Hurricane Season: What to know and how to prepare

9/7/2018 (Permalink)

Hurricanes are one of the most dangerous types of storms out there, trailing behind powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides.  So many people are greatly affected each year, especially during the month of September as they become more active. Here’s how to protect your home and family during this season!

IF YOU ARE UNDER A HURRICANE WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY

• Determine how best to protect yourself from high winds and flooding.
  • Evacuate if told to do so.
  • Take refuge in a designated storm shelter, or an interior room for high winds.
• Listen for emergency information and alerts.
• Only use generators outdoors and away from windows.
• Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.

Prepare NOW                

• Know your area’s risk of hurricanes.
• Sign up for your community’s warning system The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• If you are at risk for flash flooding, watch for warning signs such as heavy rain.
• Practice going to a safe shelter for high winds, such as a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm shelter. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not subject to flooding.
• Based on your location and community plans, make your own plans for evacuation or sheltering in place.
• Become familiar with your evacuation zone, the evacuation route, and shelter locations.
• Gather needed supplies for at least three days. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.
• Keep important documents in a safe place or create password-protected digital copies.
• Protect your property. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. Consider hurricane shutters. Review insurance policies.

To learn more, go to:

https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

Storm Damage Repair Tips

8/21/2018 (Permalink)

If you have been watching the news lately, you must have come across the hurricane damage that is affecting certain parts of the country. You may be wondering the water restoration and home restoration steps the people affected by the storm damage and ice damage are going to follow. You could also be amongst those who are affected by the hurricane damage or are in an area projected to suffer storm damage and flooding in the coming weeks or months. In both cases, it is important that you know how you can carry out storm damage restoration as well as storm remediation. to prevent against flooding. There are various storm restoration and home restoration tips that you can find useful. You will note that a flood pump is an essential tool to have for storm restoration.

Roof damage

Before flooding occurs, there is often roof damage in the house caused by ice damming or other factors. An ice dam is when frozen water accumulates in a place. Since an ice dam is heavy, it can lead to breakages on the roof. The strong winds can blow debris around causing roof damage. A roof leak caused by ice damage increases the chances of flooding since there are more avenues for water to come in. Storm remediation. requires that you check your roof for weak spots and strengthen it. However, should the storm damage occur, roof repair needs to be among the first steps of water restoration taken. Identify the roof leak and find ways of trapping or redirecting the flood water so that it does not accumulate and cause more flood damage. Roof damage can be identified by a visible roof leak or water stains on walls and ceiling. The wind damage and ice damage can occasion a tree to fall on your house causing roof damage. In these cases, once the storm subsides, you should check the damage caused by the roof leak and begin roof repair immediately. Sometimes, though, the roof repair process may be complicated hence necessitating professionals to come in. Be sure to call experts with extensive roof repair experience.

River flooding

If you live close to a river, you should be prepared for river flooding. This means taking storm remediation. steps early in order to prevent flood water from getting into your home. You can build barriers with sacks of sand to act as a fence against flood water. You can also dig drainage trenches around your home to direct the flood water away. Such storm remediation. steps can help to lower your river flooding insurance premiums. They can also lower the costs of home restoration. You should also know that with the river flooding, some of the reptiles such as alligators may be displaced from their natural habitat. In this case, ensure you have an impenetrable fence.

Ground water

The river flooding may contribute to the rising of ground water. If the soil cannot absorb enough, the ground water begins to swell around the home. If there are openings, it will get in and destroy furniture and other appliances. If you put enough defenses, the ground water may not rise to an extent that it is a threat to your home. However, in case of severe hurricane damage, the ground water may breach the defenses and enter the house. You should use a flood pump to remove as much of it from the house as you can. A flood pump is specialized to have enough power to remove the water at a faster rate than it is coming in. This is often the first step of water restoration and storm restoration since you need a dry home to work off from. For the flood pump to be effective, ensure you have enough fuel to ensure the home restoration process does not stop once it starts.

Wind damage

The storm restoration process may be hampered by wind damage. There is likely to be debris that is carried by the currents and this only adds to the extent of the hurricane damage. Some of the items that cause wind damage include tree branches, electric poles and other fixtures, and garden furniture. While you can take steps to secure what is around your home, some others may be blown from far away. The hail damage can also be exacerbated by the wind. The hail damage can occur when there are weak spots in the house. This can be the roof or the windows and doors. Ensure that you have fortified these areas by boarding them up with plywood. This limits the extent of both wind damage and hail damage.

Ice damage

Hail damage can be accompanied by ice damage. This might result in frozen pipes and ice dam. With frozen pipes, it means that your water supply is essentially cut off. Ice damming can encase some of your furniture and appliances while making some areas inaccessible. Before starting on water restoration ensure that all the ice damage is removed. You should leave the work of repairing the frozen pipes and removing the ice damming to professionals to avoid further damage. Do not use heat for the ice dam or frozen pipes.
Visit http://www.SERVPRObowie.com for more information on storm damage.

Let's Talk Storm Damage

8/10/2018 (Permalink)

When storm damage occurs to your home or business the restoration process can seem daunting. Not only are you faced with a frightening event most times, but as soon as the storm fades you are faced with unpleasant and unwanted damage. At SERVPRO of Bowie, our goal is to make the restoration process as seamless and straightforward as possible. Our teams are equipped with the knowledge and certifications to complete the necessary restoration with as little disruption as possible.

From the moment that we receive the first call regarding storm damage to your home or business to the moment that we arrive on site to meet with the home or business owner and begin the restoration process our focus is on the customer. Our on-site professionals will explain the process and ensure that you are informed throughout the duration.

If you find yourself in need of restoration call the professionals at SERVPRO of Bowie. We are always here to help and ensure that your home or business is brought back to its previous condition.

Don't Forget to Call SERVPRO of Bowie for any restoration and damage control needs! (301)-464-4183 

SERVPRO of Bowie is ready to tackle any storm damage that comes our way!

8/7/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bowie specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quickly and with the right resources. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When a storm hits we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

As you can see in the photo, a local resident was hit with some major flooding from a heavy storm that occurred the night before. Luckily for them, the SERVPRO of Bowie team arrived as soon as they could and the situation was eventually dealt with.

HOW TO STAY SAFE FROM THUNDERSTORMS

7/28/2018 (Permalink)

• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.
• As the storm approaches, take shelter in a building.
• If you are driving, pull off the roadway and park. Stay in the car with the windows closed and turn on the emergency flashers. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside of the vehicle.
• If you are inside, unplug appliances and avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Avoid taking a bath or shower, or running water for any other purpose.
• If you are caught outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground, water, tall, isolated trees and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are not safe.

Emergency Water Tips

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

Suffering a water loss can be a hectic and stressful time. Emotions run high and often times you don’t even know where to start! The first step should always be to identify the source of incoming water then shutoff or stop the water source if possible. Next make sure to turn off all electrical appliances around the affected area to reduce electrical hazards and turn off the circuit breakers supplying electricity to the wet areas. You will want to remove excess water by mopping or blotting and make sure to never use a regular vacuum to remove water! Keep furniture safe from additional damage by placing aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting/flooring and make sure to call SERVPRO of Bowie at (301)-459-0444 to come assess the damage and get the drying process started immediately.