Premier Emergency Water Removal

Komo News Report – Howard Hanson Dam – Be Prepared!

Info for the status of the Howard Hanson Dam can be found for each city listed below in the links following them.

Auburn, WA – City of Auburn

“The Army Corps of Engineers has notified the City of Auburn of a situation at the Howard Hanson Dam which may require the release of more water than usual during extreme rain events. As a result of this increased water release, parts of Auburn are at a higher risk of flooding…”

Kent, WA – City of Kent

“A higher risk of flooding exists in the Green River Valley. Many homes, businesses, and farms are in harm’s way if the Green River experiences serious flooding…”

Tukwila, WA – City of Tukwila

“Following a record high level of water behind Howard Hanson Dam in January 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers became concerned after discovery of two depressions on the right abutment, increased water levels in groundwater monitoring wells, and the appearance of sediment-laden water entering the abutment drainage tunnel…”

Renton, WA – City of Renton

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages the Howard Hanson Dam near the headwaters of the Green River. The dam helps maintain water storage and reduces the risk of flooding in the Green River Valley/floodplain.  After this winter’s storms, USACE discovered accelerated leakage through the right abutment of the dam…”

Howard Hanson Dam - Image courtesy Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times

As a member of the local community, Premier Emergency Water Removal would like to add our voice to yours in expressing concern over the current state of the Howard Hanson Dam, and the damage it could cause to our local area. We want you to know that we are ready and prepared to assist in putting your life back together if the predictions for massive flooding become a reality! We maintain off-site storage for our equipment and vehicles to remain mobile in the event of a crisis to better be able to come to the aid of our friends and neighbors. Our training and knowledge make us uniquely prepared for disaster restoration, and give us the edge to better help you in a difficult situation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and our loss response times are among the best in our industry!

Damage from flooding can be catastrophic to your life, your home, and your health. The best step to minimizing your loss is to be prepared! Even though we have all been told that we will have a certain amount of time to gather our possessions and head for higher ground, there are many things you can do beforehand to be ready in the event that a flood occurs.

1. Have a game plan. Sit down with your household and strategize where you will go, what you’ll be able to take with you, and what you can do to minimize panic and loss to your family.

2. Pack your most precious possessions and move them to a safe location, including important paperwork, family heirlooms, photo albums and the like.

3. Prepare an emergency kit with any supplies you will need for several days, including food, fresh water, clothing, shelter, blankets, matches, candles, a flashlight, a hatchet or small ax, and anything else you feel that you might need.

4. Make sure that you have Flood Insurance! Not obtaining a separate policy or a flood rider for your current policy will mean that your home and possessions are not covered if a flood should occur.

When the un-thinkable happens, we at Premier Emergency Water Removal are there for our clients. We are dedicated to the recovery of all accident, crime, trauma and bio-hazardous scenes, and your physical and mental health is our primary concern! Our unique approach to service relieves owners, managers, coworkers, families or friends from the severe emotional trauma and physical hazards of cleaning the location of a bio-hazardous incident. Our highly trained technicians are a 24-hour resource to rapidly recover a scene and return a property to safe use.

Trauma often leaves behind visual and microscopic traces that can be harmful to those whom come in contact with them. The removal of blood, bodily fluids, and tissue requires a very detailed and timely method of cleaning, which in no way should be compromised! 

Very few people are trained or equipped to handle this type of cleaning and decontamination, but our technicians are fully trained and equipped to help you through the process.

This method involves detecting and disinfecting, as well as the complete removal of hazardous materials such as: blood, bodily fluids, tissue and bone matter, contaminated clothing and various household goods, hypodermic needles, razor blades and other items or objects that may pose a risk of injury. Mattresses, bedding, clothing, carpets, linoleum, grout, beneath toilets and tubs, couches and chairs, walls and other objects become contaminated during the decomposition process and should ONLY be handled by highly trained technicians to assure the risk of injury or infection is completely eliminated. 

Water damage mitigation is something that must be dealt with quickly and effectively. Preventing the presence of mold is one of many concerns for those who have suffered from a water damage event, but it should not be the only or primary concern. In fact, people have so many misconceptions about water damage and the potential for mold growth. With steps you can take immediately following a water damage event to help minimize secondary damages as well as precautions that should be taken during water damage mitigation to protect your health and safety. Water damage mitigation is a specialized field that requires special protective measures, specialized equipment and testing capabilities as well as certain engineering controls to protect you and your property.

DOs that can help minimize your loss. Please remember that your safety is our primary concern, and if any of the following could create risk to you or your property, PLEASE WAIT FOR A PROFESSIONAL!

1. DO shut off source of flooding as soon and if possible
2. DO remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting the saturated area(s)
3. DO wipe furniture to remove excess water
4. DO place aluminum foil between furniture legs and wet carpet
5. DO remove wet area rugs
6. DO move valuable objects and personal items to a safe and dry area
7. DO remove any wet fabrics and dry immediately

DO NOTs

1. DO NOT use your household vacuum to remove any access water
2. DO NOT use electrical appliances while standing on wet flooring or carpets
3. DO NOT go into any room with standing water if the electricity is on
4. DO NOT lift tacked down carpet without professional help as this could cause damage and shrinkage
5. DO NOT go into any room where the ceiling is sagging
6. DO NOT wait to call for professional help. The longer you wait the more damage will occur

Being prepared for a sudden water loss before it occurs is essential in returning your life back to normal as quickly as possible after water damage has occured. Take pictures of each room to document its contents and save receipts for expensive purchases such as computers, televisions, and stereo equipment. Store these your documentation in a safe and secure location where it will be dry and remain unaffected regardless of any disasters your home might face. There are many companies that offer fire and water-proof portable safes that can provide the safety and security for your documents. It’s also very important that you know where the shut-off valves are for your water and gas lines to your home. If a disaster occurs, valuable time may be lost searching for them after. 

A categorization of the level of contamination of water in a damaged structure is required to perform loss assessment and evaluation. The category of water contamination must be considered so that procedures can be established for processing water-damaged structures and materials safely. The category is not determined by the color of the water but instead by the source, contents, history and characteristics of the water. Water damage is divided into three categories:

Clean Water Sources –
Originate from a source that does not pose substantial harm to humans. (Examples: broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflow, melting ice or snow)

Grey Water Sources –
Unsanitary water that contains some degree of contamination that would cause sickness if consumed by humans. (Examples: dishwater overflow, aquariums, waterbeds, toilet backup with no feces present)

Black Water Sources –
Grossly unsanitary water containing pathogenic agents. (Examples: sewage back-up, ground surface water or rising water from streams or rivers that carry silt & organic matters)

Water damage to a home or building can occur in many ways. Whether it is damage by a violent force of nature, a water pipe may burst or a sump pump may malfunction. No matter what the cause, water can do serious damage to your home and possessions. There is no way to predict how or when a water-related emergency may occur but it is a possibility and a fact of life for homeowner and building owners. That’s why it’s best to have an emergency water removal company’s contact information handy. The less damage and the quicker you get it taken care of the easier it will be to put your life back together. Not to mention being less expensive, time consuming and disruptive to your lives.

Unwelcome moisture is the enemy: The moment unwelcome moisture enters your house through the wrong doorway, so to speak, and isn’t promptly escorted off the premises; you may have a serious enemy in your midst. Within minutes of water intrusion damage can begin. This is why prompt professional action is so important.

Special techniques are used by professional restoration companies to dry and remove trapped water and water vapor from surfaces, flooring, interior cavities and contents. Untreated water damage may cause flooring to buckle, wall damage, content damage, and the ability for mold and bacteria to grow. The most important part in water damage recovery is an immediate response. A delay of even 48 hours can result in significant damage versus an immediate timely response. This is why our personnel are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

As just MINUTES tick away on the clock, water contamination spreads in all directions. Paper goods, food in cupboards, floors, etc. are all ruined as they absorb moisture. Stains and dyes released from furniture stain carpets.

As HOURS tick away on the clock: Furniture in direct contact with water soaks up water, swells, cracks, delaminates and splits. Fabric and carpets are stained. Plywood swells and comes apart. Bacteria-caused odors develop and infest all materials in the environment. Both the cost and complexity of resolving the damage rise as hours tick away.

If DAYS go by without an expert, comprehensive assault on the damage: door and window casings swell, bow, and de-laminate. Moisture penetrates into floors and walls, pianos, and electronic devices. Metal begins to rust. Musty and sour odors become permanently integrated with fabric fibers. Mold and mildew begin growing, causing serious health risks.

Why is professional drying and fast response so important?

Most indoor carpet, furniture, building materials such as plywood and drywall, etc are designed for tolerance of “normal indoor humidity” – 40%- 60% relative humidity. A flooded site , however may have 90% relative humidity for days. Only through use of proper drying procedures deployed by knowledgeable professionals can this humidity be rapidly and safely reduced, substantially reducing damage and the need for costly reconstruction or replacements.

When a home is flooded, primary damage is the direct result of contact with water. Secondary damage is typically the result of moisture traveling to areas previously unaffected.

If restoration work is delayed or performed by inadequately trained people, the risk of costly secondary water damage is quite high! Secondary water damage can be hidden to the eye for weeks or months, but can continue to destroy the walls, floors or structural integrity of a building, foster microorganism growth unhealthy for humans and attractive to insects and other pests, and cause many other long-term problems.

The right tools for the job are vital to discovering hidden secondary damage and stopping it in its tracks.

All Water Damage Restoration Companies are NOT the same.

Premier Emergency Water Removal specializes in commercial & residential flood and water damage restoration.

·  Certified by IICRC, the industry’s training and education organization.

·  Respond to emergency calls immediately.

·  Instantly act to stop the spread of water damage.

·  Act quickly to eliminate safety and health hazards.

·  Extract water, damaged materials, and debris safely, economically and efficiently.

·  Dry out the entire environment.

·  Restoration, combining comprehensive cleaning, stain and odor removal, fungus eradication, re-construction and replacement, as needed.