DK Environmental - DK Environment Explains How Earthquakes Lead to Commercial Water Damage

How Earthquakes Can Cause Water Damage in Commercial Buildings

Earthquakes occur every day, but people don’t notice most of them. However, seismic activity registering over 2.5 on the Richter scale can damage properties and structures near the epicenter due to the shaking ground. Commercial water damage is another consequence of earthquakes that people often overlook.

Washington’s risk of devastating earthquakes is one of the highest in the country. Understanding how water damage occurs during such an event helps commercial property owners determine the restoration services they need to fix their properties and resume business.

How Earthquakes Contribute to Commercial Water Damage

Flooding

Commercial properties are not the only vulnerable structures during an earthquake. The seismic activity could cause extensive damage to local dams or levees along rivers and other bodies of water. If that happens, water escaping from a ruptured dam or levee can quickly flood any building in its path.

Earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 6.0 will likely produce mild to moderate damage to buildings. However, even a minor shake is enough to shake plumbing loose, causing commercial water damage due to an interior flood from water pipes or sewer lines.

Liquefaction

Earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.1 and above will cause considerable damage. Sometimes, the shaking ground is enough to cause commercial buildings, homes, bridges, and other structures to sink below ground level.

Soil liquefaction is the culprit behind this issue. When the ground shakes excessively during a strong earthquake, water and soil can mix quickly and become soft, similar to quicksand. The result of liquefaction is a building or structure that leans or sinks several feet into the ground.

The structural damage of a commercial building due to liquefaction can include water damage. If the building sits near groundwater, the structure can be more vulnerable to moisture damage from groundwater.

Tsunamis

Tsunamis in the United States are not everyday occurrences. However, they do happen, even in Everett, WA. Sometimes, seismic activity is enough to cause flood damage.

Earthquakes and other seismic activity on the ocean floor cause these massive waves. Depending on an earthquake’s strength and the size of the tidal wave, a tsunami could quickly push water onto land. Even a small amount of seawater can seep through nearby buildings during a tsunami, resulting in expensive structural and water damage.

Commercial Water Damage Restoration

If a business sustains water damage from an earthquake, it will require water damage restoration. Whether the water comes from a burst pipe, sewer line, flood, or another source, the moisture could produce devastating results to a building and its contents.

Commercial water damage contractors have the experience and tools necessary to remove water from buildings safely. The water damage technicians will not only work diligently to restore the property to its original condition, but they will also assist with the insurance claims process and monitor the property for mold in some cases.

Water Damage Restoration From DK Environmental

Having a reliable commercial water damage restoration company assist with post-earthquake water damage can salvage a business and its property. DK Environmental serves Everett, WA, and the surrounding areas. The experienced, certified team works with many insurance providers and offers extensive water damage restoration using state-of-the-art water removal equipment and techniques.