Some Warning Signs of Damaged Pantry Items After Flooding in Your Northampton Home

12/23/2018 (Permalink)

When your home pantry or other household items are affected by flooding, it can be hard to figure out what is salvageable. Call SERVPRO.

The Question of Food After Flood Damage in Northampton

One complication of flood damage in Northampton that can often be overlooked is food. Depending on where and how you store your food and how extensive the flood damage is, your pantry could stay fully stocked, or you could find yourself eating out for days or weeks in the future. While this may seem like a trivial concern, the value of the food in most homes is significant enough for SERVPRO to be concerned about it. Follow these tips to save on meals while restorations are underway in your home.

Put Perishables in Coolers
Many cases of flood damage to Northampton homes knock out power to specific objects, rooms, or even entire buildings for days at a time. On top of that, in some circumstances, even working appliances can represent a safety risk if they remain in use. Until a SERVPRO professional checks to make sure your home electrical systems are safe, you might be best off storing perishable items like meats, dairy, and vegetables in coolers full of ice. Be sure to bag and wrap individual items to prevent them from being soaked in water as the ice melts.

Don't Toss Out Cans
Canned goods that have been soaked in flood waters may still be perfectly safe to consume. Although it may be unsafe to open damaged cans, those that clearly have no dents, cracks, or holes can be saved and eaten later, even if their labels are marred. This advice also applies to bottles, packages, and other sealed containers that successfully resist damage.

Get Rid of Ruined Items
We cannot save or restore ruined food items. Any open or damaged packages or perishable items that may have encountered floodwaters should be thrown away to avoid the many health risks that can come with their consumption. In general, if you have any doubts as to whether or not a food item has been contaminated, you should err on the side of caution and throw it away.

SERVPRO of Hampshire County can help to mitigate and reverse the effects of flood damage in your home. For our professional services and advice, call us 24/7 at (413) 324-1300.

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