Archive for Water Damage
Water Damage
Posted by: | CommentsWHEN A NATURAL DISASTER threatens a community, it is often too late to take the necessary steps to prepare homes, businesses and family members for the situation. Whether it’s a blizzard, flood damage, water damage from a hurricane or wildfire, disasters of all types often give little to no warning before they strike.
That’s why the Department of Homeland Security sponsors the Ready Campaign and recognizes National Preparedness Month (NPM) this time each year. As a coalition member of NPM, your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional wants you to be prepared should a man-made or natural disaster strike your local area.
In this edition of the Newsline you will find:
- An Emergency Supply Checklist.
- A message from Rebecca Marquis,
- Acting Director of the Ready Campaign.
- Emergency Contact Cards.
- Directions on how to find more
information on preparedness.
You can enable your business to be its best by getting yourself and your customers ready for Mother Nature’s worst.
Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:
- Water, one gallon per person per day
- Food, non-perishable
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet supplies
- Manual can opener
- Battery operated radio, preferably a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Bedding
- Clothing
- Dust masks or bandanna
- Plastic sheeting, garbage bags and
duct tape - Wrench or pliers
- Local maps
- Hygiene items
- Important documents such as
copies of insurance policies,
identification and bank account
information - Cash
- Fire Extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
YOU MAY THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH supplies in your pantry to make it through an emergency, but if you have to evacuate,do you have a to-go emergency kit that is easy to grab at a moment’s notice? If an emergency occurs, you might assume you can simply call your spouse or children to see if they’re okay, but what if the phone lines are jammed with others doing the exact same thing? When it comes to you and your loved ones, is having a plan that’s “good enough” good enough?
The Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps encourage you to take a few extra minutes this month to plan for any emergency. September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and a good reminder that we all have a responsibility to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. Emergencies will happen, but taking action now can help us minimize the impact they will have on our lives.
This year, NPM focuses on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and helping Americans understand what it truly means to be Ready. Preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and extra food in the pantry. Being Ready includes: getting an Emergency Supply Kit; making a Family Emergency Plan; being informed about emergencies and their appropriate responses; and getting involved in community efforts such as Citizen Corps.
Throughout September, activities and events will take place across this country to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and promote individual involvement, such as first aid trainings,town hall meetings and much more.
For more information on NPM or for help getting your family, business or community prepared, visit www.ready.gov, www.listo.gov or www.citizencorps.gov, where you’ll find free preparedness resources such as Family Emergency Plan templates,Emergency Supply Kit Checklists, and much more, or call 1-800-BE-READY. The Ready Web site also has special sections for kids (Ready Kids) and small- to medium-sized businesses (Ready Business).
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.
Water Damage
Posted by: | CommentsDo:
- Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
- Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and table top items.
- Remove and prop wet upholstery and pillow cushions for even drying.Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
- Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
- Remove Oriental rugs or other colored rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpeting.
- Remove valuable paintings and art objects to a safe, dry place.Open and place luggage, in sunlight to dry, if possible.Gather loose items, toys, etc. from floors.
Don’t:
- Leave wet fabrics in place; dry as soon as possible. Hang furs and leather
goods to dry separately at room temperature. - Leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
- Use your household vacuum to remove water.
- Use TVs or other household appliances while standing on wet carpets
or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors. - Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet,and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
