Debby Leaves Florida And Focus Shifts To Cleanup From Flooding

Tropical Storm Debby left the Sunshine State early in the morning on Wednesday and headed out to the Atlantic Ocean. The storm which led to a State of Emergency to be declared earlier this week, was substantially weakened by a high pressure system filled with dry air from the north, which sped up the pace of the storm and reduced the expected rainfall in the area. The bad news, is that the storm still carried a significant wallop and caused isolated pockets of flash floods in communities from Gainesville to Jacksonville, primarily in Northern Florida.

Jarivs first responders are in numerous areas including Lake City and Live Oak, two communities that experienced some of the worst flooding in history this week. The potential for flooding to worsen is also a realistic possibility, primarily due to the fact that many rivers are expected to crest later in the week as the water searches for lower ground and tributaries, meaning low lying areas could see flood waters rise, despite the sunny skies that are across much of the State today.

Cleanup for homeowners and business owners will begin as the water levels recede. The States declaration of emergency will help pave the way to apply for FEMA grants and assistance to help recover the expenses caused by the storm. The majority of the expense will likely be at the burden of the property owner, unless they have previously secured flood insurance to help offset the expense that flooding creates, which is normally not covered under a traditional insurance policy.

Beginning the cleanup will likely included water removal and extraction, followed by select demolition for drywall or sheetrock that has become saturated by the flood waters. Once the destroyed materials are removed and the water is out, the next phase is to dry out the property which is accomplished by large dehumidifiers and air movers, a process that generally takes two to four days for most structures. Jarvis has certified restoration techs from the IICRC to oversee the whole cleanup process in the area.