As the lights come back on and the waters recede, here are some hurricane clean-up tips.

• Run your generator outside; exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide which can be deadly.
• Check your foundation, roof and chimney for cracks. Leave the house if you suspect something may collapse.
• If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity source to the house. Unplug appliances and let them dry. Have a professional check appliances and the electrical system before restoring power.
• If pipes are damaged, turn off the main water valve. Check with local authorities before using the water — it may be contaminated.
• Pump out wells and have the water tested by authorities before drinking.
• Basement walls can collapse if the room is pumped out too quickly. Remove only about a third of the water per day. Nilfisk ALTO’s Attix 19 FloodSucker Vacuum is a unique sump pump vacuum that quickly and simultaneously collects and discharges water. Check with your nearest Nilfisk ALTO distributor for details.
• Remove wet wallpaper and saturated drywall; it is a breeding ground for mold.

Nilfisk Eliminator II wet/dry vacuum

• Use wet/dry vacuum cleaners to collect small amounts of water; HEPA filter vacuums should be used in any areas where mold is suspected (when removing drywall). We recommend the Nilfisk Eliminator I and Nilfisk Eliminator II or the Nilfisk ALTO Attix 30 HEPA and Nilfisk ALTO Attix 50 HEPA.
• Disinfect anything with bleach or other household disinfectant that may have been touched by raw sewage or floodwaters.
• Ask a contractor or building inspector to check for mold damage after a flood.
• Take pictures of damage, record your cleanup costs and call your insurance company.

To meet their maintenance needs, NWFPA attendees will want to stop by booth # 320 where Nilfisk CFM will display several of their food processing vacuums, proven to be successful in a variety of food industry cleaning applications.

• The Nilfisk GWD 220, is a double-motor wet/dry vac with a 20-gallon stainless steel collection container. It can be fitted with an upstream HEPA filter and requires no filter change between liquid and dry collection.
• The Nilfisk CFM 137 is a compact, full-feature vacuum useful for general plant maintenance, overhead cleaning, and the collection of fine powders and debris. The vacuum offers high filtration performance, noise control, quality construction and user-friendly controls.
• The Nilfisk CFM 118EXP is an explosion-proof vacuum suitable for collecting hazardous materials, thus decreasing the risk of a combustible dust accident. Composed of 304 stainless steel, the 118EXP is CSA certified for use in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E, F, and G environments.

All Nilfisk CFM vacuums can be equipped with special hose and accessories, including those for use in hot ovens and overhead cleaning of pipes and machinery. For more information, visit www.foodprocessingvacuum.com.

For more information, visit www.foodprocessingvacuum.com.