Cleaning firms busy with area basements

One cleaning company has logged nearly 300 job requests since record-breaking rains earlier this week caused widespread flooding throughout the region. One of the calls was to the new federal courthouse on Independence Street in Cape Girardeau, where a new roof is part of $2.2 million in additional work that began at the building this month. The roof replacement had begun but was not complete when the rains came.

General Services Administration spokesman Charlie Cook said he did not yet know how much damage had been caused.

Fifteen ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration Services crews — most from Chicago, Kansas City and Wisconsin — are in the region. Vice president and general manager Tony Smee said the company sent a 40-foot trailer with residential drying equipment and desiccant dehumidifiers.

The company is working at some commercial buildings and churches, but 90 percent of the crews' calls are for residential basement cleanups. Seventy-five percent are in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Mold and bacteria are the primary dangers posed by flooding. If groundwater is involved and not simply rainwater, Smee said, the industry standard is to remove building materials because groundwater is considered contaminated. "You can dry it out and clean them, but you're not going to get all that particulate out," Smee said.

He pointed out that if wet carpet is in contact with Sheetrock, the moisture wicks up. A water stain may not even be visible, but within a week mold will be growing behind the wall. The cleanup that will be necessary a month or months later will cost substantially more, Smee said. "That's the choice."

ServiceMaster hauls off anything it removes from a room or basement.

Local insurance agents are taking lots of calls about flood damage, but most people will pay for the cleanup themselves unless they have flood insurance. Most homeowner policies do not cover flooding unless they contain flood endorsements, which cost about $400 a year, said Alicia Robinson, a spokeswoman for State Farm insurance in St. Louis.

Earthquakes, floods and sewer and drain backups are among the endorsements that can be purchased.

Cape Girardeau State Farm agent Andy Bullinger said most flood insurance only pays for damage to the building and not the contents.

ServPro has been busy as well. The cleaning business fielded about 20 calls Wednesday and another 10 by noon Thursday. "We've got a waiting list," said general manager Bridgette Wildharber, who is based in Paducah, Ky.

Most are for cleaning out basements with 2 to 3 inches of standing water. The company pumps out the water and uses fans and dehumidifiers to evaporate the remaining moisture. Some customers want the flooring and wallboard ripped out. Sewage is backed up in some cases.

One Cape Girardeau customer who called for help said her $3,700 treadmill was underwater and her big-screen TV was floating, Wildharber said.

One ServPro crew worked until 2 a.m. Thursday and was back at work first thing in the morning. Most of the company's three Missouri crews worked until midnight Thursday.

Wildharber said insurance will cover losses if a sump pump quits working.

Electrical appliances that are underwater usually will short circuit and blow a breaker, Smee said. "Typically, if it's grounded properly it's generally not a hazard. I'm not saying there is no danger, but it's minimal."

If water has gotten above outlets and has now receded, the prudent thing to do is to turn off the circuit breakers and have it looked at by an electrician, Smee said.

Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Barry Hovis said the department has not received any reports of scam artists trying to take advantage of people who have been flooded. "That has happened in the past," he said.

More information about recovering from flooding is available from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137