Prepare for Storms

7/9/2024 (Permalink)

Storms can be dangerous weather events that leave destruction to your property.

Storms can be dangerous weather events that leave destruction to your property as well as cause injuries. Below is a checklist to make sure your home and family are best prepared for any storms, so that you, your loved ones, and your home can stay safe.  

• Prepare a Storm Shelter. Include essential supplies such as food, water, a first aid kid, flashlights, and batteries to last a few days in the case of a severe storm or tornado.  
• Clear Branches and Dead Trees Around Your Home. The high-speed wind of storms can send dead branches or even trees crashing through your windows, siding and roof. Clearing these objects away from your house is an easy way to make sure they do not cause any damage.  
• Secure Outside Objects.  If a bad storm is coming up, move large outdoor objects inside to prevent damage to your house and those objects.  
• Document Your Valuable Items. Take pictures of valuable items that you can use to show to your insurance provider. If they are damaged or lost in the storm, you’ll have better luck with your claim if you have documentation. Include date of purchase and purchase amount if you have that as well. Bonus points for saving receipts!  
• Protect Your Pets. When preparing for storms, pets’ needs can be forgotten about. Make sure to have a plan in place for your pets, whether that is in your storm shelter or if that means having them in a separate safe location for when the storm hits. 

August 2024 CE Courses for Insurance Agents

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

Calling all insurance agents!

Calling all insurance agents! SERVPRO® is hosting a complimentary CE course webinar on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. If you need continuing education credits, our team is “Here to help®!”  

The following webinar will be held on August 14, 2024: 

9:30 AM - 11:30 PM: Biohazard Cleanup Webinar (2 Credits – Course Number: 85805) 

Registration for the class begins at 8:30 AM and goes on until 9:30 AM. Attendees who sign up for the webinar will be required to have their web camera and microphone on throughout the entirety of the class. The webinar link to access the class will be sent via the provided email the week of the class. 

All attendees are required to register for the courses by Friday, August 12, 2024. Class space is limited. Email marketing@rdmhc.com to learn more about registering! 

August 2024 CE Courses for Insurance Agents

6/21/2024 (Permalink)

Calling all insurance agents!

Calling all insurance agents! SERVPRO® is hosting a complimentary CE course webinar on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. If you need continuing education credits, our team is “Here to help®!”  

The following webinar will be held on August 6, 2024:
9:30 AM - 11:30 PM: Mitigation Awareness and Response Webinar (2 Credits – Course Number: 85807) 

Registration for the class begins at 8:30 AM and goes on until 9:30 AM. Attendees who sign up for the webinar will be required to have their web camera and microphone on throughout the entirety of the class. The webinar link to access the class will be sent via the provided email the week of the class. 

All attendees are required to register for the courses by Friday, August 2, 2024. Class space is limited. Email marketing@rdmhc.com to learn more about registering! 

Preparing Your Business for Restoration After a Disaster

6/11/2024 (Permalink)

If a fire, flood or any other cause damages your business, you can always count on us for restoration assistance.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as the owner of a business? 

Many business owners say they have found it’s not always possible to plan for the future—or to see an event that will impact your business coming. Others say they’ve had to find new ways to engage with their customers and continue providing services.  These are essential lessons that carry on to other parts of the business, too. It’s crucial to have a plan in place to help you deal with the different types of disasters that business owners can face, like fires, flooding or severe storms. 

Because SERVPRO® Team Miller wants to be a resource for business owners in our area, we’ve put together some powerful tips to help you if you ever need commercial restoration services. 

What You Need to Know About Starting a Restoration Project 

The majority of business owners can open their doors again after a fire or flood damages their business. It’s possible to not only open again but also to be more successful. 

Here’s how we recommend you start the process: 

• Your disaster plan is a crucial component. Invest in a disaster plan before you need it and do everything you can to follow it in the aftermath of a fire, flood or another type of natural disaster. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when your business is damaged, so knowing what you will do in advance helps. You may want to think about moving your business to a backup location so you can continue operating. 
• Document all your damage. You’ll want to take plenty of pre-cleanup photos of your property to show your insurance company. It’s smart to inventory the items inside your business that were damaged, compromised or destroyed. Include the values of these items on your inventory list. 
• Don’t forget to update your community. Providing your suppliers, your employees, your customers and your wider community with regular updates about your progress, a temporary location or your reopening is essential. 
• Set up an ERP with Team Miller. We can prepare an Emergency Response Profile to prevent unpredictable seasonal weather from catching you off guard. The profile sets up priority response, a customized restoration plan before an emergency occurs, a single point of contact for multiple facilities and provides local as well as national coverage. 

If a fire, flood or any other cause damages your business, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available 24/7 in the event of an emergency.

SERVPRO® Can Help Your Business

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is to reduce business interruptions and recovery costs.

SERVPRO® is committed to providing expert fire and water cleanup and restoration services to reduce business interruptions and recovery costs. Our team can also provide specialized commercial cleaning services to maintain the best appearance of your facility. 

• Fire, Smoke and Soot Cleanup and Restoration: Pretesting helps us determine what type of fire has taken place. Knowing the types of smoke and their behavior patterns are vital to proper restoration. 
• Water Removal and Dehumidification: Our professionals identify the source and type of water which determines the proper course of action. Drying equipment controls temperature and humidity, minimizing secondary damage. 
• Biohazard and Vandalism Cleanup: SERVPRO franchise technicians are trained to safely and effectively clean biohazardous substances and prepare waste for proper disposal according to OSHA, EPA, and state and local health regulations. 
• Mold Mitigation and Remediation: Our professionals work to control and remediate mold contaminants while protecting your health and safety. 
• Contents Claim Inventory: Accurate inventory helps keep cost low and reduces job completion time. Our professionals can provide an itemized, area-by-area loss inventory. 

Celebrate the 4th of July with Safety in Mind

6/7/2024 (Permalink)

Celebrating the 4th of July can be a blast – literally.

Celebrating the 4th of July can be a blast – literally. When getting ready to celebrate the long weekend, it’s important to take note of the proper safety precautions to avoid series injury or potential fire hazards when grilling or setting off fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. 

Tips for Grilling Safely 

• Keep your grill at least 10 ft. away from the walls of your home, garage, etc.  
• Never leave a lit grill unattended.  
• Never add starter fluid to ignited coals. 
• Use long-handed grilling equipment to avoid getting burned. 

Safely Setting Off Fireworks 

• Stay at lease 500 ft. away from a public, live firework show. 
• Keep a fire extinguisher or a supply of water nearby in case any fireworks do cause a fire. 
• Never hold any part of your body directly over a firework as you light them to avoid burning your hands, face, chest, etc. 
• Keep fireworks out of the reach of children. Always keep children within your sight if they are playing with sparklers. 
• If a firework does not go off, do not attempt to light it again. 

If an unavoidable fire disaster does occur to your property, know that SERVPRO® is available 24/7/365 to help you with every step of the fire restoration process. 

Bonfire Season Is Coming

6/7/2024 (Permalink)

Follow these tips to have fun and safe summer nights!

Surrounding a campfire with loved ones creates special memories that you can cherish forever. Putting forth safety measures when having a bonfire can lessen the chances of having fire related injuries and property damage. Follow these tips to have fun and safe summer nights! 

Starting the Fire 

• Make sure your fire pit is enclosed and there is enough room for a seating area. 
• Make sure that your bonfire is 10 feet away from your home or any structures. 
• Do not use gasoline or lighter fluid to start or light the bonfire. 

Bonfire Safety 

• Keep a bucket of water or hose handy in case of emergencies. 
• Do not leave the bonfire unattended. 
• Keep children and pets away from the bonfire. 
• Do not throw fireworks into the bonfire. 
• Do not burn aerosols or anything that may produce toxic fumes or explode. 

Putting Out the Fire 

• Slowly pour water over the ashes and check to be sure that the fire is completely out. 
• Use a shovel to spread out the ashes to let them cool down. 

Preventing Water Damage in Your Home Starts Here

5/3/2024 (Permalink)

It’s important to educate yourself about home systems that are designed to prevent water from entering your home.

The perks of owning your own home are great but it also brings a lot of responsibility. Homes are built in a way to provide maximum protection from water intrusion but sometimes those methods fail. 

It’s important to educate yourself about home systems that are designed to prevent water from entering your home. Here are some of the most common points of failure in a home that could allow water to go where it shouldn’t:  

• Faucets and Sinks. Faucets and sinks are places to check for leaks. Over time, the rubber gaskets in faucets can degrade which can lead to leaks. Sink drains are usually sturdy unless you have a clog and use too much plunger pressure to remove it. Too much pressure from plunging can damage seals, so always use caution.  
• Disposals. Garbage disposals are one of the hardest working appliances, and they can spring a link. If you believe you have a leak, check out these tips for finding it.  
• Gutters and Downspouts. Gutters and downspouts should be clean and free flowing. They should be inspected regularly and cleared of obstructions and debris. Downspouts should move water at least 30 inches away from the home, and the soil should also flow away from the home.  
• Roof Damage. Falling limbs from trees are a real risk to roof systems. They can perforate the roof and damage or clog gutters. Shingles are especially susceptible to falling tree damage. Newer shingles are designed and constructed to be impact-resistant, hopefully reducing the need for expensive roof repairs. But shingles degrade over time, and a falling tree or limb can easily damage an aged shingle.  
• Sewer Line Obstruction. This is a serious issue and usually takes a professional plumber to resolve it. Sewer lines can clog for a number of reasons, but two of the most common are root intrusion and grease buildup.  
• Sump Pump Defect. A sump pump is designed to move water from a basement or crawlspace to outside the home into a drainage system. When a sump pump fails, water backups can affect your home quickly.  

Water Damage Can Leave Odors

4/23/2024 (Permalink)

You can’t always see water damage, but you can always smell it.

You can’t always see water damage, but you can always smell it. Most water damage odors are hard to ignore and alert you that there is damage in your home. Odors from water damage can be noticeable immediately or can occur sometime after the water is removed. Here are some common odors:  

• Muddy smell: If outdoor flooding has entered the home, you may notice an earthy smell associated with lakes.  
• Sewage smell: If water damage in your home is a result of a backed-up sewer, you will immediately notice the odor of raw sewage.  
• Musty odors: Musty odors occur after the fact. This is a sign that mold is growing in your home.  

Always remember to trust your nose. If it smells wrong, it probably is. The sooner you notice the problem, the sooner we can help. A highly trained SERVPRO professional can access the degree of your damage. To get rid of the odor in your home, our franchise professionals will find the source of the odor and determine the best methods to neutralize and eliminate the odor from your home.

Commercial Water Damage

4/19/2024 (Permalink)

In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Flooding and water damage events in commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether it’s dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large-scale event, SERVPRO® works quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility. 

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges 

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need. 

About SERVPRO® 

SERVPRO® specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a commercial water damage event. Our team has the training, experience, and equipment to handle large commercial flooding or water damage emergencies. Whether your water emergency occurs in a small office building or big box store, we will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion.