Ready to Reopen Webinar
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Collapse ▲Ready to Reopen: Restarting Your Food Business After a Major Storm
Join us as we learn from industry leaders in sanitation and infrastructure restoration about how to best restart your food business after a natural disaster.
Webinar Highlights
Personal Safety
- Flood waters and debris can both be dangerous, they can contain human and animal fecal matter. Debris is harp, often toxic, and hazardous. Mud and turbid water can hide dangerous debris.
- Assess hazards associated with flooding incidents as soon as possible:
- Biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, pathogens from sewage, or animal waste.
- Physical debris such as broken glass, nails, and sharp objects.
- Chemical contaminants like pesticides and industrial waste.
- Clean hands frequently, consider sanitizing hands after thorough washing.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE):
- Heavy-duty shoes or boots
- Gloves
- Coveralls
- Respirators (if accessible and necessary)
- Power lines are dangerous and may not look live. May encounter energized surfaces or exposed underground power lines.
- A tetanus booster is a good idea, may also want to consider Hepatitis A and B vaccines.
Post-Flooding Damage Assessment
Always prioritize employee safety prior to assessments.
Complete an initial assessment to determine what you need to do:
- Document damage with photos and videos. Take detailed notes that can be referenced later, if needed.
- HVAC systems may need to be cleaned.
- Some equipment may not be recoverable.
- Food contact surfaces must be assessed for potential contamination and difficulty of decontamination.
Don’t be afraid to get help from professionals!
Contact Relevant Local Authorities
- Local County Health Department: collaboration for guidance on water and streamlined reopening.
- State health agencies (e.g., Department of Health and Human Services).
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Food Program, Produce Safety and Meat and Poultry Programs
Stock and Product Assessment and Disposal
Apply the “When in doubt, throw it out” principle.
Items to discard can include, but are not limited to:
| Fresh, exposed foods | Food in containers with screw caps, crimp caps, flip top lids, and other similar closures | Anything packaged in plastic, cardboard, paper, or cloth must all be disposed of if they were in contact with flood waters |
| Destroy refrigerated and frozen foods, such as meat, poultry, shell eggs, egg products, and milk, which have been temperature abused or immersed in flood waters. | Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage can be swelling, leakage, punctures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting | Dry goods in packages exposed to flood water should also be discarded |
- Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans or retort pouches can be saved if you remove labels that can come off, thoroughly wash the cans, rinse them, and then disinfect them with a sanitizing solution consisting of 1 cup (8 oz/250 mL) of unscented household (5.25% concentration) bleach per 5 gallons of potable water. Finally, re-label containers that had the labels removed, including the expiration date, with a marker.
- Complete proper and safe disposal of condemned food items in a manner consistent with federal, state, and local solid waste storage, transportation, and disposal regulations, to ensure these products do not reappear as damaged or salvaged merchandise for human consumption.
Sanitation Remediation (3-Steps)
- Large Debris removal
- Clean and Disinfect
- Sanitize, Reassemble and Sanitize
1. Large Debris & Soil Removal
- Remove debris, best done with brooms, shovels or other large-scale equipment.
- Remember to employ appropriate PPE.
- May need to discard shelving, cabinetry, and other storage equipment.
- Thoroughly disassemble any equipment you plan on salvaging, this will help with disinfection & sanitizing.
- Document debris removal with photographs or video evidence.
- Eliminate all pests from the facility. Dispose of any dead pests properly. Ensure pest entry points are sealed or repaired to reduce likelihood of pest re-entry.
Mold Control
Mold growth is a common post-flood issue. It should be addressed as soon as possible in the remediation process and it’s recommended to have professional assessment and treatment against mold growth. Try to minimize secondary contamination during removal of molded materials.
- Discard any carpet or rugs.
- Drywall and insulation exposed to flood water should be replaced.
- Wood exposed to flood water may need to be replaced.
- If there was flood water for extended time, drop ceilings may also need to be replaced.
- Use the ’24-Inch Rule’ for removal of surfaces at least 24 inches beyond any visible mold.
- When choosing an EPA-approved disinfectant, select one that is effective against molds.
- Caution when using bleach:
- Bleach has the potential for masking mold rather than eliminating it;
- Bleach has corrosive properties and can potentially cause damage;
- Hazardous if mixed with other chemicals (ammonia, acids);
- Important to use according to label instructions.
2. Clean and Disinfect Surfaces
- Disassemble anything that you have not already taken apart.
- Clean everything with a heavy-duty cleaner or detergent.
- Clean all the parts that you have disassembled and scrub everything well.
- Rinse with POTABLE water.
- You may need to repeat the preceding steps until everything is CLEAN.
- Verify cleaning is adequate, use visual checks, smell checks or tools such as ATP swabs and meters.
- Disinfect all surfaces with an EPA-approved disinfectant at the appropriate concentration. NOTE: This will be a higher concentration than used for normal sanitation practices in your facility.
- Rinse disinfectant with potable water after contact time has been achieved.
3.Sanitize, Reassemble and Sanitize
- After disinfection steps, sanitize any food contact surfaces and surfaces effected by flood water and debris.
- Do not rinse sanitizer from surfaces, allow the sanitizer drain and air dry.
- Reassemble any equipment.
- Sanitize the reassembled equipment.
Thank you to our Speakers!
Dale Grinstead
Josh Smith
PHC Restoration
Brendon Rumsey
Rumsey Construction and Restoration
Natural Disaster Resources
U.S. Government Disaster Assistance
https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ is a U.S. government website that provides disaster survivors with access to a wide range of recovery resources, including financial aid, housing assistance, and support services. It allows individuals to apply for FEMA assistance, check eligibility for various programs, and find local resources like shelters and food. The site also offers real-time disaster updates and guidance on the recovery process. Its goal is to streamline the process of accessing help after a disaster, making it easier for affected individuals to get the support they need.
NC DHHS Disaster and Behavioral Health Resources Communications Toolkit
Site contains disaster-specific tips and resources for North Carolinians, information on how to navigate stressful events and where to find mental health support. The materials also offer disaster resources for people living with a disability or as a caregiver, and how to access care if you struggle with substance use. You can use the toolkit to learn safety guidance and help others do the same.
FDA: Restaurants and Grocers Reopening After Hurricanes and Flooding
USDA: Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency
Restoration Resources
Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
https://www.restorationindustry.org/