Recent Storm Damage Posts

Storm Preparedness: Your Essential SERVPRO® Checklist

1/9/2024 (Permalink)

Storms can be devastating, causing significant damage to properties and a huge disruption in lives.

Storms can be devastating, causing significant damage to properties and a huge disruption in lives. Preparedness is our best defense against such unpredictable events. Our SERVPRO® team has curated an essential storm preparedness checklist to help you maintain safety and minimize potential damages.

  1. Understand Your Risk

Different geographical locations pose various weather risks, so be aware of the typical weather-related threats in your area.

  1. Home Inspection

Ensure your home is ready to withstand severe weather. Inspect your roofing, gutters, and drainage to confirm that they can handle a heavy downpour.

  1. Emergency Kit

Build an emergency kit that includes:

  • First aid supplies
  • Prescription medicines
  • Non-perishable food and drinking water
  • Flashlights with extra batteries
  • Cash and important documents
  1. Plan for Evacuation

Be aware of your area's evacuation plan and the safest routes to reach the evacuation point.

  1. Secure Outdoor Belongings

Outdoor items can become potential projectiles in a storm. Secure outdoor furniture, grills, and other objects that could be carried off by strong winds.

  1. Install Surge Protectors

Power surges during storms can damage electronics. Surge protectors shield your electronic equipment from electricity spikes.

  1. Remove Debris

Clear your yard of any debris like tree limbs or loose gravel that could cause damage during a storm.

  1. Backup Your Data

Use cloud storage services or an external hard disk to back up critical information from your computers and other digital storage devices.

  1. Insurance Review

Review your insurance policies before a storm to ensure coverage and understand weather-related damage clauses.

  1. Document Your Property

Take pictures or videos of your property and belongings before the storm. This will help in case you need to file an insurance claim after storm damage.

Remember, SERVPRO® is Here for You

If the storm leads to property damage, SERVPRO of South & West Charleston is here to help. Offering 24/7 emergency service, we specialize in storm damage restoration - making it "Like it never even happened." Plan ahead, stay safe, and remember you're never alone in recovery with us by your side.

How to Managing Stress During Charleston's Storm Season

9/16/2023 (Permalink)

Charleston's picturesque beauty and rich history make it a captivating place to call home. Yet, alongside its charm, residents also experience the annual reality of storm season, which can trigger stress and anxiety. As clouds gather and winds intensify, it's essential to arm yourself with effective techniques for managing stress and maintaining a sense of calm. In this insightful guide, we'll explore expert strategies to help Charleston homeowners navigate storm season while prioritizing their well-being and peace of mind.

Stay Informed and Prepared

Staying informed about weather updates is crucial for minimizing stress during storm season. Regularly monitor reliable weather sources and mobile apps to track storm developments. Additionally, ensure you have a well-prepared emergency kit stocked with essential supplies such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, and a comprehensive first aid kit. By taking these proactive steps, you can alleviate some of the uncertainty that often accompanies storm season.

Develop a Family Emergency Plan

Creating a comprehensive family emergency plan can provide significant reassurance during stormy times. Designate safe areas within your home where your family can seek shelter in case of severe weather. Establish a clear communication strategy, ensuring that everyone knows how to stay in touch, especially if power outages occur. This plan helps foster a sense of security and unity among family members, allowing you to navigate storm season with greater confidence.

Practice Stress-Relief Techniques

When the winds howl and the rain pours, practicing stress-relief techniques can be incredibly beneficial. Deep breathing exercises, for instance, can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm. Engaging in mindfulness and meditation can keep you grounded and centered amidst uncertainty. These techniques can provide a calming respite, allowing you to manage stress and maintain emotional balance during stormy weather.

Create a Comforting Safe Space

Designating a cozy and comforting safe space within your home can offer solace during storms. Furnish this area with comfortable seating, soft lighting, and calming décor to create an inviting ambiance. Stock the space with books, puzzles, or other relaxing activities that can help divert your attention from worries. Having a dedicated safe haven can serve as a retreat where you can find tranquility and reduce stress during storm season.

Maintain a Support Network

Staying connected with your support network is essential for managing stress during stormy times. Share your concerns and worries with friends, family, and neighbors. Expressing your feelings can provide a sense of relief and foster a sense of community. Be open to offering and receiving help from others, as this mutual support can alleviate stress and strengthen bonds within your community.

Limit Media Consumption

While staying informed is important, excessive media consumption can intensify stress levels. Set specific times to check weather updates and news to avoid constant exposure to distressing content. Engaging in positive distractions, such as hobbies or activities you enjoy, can help shift your focus away from stressors and create a healthier balance in managing storm-related information.

Focus on Preparedness, Not Panic

Shift your perspective from panic to preparedness by educating yourself about storm preparedness and safety measures. Learning about the steps you can take to protect your family and property empowers you to feel more in control. Repeat positive affirmations that emphasize your proactive efforts and reinforce your ability to weather any storm that comes your way. By focusing on preparedness, you can alleviate stress and approach storm season with a calmer mindset.

Charleston's storm season may bring challenges, but with these expert strategies, you can effectively manage stress and maintain a sense of calm amidst the tempest. By staying informed, developing a family emergency plan, practicing stress-relief techniques, and fostering a strong support network, you can navigate storm season with resilience and peace of mind. Remember, your well-being is paramount, and by embracing these techniques, you can weather any storm that comes your way in Charleston.

Flooded Streets: Compelling Reasons to Avoid Driving Through Waterlogged Roads

7/10/2023 (Permalink)

Don't drive through flooded streets to reduce hazard to your vehicle and potential life threatening situations.

When heavy rain or a severe storm hits an area, it's not uncommon to see streets and roadways transformed into temporary waterways. While it may be tempting to navigate through flooded streets, doing so can be extremely hazardous. In this blog post, we will explore the compelling reasons why you should never drive through flooded streets. Understanding the risks associated with such actions is crucial for personal safety and preventing potentially life-threatening situations.

Unpredictable Water Depths

One of the most significant dangers of driving through flooded streets is the uncertainty of water depths. It is challenging to determine the actual depth of the water covering the road. What may appear shallow could quickly turn into a deeper, more treacherous section, leading to vehicle submersion or loss of control. It only takes a few inches of moving water to sweep away a car, putting your life and the lives of passengers at risk.

Hidden Hazards

Flooded streets often conceal numerous hazards beneath the water's surface. These hazards may include debris, downed power lines, open manholes, road damage, or even submerged vehicles. Driving through the water increases the likelihood of encountering these hidden dangers, which can cause accidents, vehicle damage, or severe injuries.

Loss of Traction and Control

Driving through waterlogged roads significantly reduces traction and vehicle control. Water creates a slippery surface, causing tires to lose grip and compromising your ability to steer, brake, or accelerate effectively. This loss of control can result in accidents, collisions with other vehicles or objects, or even hydroplaning, where the vehicle skids uncontrollably on the water's surface.

Mechanical and Electrical Damage

Driving through flooded streets poses a serious risk of damaging your vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems. Water can infiltrate the engine compartment, exhaust system, and other sensitive components, leading to expensive repairs or even rendering the vehicle inoperable. Furthermore, the water's corrosive nature can cause long-term damage to the vehicle's internal systems, reducing its lifespan and resale value.

Water Contamination

Floodwaters are often contaminated with various pollutants, including sewage, chemicals, and other harmful substances. Driving through flooded streets exposes you to these contaminants, which can pose significant health risks. Contact with contaminated water can lead to skin infections, respiratory issues, and other waterborne diseases.

Emergency Response Delays

Driving through flooded streets not only endangers your safety but also hampers emergency response efforts. Your vehicle may become stranded or require assistance, diverting resources that could be used to help those in immediate danger. It's crucial to prioritize your safety and allow emergency services to focus on critical situations during flooding events.

While the temptation to drive through flooded streets may arise during inclement weather, it is essential to recognize the significant risks involved. The unpredictable water depths, hidden hazards, loss of traction, and potential damage to both vehicles and health make driving through flooded streets an incredibly perilous decision. To prioritize personal safety and avoid life-threatening situations, it is strongly advised to never drive through flooded streets. Instead, wait for the water to recede or seek alternative routes to reach your destination. Remember, your safety and the safety of others should always be the top priority when faced with flooded roadways.

Understanding the Categories of Water Contamination

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Learn about the different categories of water contamination

Categories Of Water Contamination

As a commercial property owner, damage to your property is serious business. In various parts of the country, storm damage is a real threat to your building and the contents therein for a significant part of the year. A severe storm in Ravenel, SC may leave you facing various types of damage from wind, precipitation, and flood water, among others. There are different types or categories of flooding with respect to contamination, and it’s important to understand the differences, especially when it comes to flood cleanup.

Examining Water Contamination Categories
The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) categorizes water damage based on the level of contamination.

Category 1. This refers to water that originates from a sanitary source, such as the holding tank of a toilet or a water tank. Sometimes this is referred to as clean water.
Category 2. This includes dirty water that has some level of contamination, like that of a leaky dishwasher or washing machine. This is also known as greywater or sullage.
Category 3. This type of damage is commonly referred to as black water and includes wastewater and any water that has come in contact with human waste. Floodwater that comes from storm damage is included in this category.

If you experience Category 3 water damage, it is strongly recommended that you reach out to professional water cleanup and restoration service to bring your property back to pre-damage conditions.

Understanding Water Damage Cleanup
Category 2 and 3 restoration jobs should be left to professionals who are trained and equipped to remove floodwater and any associated damage. Typical cleanup methods aren’t adequate to remove the hazardous contaminants, especially in black water. While you can probably safely clean Category 1 damage, clean water can not only become greywater if left unattended for a certain time period but also lead to the formation of mildew and mold.

Natural Disaster Preparation

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

Remember, the FEMA staff are there to help.

Natural Disaster Preparedness

Many homeowners in John Island, SC, understand that federal agencies such as FEMA exist to help citizens get their lives back on track after a devastating natural disaster. Consider the following extra details about their disbursal process.

1. Initial Stages

After a flood, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will send its own inspectors and assessors to the affected locations. This is because the government needs to create and maintain its own independent record of the damages to apportion limited aid funds based on need. These inspectors will look at individual homes and businesses to determine habitability and what materials and belongings can be salvaged. If the damage is moderate, a qualified local cleanup company may be more appropriate than a total rebuild.

2. Ownership

At this stage, the FEMA staff will likely ask the homeowners (if present) to verify possession of the home. This can be done with a physical deed or a request for public records from a courthouse in your municipality. Without proof of ownership, the distribution of federal aid becomes much more difficult. For the same reason, the prudent homeowner should keep vehicle titles and an inventory of home valuables in a secure location. If you need to evacuate, take these crucial legal documents with you to ensure they remain intact.

3. Insurance

The FEMA agent does not serve the same role as an insurance adjuster. The claim on your homeowner’s policy that you purchased as a private citizen will need to be verified by your specific insurance company. After the flooding has subsided and there is no immediate danger, an adjuster will arrive to assess your claim and take an inventory of damages. If you need to resolve a dispute with your agent, third-party public adjusters are also available.

Remember, the FEMA staff are there to help. Understand their response procedures so that you can quickly respond after a disaster in your area.

Under What Circumstances Is Commercial Flood Insurance Required?

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

While flood insurance is often optional, it is often a wise investment. A flood's losses can be devastating to a business.

In What Situations Is Commercial Flood Insurance Required?

For many businesses in the U.S., flood insurance is an optional affair. It is not required and it is up to the company to decide if the risk/reward calculation makes sense. The management team will consider many items when making this decision:

  • What would the premiums cost?
  • How large could the losses be in a flood?
  • How likely is a flood in a specific area?

A company in West Ashley, SC, might gamble that the risk of a flood is low and that they do not need the extra insurance. If the company is right, it will save by not paying premiums and it can put this money to other uses. If the company is wrong and it is hit with a devastating flood, the company could potentially lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mandatory Flood Insurance

In some situations, a commercial enterprise must purchase insurance against floods. The parameters for this requirement include the following situations:

  • The company is located in a high-risk floodplain
  • The company has a mortgage with a federally regulated or insured lender
  • The lender requires insurance for floods

The reasons for this requirement are many and fairly complex. However, it boils down to the fact that both lenders and government entities do not want to have to bail out companies that rack up large expenses and losses in a flood.

Helpful Commercial Insurance

Businesses cannot take the risk of not having a primary insurance policy that covers storm damage, fire damage and other perils. In the case of significant damage, the primary policy will pay for a variety of losses as well as the cleanup efforts of a qualified restoration company. In the long run, the services of trained technicians will likely save money by making necessary repairs to get the company back on its feet again.

While flood insurance is often discretionary, it is frequently a worthwhile purchase. The losses from a flood have the potential to cause great hardship to a company.

4 Tips for Avoiding Winter Storm Damage

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Preparing for a winter storm is much easier if you have planned ahead. Call SERVPRO if you need help with it.

4 Winter Storm Damage Prevention Tips

The winter season brings joyous festivities such as company holiday parties, end of year celebrations and beautiful snowfalls in Ravenel, SC. However, along with the snowfalls comes the threat of a heavy winter storm, and if you are caught unprepared, these can wreak havoc on your business and can cause costly damage. Here are four tips for avoiding damage during a storm.

1. Plan Ahead

Preparing for a winter storm is much easier if you have planned ahead. To protect your business, you should create a disaster readiness plan that outlines what to do if a disaster occurs. This plan should include instructions for safe evacuations and a list of emergency contacts, including a storm restoration service.

2. Insulate Your Building

Good insulation is important for keeping your building and its plumbing system warm. The temperature should remain above 55° F to prevent a pipe break, which can lead to flooding and water damage. Show your staff how to control your utilities, such as shutting off the main water valve in case of a flood.

3. Inspect Your Roof

You should routinely inspect your building’s roof to ensure that all shingles are in good condition and firmly nailed down. Heavy snowstorms can cause snow and ice to collect on your roof, which can cause storm damage and leaks if your roof has any wear and tear.

4. Watch the Weather

Keep an eye on your local weather channel and stay abreast of incoming storms and severe weather alerts. If a major storm is looming, keep your employees safe by allowing them to leave work early or work remotely before the storm starts, or provide a place onsite or nearby to stay if driving conditions become treacherous.

A snowy winter can be fun and beautiful, but if you are unprepared, a winter storm can lead to costly repairs. Staying alert of the weather and planning ahead are important for keeping your employees safe and preventing damage.