Call: (707) 570-0555 | Email: info@cleancrawlspace.com

restoration clean up

Tag Archives: disaster

Weathering Disaster: The Emotional Impacts Of Disaster In Your Home

Weathering Disaster: The Emotional Impacts Of Disaster In Your Home

Leave a reply

When disaster strikes, your first instinct may not be to address the emotional impact that this event will have on you and the members of your family. However, as the dust settles and cleanup begins, you may feel yourself experiencing unfamiliar feelings and seeking the answer to questions as you seek closure to the ordeal you’ve been through.

Losing a home is traumatic, even if you don’t experience injuries or personal loss as a result of the disaster which wreaked havoc on your home. Your home represents safety and security, among a host of other intangible benefits you may not even be able to describe. And the contents of your home, which may be lost too, are your memories, valuables, and more.

If you’re feeling out of sorts, angry, or depressed after a disaster in your home, know that you’ll be okay. First of all, it’s okay to not be okay in the weeks and months – perhaps even years – after your home damage or loss. It’s alright to have a heightened sense of fear and other unexpected feelings and triggers that come from this event.

Over time, the extreme feelings and anxiety of experiencing trauma again will fade, as the human psychological complex is fairly resilient. If in the meantime you feel particularly depressed, are unable to function reasonably, or are experiencing extreme relational challenges as a result of your home disaster, it’s okay to seek help.

Finding a counselor or therapist who specializes in handling trauma or a talk group for trauma victims can be a good place for you to hash out your feelings about the disaster that occurred in your home. Even talking out your feelings or the events of the disaster with a close friend might help you to relieve some of the emotions that you have bottled up inside.

Finally, engaging in meaningful life activities and physical exercise can help to boost your mood following a disaster in your home. Staying active physically and mentally can help your emotional state to rebound and will give you a healthy outlet for expressing yourself while you cleanup and/or rebuild.

We understand that the impacts of disaster on your home are many and far reaching. And we’re here to help. Whether you need to cleanup after a flood or other natural disaster, we can handle the details to help you get your home and life back on track.

 

Ways to Immediately Limit Water Damage Before Professionals Arrive

Ways to Immediately Limit Water Damage Before Professionals Arrive

Leave a reply

A huge amount of water all over your floor can be a nightmare come to life for any homeowner. This can happen because of a burst water pipe, a malfunctioning hot water heater, a leaking roof or an overflowing washer. Take comfort in the fact that there are several things you can do to limit the water damage between the time of the incident and when a professional arrives to restore your home to pristine condition.

 

Ways to Immediately Limit Water Damage Before Professionals Arrive

 

Shut Off the Power

Shut off the power immediately. If the water gets into electrical appliances or electrical outlets when they are on, it could ruin the electronic circuits. Head to the circuit breaker and flip the switches for the affected areas. Unplug any electronics, including appliances, in the way of the water.

Pull Up Carpets

Pull up any carpets or rugs, and get them out of the way. You can dry them and disinfect them later, but you have to limit the water damage first. Pull up any padding underneath. The carpet may shrink from contact with the water. 

Remove the Water

The only way to stop everything from staying soaked is to get rid of the water. Use mops, buckets and towels. Send all of this water outside into a storm drain or your lawn. If you still have power, you can dry using a wet/dry vacuum, but be very careful not to get the plug or extension cord wet.

Dry Out the Area

Set up fans and open windows to get a breeze going in the affected area. This dries out any remaining water as much as possible. A dehumidifier works well. Drying with air eliminates any last bits of water you can’t reach with a towel.

Disinfect

You must disinfect any permeable surfaces, such as walls and wooden floors, very soon after the water damage occurs. This prevents mold from seeping into drywall and wood. Once mold starts to grow, it is very hard to get rid of, and black mold can cause severe health problems.

Throw Things Away

Salvage what you can, but throw away the rest. Get rid of any items damaged beyond repair. Follow your city’s guidelines for the disposal of electronics because electronics shouldn’t be thrown into a landfill.

In the midst of all of this, you need to call a professional cleaning service with experience in cleaning water damage to assess what needs to happen next. These professionals can mitigate any mold problems, suggest improvements and document precisely what happened. You’ll need this type of documentation for any insurance claims you make on the home itself or for your damaged items.