Flash flooding took GTA residents by surprise earlier this week. When about 125mm of rain fell over Burlington, west of Toronto, in a matter of hours, it caused chaos, flooding roads and even closing the QEW. As a point of comparison, that figure is typical for a month’s rainfall in this area at this time of year.
The water cascaded through streets, flooding homes and businesses alike. This comes barely a year after the great Southern Ontario flood of July 2013, which saw a large swath between Mississauga and east Toronto – clearly it’s a sign of times to come.
The Clean-Up
As home and business owners begin the clean-up from a flood, there are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Timing is everything – quick action is needed to mitigate the damages. Don’t forget that mould can begin to grow anywhere that it is damp within only 48 hours. A sump pump and fans can help.
- Dirty water – flood waters mix with sewer back up to create a toxic mess that is potentially filled with bacteria. Use caution and avoid getting water on bare skin – wear gloves and boots in your clean-up.
- Asbestos – if you have an older home, flooding may damage structures that were previously intact, including asbestos-containing materials such as those found in ceiling and floor tiles, insulation, wall panels and much more. As the material dries, it will become friable (inhalable) – and deadly.
- Be ruthless – discard any soft materials (rugs, papers, clothing, and so on) that have been contaminated with flood waters.
Don’t Take Chances
Flooding, renovations, in-home installations and more – anything that disturbs the integrity of your walls can reveal and damage asbestos containing materials. Mould is a serious health issue that can affect you and those you love.
The seasoned technicians at GreenStream can help you with environmental issues including:
In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414. Contact us for a quote today.
Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414. You’ll be glad you did.
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