Water Recovery Reference Materials Revised: September 24, 2009

Water Recovery Reference Materials Revised: September 24, 2009 1

General Disaster Recovery & Safety Precautions* Prior to entering any structure damaged by a fire or flood, the stability of that structure should be examined and certified as safe by a registered professional engineer or architect. All utility supply connections (electric, gas, other) to the structure should be turned off and/or disconnected. Completion of this step ensures that any supply lines that may have been damaged during the disaster will be de-energized or otherwise rendered harmless. The condition of the structure at the disaster site will often be greatly different from its previous condition. This means that numerous unrecognized hazards may now exist, and that great caution should be exercised when entering the structure. It is recommended that the following items be worn when entering: water-tight boots with a steel toe and insole, heavy gloves, long pants, safety glasses, and a hard hat. In addition, if any airborne contaminants are thought to be present, a NIOSH-approved dust respirator should be worn. If any standing water remains in or around the structure, it is highly recommended that the water be considered to be contaminated. After a disaster, pools of standing or stagnant water are often found to contain infectious organisms, agricultural or industrial chemicals, and may also become a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. In any case, contact with this water should be avoided. It is important when working at a disaster recovery scene to avoid overexertion. Lifting of heavy or bulky objects should be avoided. Working in teams is recommended. Hygiene is also very important. Since the possibility of air and/or water contamination exists, it is important to wash and sanitize hands at various times during the day. This is especially important before eating, drinking, or applying cosmetics. *Information obtained from OSHA Fact Sheets on Natural Disaster Recovery. 2

General Cleaning Guidelines Any material exposed to water from floods or hurricanes and not dried within 48 hours is suspect to contamination with mold, which can pose a serious health hazard. Drying should be facilitated by opening doors and windows (if rain has stopped) and using fans or, if possible, running a dehumidifier or heater. Extraction equipment such as a wet vacuum can be used to help remove water from porous materials such as carpeting and furniture. Hard non-porous surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected. Clothing, linens and drapes should be washed and dried. The Red Cross has prepared an excellent how-to document titled, Repairing your Flooded Home, located at: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/documents/pdf/preparedness/file_cont333_lang0_150.pdf. If materials have been wet for longer than 48 hours, then you will have to consider decontaminating materials for mold. There are companies that specialize in mold remediation, but the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) does provide some guidelines. In general, porous materials, such as carpeting, drywall, sheetrock, furniture, and ceiling tiles, will have to be discarded and replaced. Please refer to the CDC report, Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods, for more detailed information http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm. These sources and additional water damage reference material is listed below. REFERENCE SOURCES CDC and NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health) Sources: Emergency Response Resources: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/flood.html NIOSH Warns of Hazards of Flood Cleanup Work: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94-123/ NIOSH Interim Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing for Flood Response Workers: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/ppe-flood.html Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm EPA Sources Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings: http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html FEMA Sources http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm Red Cross Sources Repairing Your Flooded Home: http://www.redcross.org/wwwfiles/documents/pdf/preparedness/file_cont333_lang0_150.pdf Remediation Industry Professionals Restoration Industry Association (RIA): http://www.ascr.org/ IICRC (help locate a remediation specialist): http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/water_damage.shtml 3

Clean- Up Guidelines for Water Damage & Flood Restoration The following are general guidelines provided by the CDC in their report Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods. Please see the entire report for more detailed information: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm. Assessing Exposure to Mold Exposure Assessment Any structure flooded after hurricanes or major floods should be presumed to contain materials contaminated with mold if those materials were not thoroughly dried within 48 hours. In such cases, immediate steps to reduce the risk for exposure to mold are likely to be of greater importance than further exposure assessment steps presented below. Assessing the level of human exposure to mold in flooded buildings where mold contamination is not obvious is often a central and ongoing activity in recovery related to hurricanes and floods. Understanding the strengths and limitations of the approaches that are available to assess such exposures is important. Buildings that were not flooded could also have mold. For example, buildings with leaking roofs or pipes, which allows water to penetrate into biodegradable building materials, or excessive humidity, particularly buildings built with biodegradable materials, are susceptible to mold growth. Clean-up and Prevention The most effective way to eliminate mold growth is to remove it from materials that can be cleaned and to discard materials that cannot be cleaned or are physically damaged beyond use. Persons with respiratory conditions, allergies, asthma, or weakened immune systems should avoid mold cleanup if possible or seek the advice of their doctor and determine what type of personal protective equipment is appropriate. Appropriate PPE (e.g., tight-fitting NIOSH-approved N-95 respirator, gloves to limit contact of mold and cleaning solutions with skin, and goggles) should be used when performing clean-up or other activities in mold-contaminated homes or buildings after a flood. Clean-up Removing mold problems requires a series of actions. The order of these actions is sometimes important, but might vary on a case-by-case basis. Typically, the following actions are taken regardless of whether a problem is small and simple or large and complex: Take emergency action to stop water intrusion, if needed. Determine the extent of water damage and mold contamination. Plan and implement remediation activities. If needed, establish containment and protection for workers and occupants. Eliminate or limit water or moisture sources. Decontaminate or remove damaged materials, as appropriate. Dry any wet materials, if possible. Evaluate whether space has been successfully remediated. Reassemble the space to prevent or limit possibility of recurrence by controlling sources of moisture. For small, simple problems, the entire list of tasks can be done by one person. Large, complex problems might require many persons from different professions and trades. For circumstances that 4

fall between those extremes, some combination of occupant action and professional intervention will be appropriate. In general, no single discipline brings together all the required knowledge for successful assessment and remediation. Returning to Mold-Contaminated Homes or Buildings After a Flood When persons return to homes or buildings after a flood, they should take the following steps: Clean up and dry out the building quickly. Open doors and windows and use fans or dehumidifiers to dry out the building. Remove all porous items that have been wet for over 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home or building. Porous, non-cleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, some wood and wood products, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold can cause allergic reactions. Clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water to prevent mold growth. Temporarily store damaged or discarded items outside the home or building until insurance claims can be processed. Some companies specialize in water damage restoration and can assess the issues involved in cleaning up homes after a flood. Two professional trade groups that might be able to help locate such an expert are the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (http://www.ascr.org) and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (http://www.iicrc.org). Contractors used for remediation should have experience in cleaning mold. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) or other guidelines from professional organizations or state agencies. Contact your state health department's website for information about state licensing requirements for contractors in your state. Cleaning Clothes, Textiles, or Stuffed Animals Ensure that laundry is washed in safe water. Use only water that is properly disinfected or that the authorities have stated is safe. Take the appropriate steps to make sure that use of gas or electric appliances is safe. Before using a washing machine that was in a flooded building, run the machine through one full cycle before washing clothes. Use hot water and a disinfectant or sanitizer. Take clothes and linens outdoors and shake off any dried mud or dirt before washing them. Hose off muddy items to remove all dirt before putting them in the washer. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Run a hot wash cycle (without clothes) using Zep Vantio, Zep Choice, or Zep Tab Tech Detergent in conjunction with Zep FS Formula 12167 sanitizer. If the items are only wet, they can be laundered normally. Check the labels on clothes and linens and wash them in detergent and warm water if possible, or take them to a professional cleaner. Adding chlorine bleach to the wash cycle will remove most mildew and will sanitize the clothing. However, bleach might fade some fabrics and damage other fabrics. If the label reads "dry clean only," shake out loose dirt and take the item to a professional cleaner. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Launder with Zep Vantio, Zep Choice, or Zep Tab Tech Detergent. Zep Jazzle can be used as a destainer for white clothing and Zep Odorstroyer Extra can be added to help remove odors. Zep Sanosoft may be used as a softener and is also effective at eliminating odors. 5

Consult a remediation professional for advice on whether heavily mold-contaminated items made of leather, suede, or a similar material are salvageable or should be discarded. Do not burn or bury textiles that cannot be cleaned. Put them into properly sealed plastic bags and dispose of them as you would normal household garbage in your area. Salvaging Household Items When assessing or remediating mold contamination to a house, homeowners or clean-up personnel might decide to repair or clean household items (e.g., house wares or kitchen items) damaged or contaminated by flood waters. As with clothing and other textiles, make sure the water being used is safe. Use only water that is properly disinfected or that the authorities have stated is safe. Nonporous items (e.g., dishes, pots, glass items, and hard plastic items) can be salvaged. However, because floodwaters are contaminated, nonporous items should be washed by hand in a disinfectant and then air-dried. Do not use a dish towel. Porous items (e.g., cloth, some wood and wood products, and soft plastic) must be discarded because they probably absorbed whatever contaminants were in the floodwaters. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Clean the kitchen ware with Zep ProVisions Pot & Pan Plus, then sanitize the items with Zep FS Amine Z or FS Formula 12167. Before using the dishwasher, clean and disinfect it. Then use a hot setting to wash your pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Do not use the energy-saving setting. Throw away canned foods that are bulging, opened, or damaged. Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles), twist caps, flip tops, snap-open, and home-canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with floodwater because they cannot be disinfected. If intact cans have come in contact with floodwater or storm water, remove the labels, wash the cans, and dip them in a solution of 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water. Re-label the cans with a marker. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Run a hot wash cycle (without dishes) using Zep ProVisions SMS Detergent then sanitize with Zep FS Formula 12167. The cans can be sanitized with either Zep FS Formula 12167 or Zep FS Amine Z. Cleaning a Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning System All surfaces of an HVAC system and all its components that were submerged during a flood are potential reservoirs for dirt, debris, and microorganisms, including bacteria and mold. In addition, moisture can collect in areas of HVAC system components that were not submerged (e.g., air supply ducts above the water line), and this also can lead to the growth of microorganisms. Therefore, all flood water-contaminated and moisture-laden components of the HVAC system should be thoroughly inspected, cleaned of dirt and debris, and disinfected by a qualified professional. CDC has prepared recommendations for professionals to help ensure that floodwater-contaminated HVAC system components are properly cleaned and remediated. If HVAC systems are not properly cleaned and disinfected to prevent the dissemination of mold and other debris throughout a building, bio-aerosols 6

of mold and other microorganisms might exists and can cause a variety of adverse health effects to the building's occupants. Ensure that the HVAC system is shut down before any remedial activities. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: HVAC professionals may use a product such as Zep A-One or Zep Tuff Green Concentrate to clean the system. Zep DZ-7 or Zep FS Amine Z may be used to sanitize, depending upon application. 7

The Red Cross and FEMA also have some excellent suggestions for how to tackle the water damage clean up process. The following document contains excerpts from their book, Repairing Your Flooded Home. Please view the full text of the book for more information; it is available for download at: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/documents/pdf/preparedness/file_cont333_lang0_150.pdf. Floodwaters affect a home three ways: 1. The water damages materials. Wallboard will disintegrate if it remains wet too long; wood can swell, warp, or rot; electrical parts can short out, malfunction, and cause fires or shock. 2. Mud, silt, and unknown contaminants in the water not only get everything dirty; they also create a health hazard. 3. Dampness promotes the growth of mildew, a mold or fungus that can grow on everything. The following steps work on all three of these problems. It is very important that they be followed in order. Lower the Humidity Everything will dry more quickly and clean more easily if you can reduce the humidity in the home. There are five ways to lower the humidity and stop the rot and mildew. But you ll have to delay using some methods if you have no electricity. Open up the house. If the humidity outside is lower than indoors, and if the weather permits, open all the doors and windows to exchange the moist indoor air for drier outdoor air. Your body will tell if the humidity is lower outdoors. If the sun is out, it should be drier outside. If you have a thermometer with a humidity gauge, you can monitor the indoor and outdoor humidity. On the other hand, when temperatures drop at night, an open home is warmer and will draw moisture indoors. At night and other times when the humidity is higher outdoors, close up the house. Open closet and cabinet doors. Remove drawers to allow air circulation. Drawers may stick because of swelling. Don t try to force them. Speed dry by opening up the back of the cabinet to let the air circulate. You will probably be able to remove the drawers as the cabinet dries out. Use fans. Fans help move the air and dry out your home. Do not use central air conditioning or the furnace blower if the ducts were under water. They will blow out dirty air that might contain contaminants from the sediment left in the duct work. Clean or hose out the ducts first. Run dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers and window air conditioners will reduce the moisture, especially in closed up areas. Use desiccants. Desiccants (materials that absorb moisture) are very useful in drying closets or other enclosed areas where air cannot move through. Call a contractor. There are contractors who specialize in drying out flooded buildings. They have large fans and dehumidifiers that can dry out a house in a few days. Look in the yellow pages under Fire and Water Damage Restoration or under Dehumidifying. Be careful about contractors who inflate prices after a disaster and about out-of-town contractors who request payment in advance. Be patient. Drying your home could take several weeks. Until your home is reasonably dry, damage caused by mildew and decay will continue. The musty odor will remain forever if the home is not thoroughly dried out well. Dry the ceilings and walls Flood soaked wallboard is usually removed and thrown away. Plaster and paneling can often be saved, but you still need to get air circulating in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills. Different approaches are used for different materials. 8

Wallboard If floodwaters soaked the wallboard at least four feet above the floor, you should take down all the wallboard and replace it. If the water level was less than four feet deep, remove the lower four feet of wallboard. You can fill the gap with 4 x 8 sheets installed sideways. If you have Styrofoam insulation - or no insulation - and the wallboard was soaked with clean rainwater, you can dry the walls without removing the wallboard using the technique explained below for plaster walls. But you will need to remove wet insulation if it is not Styrofoam. Plaster walls If the plaster or wallboard is clean and in good shape, you can drill or cut ventilating holes in each wall cavity. Place holes low enough so they will be covered by the baseboard after the wall dries out. Open up the wall on both sides of interior walls. For exterior walls, drill or cut holes on the inside of the house. However, if there is wet insulation, you will have to remove the plaster or wallboard in order to take out all the insulation. Concrete block The cavities in a concrete block wall will drain on their own. The water will not damage the concrete like it will wood or wallboard. Wall covering Vinyl wall covering seals the wall and prevents drying. Wallpaper paste is a favorite home for mold and mildew. For these reasons, you should remove all wall covering that got wet and throw it out. (If vinyl wall covering is loose on the bottom, you may be able to save it by pulling it off the wall up to the flood level. Clean and reapply it after everything dries.) Paneling Carefully pry the bottom of each panel away from the wall. Use something to hold the bottom away from the sill so the cavities can drain and dry out. You can nail them back into shape after they and the studs dry out. However, if there is wet insulation, you will have to remove the paneling in order to take out all the insulation. Dry the floor Air needs to circulate around flooded floors so they can dry out. This means removing the floor covering. Because floodwaters contain mud and dirt, most soaked floor coverings should be thrown away. Keep a piece of all discarded floor covering so the adjuster can tell its value. Air needs to circulate below the floor to dry it out. If the crawl space of your home is flooded, pump it out. Remove any plastic sheets, vapor barriers or insulation from underneath the floor. (Be sure to replace them when the floor and foundation are completely dry.) If a home with a basement was flooded over the first floor, remove finished basement ceilings, or cut or drill holes between all the joists to allow circulation. Don t cut or drill near electric lines or pipes. You have now reached the stage where no more damage should occur to your home. Exterior holes have been patched, the utilities have been turned off, and the drying process has started. It may take days or weeks, depending on the humidity, for all the wood to dry out. 9

The walls, floors, closets, shelves, contents every flooded part of your house should be thoroughly washed and disinfected. Some projects, such as washing clothes, may have to wait until all the utilities are restored. Others may be best done by professionals. This section offers suggestions on the best way to clean flooded items. In most cases, household cleaning products will do the job if you use them correctly. Check the label on the products to see how much to use. Some products shouldn t be used on certain materials; the label will tell you that. Apply cleaner and give it time to work before you mop or sponge it up. Follow directions and all safety precautions on the container. After cleaning a room or item, go over it again with a disinfectant to kill the germs and smell left by the floodwaters. You may also need to get rid of mildew, an unwelcome companion to moisture that shows as fuzzy splotches. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: For general cleaning use Zep A-One or Zep Tuff Green Concentrate. For disinfecting surfaces we recommend Zep Triton or Zep DZ-7. Cleaning Floor Coverings Small throw rugs can be saved and cleaned in a washing machine. Indoor-outdoor carpeting can he hosed off and hung up to dry. Large rugs and those with foam backing should be discarded. (Usually only valuable carpets are worth the cost of professional cleaning.) After getting wet, wall-to-wall carpeting usually will not return to its former size and has to be thrown away. Therefore, make the job easier by cutting it in strips and discarding it in pieces that are small enough to be carried. Watch out for the tack down strips along the wall; they often have nails sticking up to hold the carpet down. A wall-to-wall carpet that was soaked by clean rainwater can be left in place and dried. Tile, vinyl, and linoleum flooring should be removed if it is warped, loose, or has a foam rubber pad (which should be thrown away). Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: The small rugs may be laundered with Zep Vantio or Zep Choice, and Zep Odorstroyer Extra can be added to help remove odors. Larger rugs may be cleaned with Zep Lemongrass Extract-It Plus and sanitized with Zep Triton. Cleaning tips Tackle one room at a time. A two bucket approach is most efficient: use one bucket for rinse water and the other for the cleaner. Rinse out your sponge, mop, or cleaning cloth in the rinse bucket. Wring it as dry as possible and keep it rolled up tight as you put it in the cleaner bucket. Let it unroll to absorb the cleaner. Using two buckets keeps most of the dirty rinse water out of your cleaning solution. Replace the rinse water frequently. Walls Start cleaning a wall at the bottom or where the worst damage was. If you did not have to remove the wallboard or plaster, you may find it the wallboard or plaster won t come clean and you will want to replace it rather than clean it. If you have removed the wallboard or plaster, wash the studs and sills and disinfect them. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Clean the walls with Zep A-One, Zep Tuff Green Concentrate, or Zep Apriza II. You may also clean and disinfect with Zep DZ-7, Zep Triton, or Zep Spirit II. 10

Windows If you taped your windows before the storm, clean the tape off as soon as possible. The sun will bake the adhesive into the glass. If glass cleaners don t remove the adhesive, try tar remover, acetone, nail polish remover, or a razor blade. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: The windows may be cleaned with Zep 40 or Zep Apriza II. Furniture Don t try to force open swollen wooden doors and drawers. Take off the back of the piece of furniture to let the air circulate. You will probably be able to open the drawers after they dry. Solid wood furniture can usually be repaired and cleaned, but wood veneer often separates and warps. Wood alcohol or turpentine applied with a cotton ball may remove white mildew spots on wood. Cream wood restorers with lanolin will help restore good wooden furniture parts. Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from floodwaters and should be cleaned only by a professional. This is also true of carpets and bedding. Unless the piece is an antique or especially valuable, upholstered furniture soaked by floodwaters should probably be thrown out. Get a cost estimate from a professional to see if furniture is worth saving. Appliances There s an unexpected danger of shock with some electrical appliances such as TV sets and radios. Certain internal parts store electricity even when the appliance is unplugged. Check the back for a warning label. Appliances with such labels will need professional cleaning. But first, get a cost estimate to see if they are worth saving. You ll need appliances such as the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, and vacuum cleaner to help clean your home and contents. The motors or heating elements can usually be cleaned. If you can t wait for a professional cleaning job, unplug, disassemble, and hose off the appliances thoroughly (with hot water, if possible). Then clean and disinfect them, but do not use detergents. Clean and disinfect dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers only with water that has been declared safe for drinking. Make sure the sewer line is working before starting a dishwasher or washing machine. You can speed up the drying process for motors and parts by using a blow dryer using a moisture displacement spray. Moisture displacement sprays, such as electronics parts cleaners or lubricating and penetrating oil, are available at hardware or automotive parts stores. The sprays can also stop rust and corrosion until the appliance can be disassembled and cleaned. One word of caution: the spray is flammable. Read and follow label instructions and precautions. Moving parts such as motors and pulleys will need oil or grease. Contacts and electrical switches can be cleaned with a moisture displacement spray or an aerosol contact cleaner available at electronics or auto parts stores. Allow a motor to run for 30 minutes with no load before you use it. For example, run the vacuum cleaner without connecting the belt. Watch for stripped or damaged wire insulation. Be sure all appliances are properly grounded. This is most important if there was damage to the wiring from the flood or during cleaning. Appliances that must be grounded have a round third prong on their plugs. Review the information on your electrical system in Step 5. Refrigerators and freezers are more complicated. They may have foam insulation and sealed components that suffered little water damage. But those appliances hold food, so they should be cleaned, disinfected, and checked by a professional, or replaced. If your repair person says an expensive appliance should be replaced, get the opinion in writing and discuss it with your insurance adjuster before you spend money for another one. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: For moisture displacement and electronic cleaning use Zepreserve, Zep Super Penetrant, or Zep Elec II Plus. 11

Clothing and Linens Even if your washing machine did not get wet, do not use it until you know that the water is safe enough to drink and that your sewer line works. (Perhaps a friend or relative has a washing machine you can use until yours is clean and working.) Before you wash clothes in the washing machine, run the machine through one full cycle. Be sure to use hot water and a disinfectant or sanitizer. Take clothes and linens outdoors and shake out dried mud or dirt before you wash them. Hose off muddy items to remove all dirt before you put them in the washer. That way your drain won t clog. Check the labels on clothes and linens, and wash them in detergent and warm water if possible. Adding chlorine bleach to the wash cycle will remove most mildew and will sanitize the clothing, but bleach fades some fabrics and damages other fabrics. If the label says Dry Clean Only, shake out loose dirt and take the item to a professional cleaner. Furs and leather items are usually worth the cost of professional cleaning. If you want to clean leather yourself, wash the mud off and dry the leather slowly away from heat or sunlight. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Run a hot wash cycle (without clothes) using Zep Vantio, Zep Choice, or Zep Tab Tech Detergent in conjunction with Zep FS Formula 12167 sanitizer. Launder items with Zep Vantio or Zep Choice. Zep Jazzle can be used as a destainer for white clothing and Zep Odorstroyer Extra can be added to help remove odors. Zep Sanosoft may be used as a softener and is also effective at eliminating odors. Kitchen items Throw out soft plastic and porous items that probably absorbed whatever the floodwaters carried in. Floodwaters are contaminated, so you may want to wash dishes by hand in a disinfectant. Air dry the disinfected dishes; do not use a dish towel. Like the washing machine, the dishwasher should also be used only after you know your water is safe to drink and your sewer line works. Clean and disinfect it first. Then use a hot setting to wash your pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. (If you have an energy saving setting, do not use it.) Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Clean the dishwasher with Zep ProVisions SMS detergent then sanitize with Zep FS Formula 12167. Hand wash items with Zep ProVisions Pot & Pan Plus, then sanitize the items with Zep FS Amine Z or FS Formula 12167. Food Throw any food out that has been touched by floodwaters. Do not keep food in bottles or jars with bottle caps or screw on lids they do not keep out floodwaters. The U.S. Department of Agriculture operates a food safety hotline. Professional home economists can answer your questions about whether to keep or discard food. Call 1-800-535-4555 between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Paper and books Valuable papers such as books, photographs, and stamp collections can be restored with a great deal of effort. They can be rinsed and frozen (in a frost-free freezer or commercial meat locker) until you have time to work on them. A slightly less effective alternative to preserving an item is to place items in a sealed container, such as a plastic bag, with moth crystals. Papers should be dried quickly when they are thawed or unsealed (a blow dryer will do). Don t try to force paper products apart, just keep drying them. Photocopy valuable papers and records soon because substances in the water may make them deteriorate. If a computer disk or tape has valuable information, rinse it in clear water and put it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Later, you can take it to a professional drying center and have 12

the data transferred to a good disk or tape. Many companies that specialize in restoring computers and computer records after a disaster are members of the Disaster Recovery Institute. To find a member company near you, you can call the Institute at (314) 846-2007. The Yard As you get rid of things from your home, don t turn your yard into a dump. Food and garbage must be hauled away as soon as possible. Other discarded items should be removed as soon as your insurance adjuster has told you how to make sure their loss is covered. Other things you throw away should be removed as soon as your insurance adjuster says it s okay. Mosquitoes can carry many diseases, and a flood can create idea conditions for them to breed. Drain or remove standing water that can become a breeding ground. Dump water out of barrels, old tires, and cans. Check that your gutters are clean and can drain. Ditches and drains also need to be cleaned so they can carry storm water away from your home. If you can t get rid of standing water, use a commercial product that kills mosquito larvae but does not harm other animals. Zep PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS: Zep Flush N Kill DM. Zep A-One can be used to pressure wash siding, decks, sidewalks and driveways. The Lawn Lawns usually survive being underwater for up to four days. Salt water should be hosed off the lawn and shrubs. Some grasses are not damaged by saltwater flooding. Check with your local nursery, garden store, or Cooperative Extension Service. You may have to replace the lawn if there was mud thicker than one inch deep, erosion, or chemicals in the floodwaters. Before using any cleaning products, including products from Zep, please reference the product label or material safety data sheet for safety precautions and recommended safety gear. In addition, follow the manufacturer s recommendations for product dilutions and application of the chemical for safety and the best cleaning results. If you have further questions on Zep Products, please contact your sales representative. For product availability or pricing, please call our Zep Customer Service team at 1-877-I BUY ZEP. Zep Water Recovery Reference Materials Disclaimer: Although the information in this material is presented in good faith and believed to be correct as of the date hereof, Zep Inc. makes no representations or warranties as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. The recommendations and suggestions regarding product selection, application and use that are offered herein are a reference guide and are not a guarantee of their performance. In no case shall the information set forth herein be considered a part of the terms and conditions of sale of the products described herein or a warranty as to those products. The information is supplied upon the condition that the person receiving same will make their own determination as to its suitability for their purposes prior to use and Zep Inc. has no liability for any errors or omissions in said information. In no event will Zep Inc. be responsible for damages of any nature whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information set forth herein or the products to which the information refers. The information in this material shall not affect or modify in any way existing product warranties. 13

Recommended Zep Products for Water Damage & Flood Restoration n PERSONAL PROTECTION Zep Instant Hand Sanitizer (0908) 4 oz Hand sanitizer Zep Foam San (0880) 2.5 oz. Non-alcohol hand sanitizer Zep Sta-A-Way Insect Repellent Towels (1415) Insect repellent wipes containing DEET Zep M.V.P. (0927) Heavy duty waterless hand cleaner Zep Clean Ems Hand Cleaner Towels (1410) Heavy duty hand scrubbing wipes DISINFECTING / SANITIZING Zep DZ-7 (7520) Concentrated disinfectant/cleaner Zep Triton (1215) Concentrated cleaner, disinfectant and carpet deodorizer Zep Spirit II (0679) RTU cleaner and disinfectant Zep Clean Ems Spirit II Disinfectant Towels (1443) Easy to use disinfectant wipes Zepynamic A (0110) Aerosol disinfectant, deodorizer & sanitizer Zep FS Amine Z (1700) Sanitizer for food contact surfaces; disinfectant GENERAL CLEANING Zep Apriza II (1251) Peroxide based cleaner and sanitizer Zep A-One (1269) Concentrated Heavy Duty Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser Zep Tuff Green Concentrate (2037) Environmentally friendly all purpose cleaner Zep 40 (0144) Aerosol heavy duty non-streaking cleaner Zep ProVisions Pot & Pan Plus (1513) Concentrated hand dish wash detergent Zep ProVisions SMS Detergent (2605) Liquid machine dish wash detergent MOLD PREVENTION Zep Soft Shell (2038) Mold, mildew, fungus, and bacteria growth inhibitor DEODORIZING Zep Smoke Screen Plus (0299) Aerosol odor counteracting fogger Zep Concentrated Smoke Screen (2159) Concentrated room deodorant and air freshener Zep Smoke Screen (0187) Aerosol malodor counteractant Zep Metro Fresh (1135) Concentrated deodorizer with a pine fragrance CARPET CLEANING & DEODORIZING Zep Lemongrass Extract-It Plus (1284) Liquid carpet cleaner for extractors Zep Odorstroyer Extra (1842) Biological deodorizer and spotter for carpet and fabrics Zep Oxyspray (0828) Peroxide-based carpet, upholstery and laundry stain remover DESTAINERS (contain chlorine bleach) Zep Chlori Cling N Clean (0681) RTU thickened multi surface cleaner Zep Mildew Stain Remover (1472) RTU mold and mildew cleaner Zep FS Formula 12167 (2429) Concentrated chlorinated sanitizer LAUNDRY Zep Vantio (1133) Powdered laundry detergent Zep Choice (1041) Liquid laundry detergent Zep Tab Tech Detergent (1379) laundry detergent in tablet form Zep Jazzle (5408) Liquid laundry chlorine bleach Zep Sanosoft (0330) Bacteriostatic laundry softener 14

INSECT CONTROL Zep Flush N Kill DM (0182) Aerosol insecticide EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES Zep Gator Tails (9119) Absorbent socks Zep-O-Zorb (2300) Granular absorbent Nobles Cyclone 3 Speed Blower (N11401) Nobles Typhoon Wet/Dry Vac (N10601) Nobles Typhoon Pump-Out Vac (N10801) Zep Gloves, Mops, Buckets, Ultrawipes (8956), Squeegees, Trash Bags PENETRANTS / LUBRICANTS / CONTACT CLEANER Zepreserve (0095) Aerosol penetrant, lubricant and moisture displacer Zep Super Penetrant (0250) Aerosol penetrant and moisture displacer Zep Elec II Plus (0283) Aerosol electrical contact cleaner GreenLink is a trademark of Zep Inc. and not a third party certification. GreenLink identifies those products meeting Zep s own standards for environmentally preferable products that, among other product-specific criteria, do not contain chlorine bleach, ammonia, ozone depleting ingredients, carcinogens, butyl solvents, chlorinated solvents, APEs (Alkylphenol Ethoxylates), reproductive toxins, heavy metals, and phthalates. For more information please visit www.zep.com. 15