirt and mold. Pressure wash from the highest point down, but try not to cause further water damage. Wash all exposed sides. Chase the water with brooms, squeegees, and wet vacs to facilitate drying.
Bleach is the most common method of disinfection. Fox said to mix 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup of Clorox per gallon of water. Fox said more is not better. He said to use the Clorox brand because generics do not contain as much chlorate. The plan is to do three applications with drying in between.
Synthetic disinfectants are becoming available such as Shockwave.
Fox said backpack pump sprayers are your friend, and that one should disinfect from the bottom up he said complete drying is important to home recovery.
At the end of each day, wash yourself off. Change clothes even if you wear the Tyvek suit and place your clothes in a plastic bag and wash them. Wrap the seats of your vehicle with plastic. Check for nails in and around your tires.
Lastly, start the cleaning process as soon as you can. Information from this program can be found at scbaptist.org/dr. Search for mudout manual.
Another flood recovery presentation will be held on Tuesday, October 18th, at Latta Baptist Church at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.