Natural Disaster Tips

4/17/2020 (Permalink)

After a natural disaster like a hurricane or a tornado, your first priority will be to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. When the storm passes there will likely be challenges to face, but there are a few things you can do to help make sure you stay protected when it comes to your home and finances.

Before Making Repairs, Document the Natural Disaster Damage

It’s normal to want to start making repairs as soon as you can, but it’s recommended that you document any natural disaster damage first. This will likely help in discussions with your insurance company. Once you’ve protected your home from further damage, take photographs of debris and other natural disaster damages before removing or repairing anything.

If You Have Been Temporarily Relocated, Save Your Receipts

Your homeowner’s insurance policy may cover living expenses if your home has natural disaster damage and you need to leave it temporarily. It’s best to keep a record of all of your expenses during this time so that you have a record of what you spend, and so that you can submit them to your adjuster and insurance company for reimbursement consideration. If you have to leave your home and your address will change temporarily, it is important to update your contact information with your mortgage company. If you’re a Mr. Cooper customer, you can call 888-480-2432 or make updates through your online account.

Beware of Fraud After Natural Disasters — From Home Repair Scams to Price Gouging

Home repair scams and price gouging efforts increase after natural disasters. Consider finding a contractor through a recommendation from someone who can vouch for their work. Be wary of contractors who ask for large amounts of money upfront or provide very low bids. Get multiple bids, set an agreement in writing, and make sure your contractor is insured. Keep these “red flags” in mind, too:

• Unsolicited phone calls or visits
• Fake officials or people impersonating government officials
• Credentials that cannot be easily checked, such as a contractor address that can’t be verified
• Price-busting promises, or people who promise a hefty discount without telling you the total cost of the job
• Scare tactics or high-pressure sales tactics

What Damage Does a Blizzard Cause?

3/4/2020 (Permalink)

Snowfall in Colorado can be extreme. Every season here among the Rockies, we hunker down and prepare for the worst. 

Harsh winter weather takes a toll on all of us, regardless of whether we’re a property owner or not. Our commutes are lengthened due to inclement weather, there are road closures, and CDOT snow clearing vehicles often work overtime to keep our urban areas safe for motorists. 

With all of the inconveniences that come with heavy snowfall, one of the chief among them is the damage that it can cause. Blizzards in particular can be the source of extensive exterior and interior damage to residential and commercial buildings.

At SERVPRO of Aurora, we are experts at diagnosing and remediating damage caused by environmental events like blizzards, snow squalls, and hailstorms. Given enough time, virtually every building in Colorado will eventually encounter damage due to destructive winter weather. 

Because blizzards often carry with them a host of unforeseen damage potential, we’re going to explain why it is that these weather events can be so ruinous. With a little preparation and some understanding of what could happen, you can help protect your property and have a better handle on what to do should a Colorado blizzard find its way to your doorstep. 

The Cascading Effect of Big Snow

It’s not unheard of for blizzards to completely shut down entire cities. 

From March 17th to March 19th, 2003, more than 31 inches of snow fell in the metro Denver area. This unprecedented volume of snow caused numerous suburban communities to lose power for long stretches of time, and it was nearly impossible to travel on any of the surface streets or interstates. 

This blizzard was followed by multiple days of freezing weather, which further compounded the problem. As Coloradoans unburied their cars, patio furniture, and storage sheds from underneath all of the snow, they quickly discovered just how damaging blizzards can be. The most significant damage that was caused by this snowfall didn’t even take place on the days when the snow fell.

Rather, it was the days after the blizzard when most of the costliest damage was incurred by home and business owners. 

Here are some of the biggest reasons why the aftermath of a Colorado blizzard is so destructive: 

1. Snow is heavy. Melting snow is even heavier. When we head out to the front yard to scoop up a snowball, it’s easy to view snow as being a light, fluffy substance. However, when dozens of inches of snow accumulate on the rooftops and trees above, the added weight of it begins to develop pressure.
   
   As the snow melts during the daytime, it will often refreeze when the sun goes down. This effect causes ‘ice damming’, a potentially damaging phenomenon that is not easily dealt with.
   
   The aggregated weight of snow, slush, ice, and water runoff is enough to snap large tree branches, cause cave-ins for weaker roofs, and damage RVs, awnings, gutters, and other exterior fixtures.
   
   
2. Large snow volumes impede the progress of utility workers. It’s common for power to go out during exceptionally bad blizzards. This can happen due to tree branches falling onto power lines.
   
   With utility companies scrambling to restore power, home and business owners are often left in the dark for days on end. This inability to keep buildings warm and habitable can itself cause damage as water pipes freeze, food spoils, and appliances that require electricity cease functioning.
   
   
3. Snowmelt seeps into compromised buildings, often undetected. With as much snow as there can be covering up the entire landscape, it can be impossible to visually detect where melting snow could be making its way indoors.
   
   Ice damming is often the culprit for water intrusion after a blizzard. But, because it can take so long to even detect the issue, the water can already start causing bigger problems like mold and rot.
   

Thankfully, there are some things you can do to stay safe before a blizzard hits. Stay tuned to your local news source, stock up on emergency food rations, and apply salt to exterior areas where snow and ice accumulation is likely. 

After the Blizzard, Call the Clean-up Wizards

No matter how bad blizzard damage is, there will always be SERVPRO available to help with the restoration effort after the fact. 

If your home or commercial building ends up on the receiving end of a particularly nasty blizzard, be sure to contact SERVPRO of Aurora for help restoring your property safely, quickly, and effectively.

House Flood Storm Damage

12/17/2019 (Permalink)

When disaster striker, call SERVPRO

A Description of Typical House Flood Damages and Cleanup Requirements:

When your house floods, the water can wreak havoc on the structure of the house, your personal belongings, and the health of the inside environment. Flood waters contain many contaminants and lots of mud. High dollar items can get ruined all at once, even with just an inch of water, for example: carpeting, wallboard, appliances, and furniture. A more severe storm or deeper flood may add damage to even more expensive systems, like: ducts, the heater and air conditioner, roofing, private sewage and well systems, utilities, and the foundation.

• First call your insurance agent, they will let you know if you are covered or not.
• When we come out to your home or place of business, we start by extracting water, then clean out any mud or debris.
• After, we clean and disinfect every single surface, and remove any walls that may have gotten wet to help with drying out the area.

Call SERVPRO at 303-576-6868

Winter Weather Storm Readiness

12/17/2019 (Permalink)

Moisutre building up on window during winter

When the outside temperature drops we start to close up our homes. We close the windows and doors and even start installing different weatherproof products (insulation, weather stripping, spray foam, etc.). The problem often is that we are stagnating the interior and trapping moisture inside the house. This is especially the case if there are many occupants creating moisture by breathing, bathing, cooking and exercising. Also, we create stagnant odors and allow airborne particles to be locked in the house with us (germs, dust, mites, microbes, etc.).

The next thing that usually occurs is we activate the heating system to compensate for the falling outside temperatures. This has the tendency to dry the interior out, but in doing so can encourage expansion and contraction of interior materials and cause cracks in drywall, doors that don't fit, separating wood trim, heaved floors, and other problems. 

If you have a gas forced-air furnace, a benefit is that the furnace and its blower motor and filter help cleanse the interior environment. The concern is that you always need to maintain a balance where there is not too much nor too little moisture being added to the now locked-up house. Too much moisture can cause the formation of mildew and mold, cause the windows to steam up, cause doors to stick and just create a damp, humid environment.

http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/life/2014/12/06/cold-temperatures-can-damage-home/19983299/

If your home is damaged from the winter weather call SERVPRO of Aurora at 720-837-7553

Colorado Storm Response

12/16/2019 (Permalink)

winter storm tree damage

SERVPRO of Aurora 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 quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Aurora, 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.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (303) 576-6868

With SERVPRO of Aurora on the job, you know it will be "Like it never even happened."

Storm Readiness

11/18/2019 (Permalink)

Natural forest fire in California putting smoke and flames into the sky

Preparation and readiness before a natural disaster strikes makes all the difference in losing valuable possessions, and salvaging your property. Natural fires can spark at anytime and spread quickly. Always make sure to have a flash light, fire extinguisher, and disaster plan in place for your family and business. These things will allow you to respond quickly and safely if an event where to occur. SERVPRO provides free Emergency Response Plans for businesses to help identify risk factors, key points in the building, and personnel notifications among many other things. Talk to your account representative about an Storm ERP at your niext visit.

Hurricane Recovery for Businesses

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for Quick Response

Thankfully Hurricane Dorian caused less property damage than expected. However, there was still a lot of devastation and setbacks to businesses across the Carolina's and Georgia. Below are 5 key steps to recovery and getting back to your normal day-to-day business operations.

1. Safety is priority

2. Document everything that was damaged and that you did in response

3. Cleanup as quickly as possible

4. Communicate with internal staff, customers, and vendors/suppliers

5. Reach out to others in your local economy

Always remember that safety is the most important concern and should be the first steps taken. Once the people and the structure has been deemed safe, you can go to work inspecting and reviewing the damage caused. This is when it is best to call your local SERVPRO for assistance in cleanup and restoration efforts. Call SERVPRO of Aurora at 303-576-6868 with any questions on how your business can be better prepared when disaster strikes.

Storm Safety

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for Emergency Services

No matter where you live or work, you will experience severe storms at one time or another. It is important that you are prepared and educated in advance of this so you are best able to handle the circumstance. Whether you live in Tornado Alley, along the coasts, on a fault line, or in fire prone locations, the following is a lists of preparation steps you should take.

• Keep a battery powered radio at your residence
• Have a flashlight accessible
• Unplug electrical appliances from your home when gone for extended periods
• Ensure roof shingles are well secured and nailed down
• Employ a lightning protection system to avoid strikes on your home
• Board up windows and doors in advance of a major storm

These are just a few of many important steps to take to be prepared for a storm. Call SERVPRO of Aurora at 303-576-6868 with questions regarding storm safety and preparedness.

Tropical Storm Dorian

8/26/2019 (Permalink)

Tropical Storm

Tropical Storm Dorian was barreling toward the Caribbean Monday morning. It could hit Barbados Tuesday and Puerto Rico by late Wednesday.

Forecasters said the fourth tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season strengthened overnight as it moves toward the Lesser Antilles. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that Dorian could intensify to near hurricane strength over the eastern Caribbean Sea by Tuesday.

As of 8 a.m. ET Monday, Dorian's center was located about 205 miles east-southeast of Barbados and 315 miles east-southeast of St. Lucia and was moving west at about 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds remained at 60 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center of the storm.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A tropical storm watch was issued for Dominica, Martinique, Grenada, and its dependencies.

Forecasters said Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Hispaniola should monitor Dorian's progress.

Several inches of rain are expected in affected areas.

They said Dorian could be near hurricane strength on Tuesday and Wednesday while it's over the Eastern Caribbean Sea.

The National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay tweeted Sunday it's "too early to speculate" if Dorian will impact Florida.

Storm Essentials:

Emergency kit: essential items, all times
Having an Emergency Kit is an important step to prepare for, survive and cope with emergencies.

Know: All householders need to know where your Emergency Kit is kept.

Check: and update the contents of your kit regularly, to ensure everything is in working order and has not expired.

Discuss: your Emergency Kit with all householders and make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.

On this page is a list of items which should be in your kit at all times.

There is also a list of extra items which if you do not keep at all times you should add to your kit (PDF, 950KB) during storm or cyclone season.

Food and water
Range of non—perishable food items
Bottled water
Medical and sanitation
First Aid Kit and manual
Essential medications, prescriptions, and dosage
Toilet paper
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Soap/shampoo
Personal hygiene items
Light
Flashlight/torch with extra batteries
Battery-powered lantern
Communications
Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
Traditional wired telephone
Prepaid wired telephone
Prepaid phone cards and coins for phone calls
Clothing and footwear
Warm jumper, waterproof jacket, hat and gloves for everyone
Closed-toed shoes or boots for everyone
Tools and supplies
Whistle, utility knife, duct/masking tape
Plastic garbage bags, ties
Safety glasses and sunglasses.
Miscellaneous
Special items for infants (nappies, formula, etc)
Special items needed by the elderly or people with special needs
Spare house and car keys
Pet food, water, and other animal needs
Diabetes emergency plan (PDF, 406KB)
Important documents
Keep original or certified copies of these documents in your Emergency Kit (PDF, 950KB).

Scan copies of them and save the files on a USB memory stick or CD to include in your kit. Keep all these items in sealed plastic bags.

Insurance papers for your house and contents, cars and for valuable items
Inventory of valuable household goods
Wills and life insurance documents
House deeds/mortgage documents
Birth and marriage certificates
Passports/visa details
Stocks and bonds
Medicare, pension cards, immunization records
Bank account and credit card details
A back—up copy of important computer files
Household Emergency Plan with emergency contact numbers

Are You Prepared for Winter Weather?

11/6/2018 (Permalink)

Be Prepared

Prepare Your Business for Winter Weather

• Check your business property for low hanging tree limbs and branches. Weather, such as wind, heavy rain, ice and snow, can cause branches to fall, which could cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries.
• Inspect property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviated flood hazard potential.
• Inspect handrails, stairways and entryways to address and correct potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water could be present .
• Ask our highly trained SERVPRO professionals about starting an Emergency Ready Profile for your business.

Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather

• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells this allows warm air to circulate around pipes.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets , especially if the pipes for faucets run through unheated or uninsulated areas of your home.
• Consider shutting off outdoor faucets. Find the shut-off valve in the basement or crawl or crawl space and turn it to “off”.
• If you follow the previous step, then open the outdoor faucet to help ensure it drains completely and the inner valve is shut off.
• Ensure gutters are clean and secure. Leaves and debris accumulate, causing a damming effect on gutters, which could lead to roof problems and water damage

Hurricane Florence

9/22/2018 (Permalink)

Disaster Recovery Team of SERVPRO of Aurora

Hurricane Florence 

Hurricane Florence made landfall causing major flooding and wind destruction in North and South Carolina. In addition to the 90 local Franchises in the Hurricane Florence affected areas, SERVPRO also has a national network of over 1,700 Franchises across the country. Our designated Disaster Recovery Teams have been deployed to the affected areas bringing hundreds of crews from across the nation to help.

SERVPRO of Aurora

The Disaster Recovery Team at SERVPRO of Aurora has traveled to the Carolinas to provide restoration and mitigation services for homes and businesses affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. 

The Disaster Recovery team is IICRC WRT certified, and can handle any size job. Our team of dedicated professionals understand that time is crucial, and they will go to great lengths to get your home or business back up and running in a timely manner. 

Services Include: 

Residential Services

With over 1,700 Franchises in the U.S. and Canada, SERVPRO is a trusted leader in the restoration industry and is dedicated to providing quality service. Our highly trained technicians respond quickly, whether you need water damage restoration or simply need your upholstery cleaned.

You can depend on SERVPRO of Aurora for these residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services

Commercial Services

If fire or water damage sidelines your business, you need a professional restoration company to quickly restore your property. Every hour spent restoring your business is lost revenue and productivity. Commercial restoration presents unique challenges and we have the training, experience, and resources to handle any size disaster.

Learn more about our commercial services:

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
• Commercial Mold Remediation
• Commercial Cleaning Services
• Commercial Storm and Major Events

For more news on Hurricane Florence please visit: https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/19/us/florence-wednesday-wxc/index.html

Hurricane Preparation Tips

8/20/2018 (Permalink)

Hurricanes

         Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30. Hurricanes: