Churches are not exempted from incurring water damage. Whether it is due to storm damage or a plumbing problem, the fact remains that water damage can occur, and if left unattended molds can grow and affect health and the whole property structure.
The website TheBaptistMessage.com for instance shared photos of their churches that have been inundated by flooding and have suffered water damage. In their official website, they mentioned the names of the churches that have been flooded and asked their church mates to pray for these places of worship.
“French Corner Baptist Church, Ponchatoula was one of 60 Louisiana Baptist churches whose buildings were damaged in the recent flooding. The church suffered 13 inches of water in its worship center and 4 inches in its education building. Like other damaged churches, they will rely on help from disaster relief teams and other groups to rebuild.”
Water damage experts say, to avert a bigger expense and inconvenience brought about by indoor flooding, church administrators should do what they can to safely remove water inside the premises. While this can be done on one’s own, the safest alternative is to seek professional water extraction services, or water damage restoration service so that the flood waters can be siphoned out of the property as soon as possible. Once the water is extracted, moisture should then be fully removed to prevent molds from growing.
Home improvement website, The Family Handyman shared steps every property owner, including a Church Administrator, can take if water damage occurs, and water has been thoroughly extracted already. Here are some Guideline for response to clean water damage within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
“It’s important to get rid of all moisture ASAP before it causes more damage. And for small leaks, this may not be difficult, but it’s important to be thorough. Use fans to circulate air in the affected area. For larger projects, consider renting a large-capacity dehumidifier to really dry out surrounding wood, carpet, and other materials. You don’t want any moisture left after your water damage repair.”
It is in the best interest of a church to seek professional water damage remediation services in case water damage occurs. After all, water damage professionals have the right training and equipment to extract water, fully remove moisture and humidity and disinfect and sanitize the area. Moreover, they have the safety gears to ensure that they can restore safely, and everyone in the household can move back in again safely.
Water damage professionals also have the necessary knowledge to ensure that a church will remain mold-free, so that the structure, as well as those that frequent the church will be safe from the health perils of inhaling mold spores. Molds are also notorious in giving way to rotting of porous materials so it will always be best to invest on its prevention through the hiring of professional water damage repair service.
Before hiring a water damage restoration company, a church administrator can check on its license, and track record from the local Better Business Bureau Website to be sure that it is a legitimate water damage contractor.