Resources for New York City Building Owners and Managers Following Historic Rainfall

Last week, New York City and the surrounding region experienced one of the wettest days on record. A state of emergency was declared by New York’s Governor for all of New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley Region due to the heavy rains and flash flooding. Another state of emergency was also declared in nearby Hoboken, New Jersey.

Up to eight inches of rain fell in some areas causing serious flood damage to the city’s subway system, basement apartments, and countless buildings. With the rain finally over, facility managers, building owners, and tenants are faced with cleaning up the mess and filing insurance claims.

A significant area of concern is mold and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues associated with water damage. This is due to the fact that standing water, humid conditions and wet building materials, furnishings, and belongings can quickly become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Floodwaters can even introduce sewage and chemicals into a building. Some of these properties also likely contain asbestos and lead-based paints, two hazardous and regulated substances that can easily become airborne during cleanup, demolition, or repair activities if the proper safety precautions are not in place.

“People need to understand that mold will have begun to grow in less than 48 hours on most building materials and furnishings that have remained damp,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “At CTSI, our industrial hygiene, environmental, and building science professionals are here to help with recovery efforts. Our experts can assist building owners and managers assess the damage and potential exposure hazards. We also provide oversight to help ensure that demolition, repair, and rebuilding activities are done safely. These services protect workers and building occupants from exposure risks to mold, bacteria, chemicals, asbestos, lead, and more. They also help companies and institutions comply with health and safety regulations in New York City and the surrounding area.”

To learn more about this or other property damage, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail