Floods Cause Heating Oil Tank to Overflow

Heavy summer storms caused the flooding of homes and businesses in a small town along a major river. Raging floodwaters knocked open the fill cap of a homeowner’s heating oil tank. Water surged into the tank, displacing about 200 gallons of heating oil. Floodwater, heating oil, and flood debris filled the home’s basement to within a few inches of the ceiling.

The homeowner contacted the state environmental authorities and Simon & Associates. Simon & Associates personnel immediately began emergency response by pumping and vacuuming thousands of gallons of standing water and product from the basement.

After the liquid had been removed and sent to a petroleum reclamation facility, Simon & Associates personnel removed over eight tons of debris and sludge from the basement for disposal.

Personnel then cleaned the basement walls and floor with a hot water pressure washer. Approximately 3,500 gallons of water, product, and sludge were vacuumed out of the basement.

The yard outside the basement was restored, seeded, and graded. The homeowner was able to stay in the home, and continue to use the basement. The case was recommended for closure just one month after the flooding.

The basement cleanup was completed in five days. As a full service environmental firm, Simon & Associates can respond to emergency situations, clean petroleum-contaminated buildings and sites, and manage state-required reporting for the homeowner client.