Archive for August, 2009
Flood Damage Restoration
Posted by: | CommentsNATURAL DISASTERS OFTEN STRIKE without warning, leaving behind a
trail of unfathomable destruction and devastation. Though none of
Mother Nature’s disasters are entirely predictable,few storms strike with the unexpected
ferocity of flash floods. This issue of the Newsline focuses on information and safety
tips for the United States’ most common and deadly disaster. Unexpected emergencies like flash floods call for immediate action. First responders, such as local police and fire departments,
often must intervene for the safety of their residents as flood waters rise. But after
the flood waters have subsided, your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional knows
immediate reaction to the disaster can be just as important.
Utilizing our 1-4-8 Service Response
Guidelines, your SERVPRO® Franchise
Professional strives to:
- Contact you or your insured within
1 hour from notice of loss to arrange
for service. - Be on-site to begin mitigation services
within 4 hours of notification. - Provide verbal briefing of scope to
the appropriate agent, resident or
business owner within 8 business
hours of on-site arrival.
MYTH
Large cars and sports utility vehicles
should be able to navigate in
deeper flood waters.
TRUTH
Just two feet of swiftly moving
flash flood water is enough to
float most vehicles – even larger
cars and trucks.
MYTH
Flash floods occur only along
rivers and streams.
TRUTH
Flash floods can occur nearly
anywhere – even in urban areas.
MYTH
Homeowners insurance policies
cover flood damage.
TRUTH
The vast majority of these policies
do not cover flood damage.
The Facts on Flash Floods
FLOODS ARE THE MOST COMMON AND costly natural disaster in the United States.
According to running up a $2.4 billion-per-year tab in average annual losses from 1994-2004.1
While some of Mother Nature’s more demonstrative displays, such as hurricanes, tornados and
earthquakes, get more public attention, floods are the number one weather-related killer in the
U.S.
Flash floods are the most dangerous kind of flood, because they combine the nearly unstoppable
force of a flood with deadly unpredictability and speed. According to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), more than half of all flash flood fatalities are related to
automobiles.
The truth is as simple as it is tragic:
Just six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock a grown man off his feet, and just two feet
of water can cause a car to begin floating. Should a flash flood strike your area, your local
SERVPRO® Franchise Professional wants you to be equipped with the following tips to help keep
you safe.
SAFETY TIPS:
- You cannot outrun a flash flood. Get to
higher ground! - Stay away from and keep children away
from drainage ditches and storm drains. - Never drive into water covering the road.
You do not know how deep it is or if the
road underneath the water has been
washed away. - If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately
and seek higher ground if it is safe to do so. - Be especially cautious at night when it is
difficult to recognize flood dangers. - Do not attempt to cross flowing water if
the water is above ankle level.
Top 11 States for Flood Losses:
State Total Payments
1 Louisiana $15,891,996,906
2 Texas $4,923,448,292
3 Florida $3,516,835,046
4 Mississippi $2,832,195,417
5 Alabama $926,650,675
6 New Jersey $851,817,897
7 North Carolina $769,765,536
8 Pennsylvania $738,974,655
9 New York $595,700,712
10 Missouri $541,425,803
11 California $479,760,187
The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
UNINTENTIONAL CARBON MONOXIDE poisoning claims more than 500 lives and sends over 15,000 people to the emergency room each year in America, according to a study by the Center for Disease Control. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless and colorless gas that is toxic to humans and animals. Because humans cannot detect CO with their senses, carbon monoxide can kill you before you are aware it is affecting you. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, low levels of CO exposure cause mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. Carbon monoxide can come from several sources including charcoal grills, motor vehicles, wood burning fireplaces and generators.
SAFETY TIPS
- Install at least one CO alarm with an
audible warning alarm near the sleeping
areas of your home. Ensure the alarm has
been evaluated by a recognized laboratory,
such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). - Have a qualified professional check all
fuel-burning appliances and furnaces at
least once per year. - Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi or a
power generator in an enclosed space, like
a garage. Even if the door is open, the CO
may not be properly ventilated. - Never keep a car running in the garage.
- Never use a range or oven to help heat your home.
Damage Restoration
Posted by: | CommentsFire & Water – Cleanup & Restoration
Call the cleanup team that’s faster to any disaster:
With SERVPRO®, it’s not just an empty tag line. It is a commitment from each SERVPRO® Franchise Professional to be there when you or your customers need them most. Whether you are a small business owner who has to close your doors after a minor fire damage or a property manager dealing with a widespread disaster, the SERVPRO® System has the resources to respond quickly, efficiently and effectively.
The sooner help arrives, the sooner restoration begins. The sooner restoration begins, the sooner you or your customers can resume life and business as usual. Your local SERVPRO® Franchise is just the tip of the iceberg. Should a major disaster, such as a flood or wildfire, exhaust local resources, SERVPRO’s Storm Teams remain constantly at the ready. These elite teams have responded to everything from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to the San Diego wildfires in 2007 to the Iowa floods in 2008.
Should fire damage, water damage or mold damage strike – no matter the size – give your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional a call. Backed by a proven, time-tested system of Franchises more than 1,400 strong, we’ll help make your property disaster “Like it never even happened.”
FROM COAST TO COAST IN 2009, wildfires across the country have already been making national news. The Jesusita fire in Southern California and the large fire in South Carolina burned nearly 30,000 acres and destroyed more than 150 homes and businesses. These areas of the country aren’t alone. In 2008, 29 states had more than 10,000 acres scorched by wildfires, as a total of 5.2 million acres burned across the country. Though thousands of wildfires are started every year by natural causes – such as lightning strikes – many more are man-made disasters. In 2008, 8,856 fires were attributed to lightning strikes, while humans caused 70,093 fires. Man-made wildfires can be more dangerous than natural fires, because they tend to occur in more populated areas.
Though we may never be able to eliminate wildfires, there are steps we can take to help lessen the danger of damage to our homes and businesses. As a National Preparedness Coalition member, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional encourages you to follow these safety tips, courtesy of FEMA.
The Facts on and What You Can Do
*Statistics provided by the National Interagency Fire Center.
Safety Tips
- Always build fires away from nearby trees
or shrubs. - Create a 30-foot safety zone around the
house or business, clearing all flammable
and combustible objects. - Remove debris from under decks and
insides gutters. - Prune branches and shrubs within 15 feet
of chimneys and stove pipes. - Replace highly flammable vegetation such
as pine, eucalyptus, junipers and fir trees
with lower growing, less flammable species. - Check with your local garden store or fire
department for suggestions. - Use fire-resistant siding.
Top 10 States for Wildland Fires in 2008 Source: Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org)
Rank State Fires Acres Burned:
1 Texas 16,713 1,570,586
2 California 5,812 1,339,839
3 Oklahoma 5,572 196,563
4 Georgia 5,454 23,081
5 North Carolina 4,414 95,938
6 Alabama 3,103 32,447
7 Florida 2,939 156,102
8 South Carolina 2,626 15,751
9 Mississippi 1,898 27,399
10 Arizona 1,850 85,496
FIREWORKS CAN BE A FESTIVE AND fun way to celebrate holidays. In the United States, no holiday is more widely celebrated with the colorful displays of pyrotechnics than the Fourth of July.
However, each year in July, thousands of people – both adults and children – are injured by fireworks while celebrating. According to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study conducted in 2006, emergency departments treated more than 9,200 fireworks-related injuries from June 16 to July 16 (2006). Sparklers accounted for one-third of the injuries to children under the age of 5 in the same time period. Children under 15 accounted for 36% of the estimated injuries.
Since a large percentage of the injuries from fireworks are related to illegally made fireworks,
the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) encourages consumers to only use legal,
approved fireworks. Of course, even then, the fireworks must be used as directed in a safe
and responsible manner.
Though a professional fireworks display is the safest way to enjoy the aerial displays, the
National Council on Fireworks Safety suggests the following tips for a fun, safe fireworks display.
- Only use fireworks outdoors.
- Be aware of and obey all local laws
regarding the use of fireworks. - Children under 16 should only use
fireworks under adult supervision. - Always have a bucket of water or a hose
nearby. If conditions are excessively dry,
do not use fireworks. - Alcohol and fireworks are a bad mix.
- Parents should pay special attention to
children using sparklers. Sparklers can
reach temperatures up to 1,800 degrees
Fahrenheit. - Children should not throw or play games with sparklers.
