Recent Storm Damage Posts

Why is it Best to Stay Off Flooded Roads

4/11/2020 (Permalink)

It can be frustrating to be stuck inside your house when it’s flooding in San Angelo, but it is important that you avoid driving in this situation. A flooded street may seem easy to handle, but it can be a risk to your safety. The following are just a few reasons why it is best to stay off the roads during a severe storm.

One reason to avoid flooded roads is that it can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Your car is not made to be driven in water, so it does not have the necessary equipment to protect it. If water enters your engine, it can cause it to stop functioning correctly and leave you with massive repair bills. Areas of your car may rust, and electronic components can be ruined.

Even if you think the road looks safe, there might be something lurking beneath the water’s surface. A flooded street may be hiding potholes, tree branches and debris from the storm. Any of these could damage your car and make it more difficult for you to drive safely.

Whether you have been driving for a few years or a few decades, you cannot be prepared for everything. Even a long history of driving experience is not enough to keep you safe during a flood. Moving water in a flooded street can easily sweep your car away and create an incredibly dangerous situation. Just a few inches of water can cause you to hydroplane and result in a crash.
One of the best travel tips for driving during a flood is simply not to do it. Stay put if possible and, once the water has receded, you can find a more comfortable place to stay while an emergency restoration company performs any necessary repairs on your damaged home.

Call SERVPRO of San Angelo, (325)942-0414.

Why it is Best to Stay Off Flooded Roads

8/8/2019 (Permalink)

Stay away from flooded roads!

It can be frustrating to be stuck inside your house when it’s flooding in Abilene, but it is important that you avoid driving in this situation. A flooded street may seem easy to handle, but it can be a risk to your safety. The following are just a few reasons why it is best to stay off the roads during a severe storm.

Who is Responsible for Insurance Claims?

8/7/2019 (Permalink)

Rental properties can endure a tremendous amount of water damage during a flood. It may not happen often in Abilene but when a flood hits the property you are renting to tenants, questions may surface about who is responsible for what damage. While the lease may have an outline of what is covered by both the tenant and landlord, there can sometimes be legal questions associated with damage resulting in leaky pipes or broken sewer lines. To alleviate some of the frustration that can occur, property owners often request the tenants obtain and maintain renter’s insurance.

Flood insurance is not typically included in a standard property policy. Nor is it standard in renter’s insurance coverage. The insurance can typically be purchased as a separate policy, but most require a waiting period of 30 days before coverage begins.

Landlords are typically considered responsible for insurance to the property. This property protection often includes:

Structural damage protection
Appliances replacement
Restoration to the structure by qualified specialists

Tenants are generally responsible for insurance that covers their personal possessions. If flood insurance is covered in the policy, the renter’s coverage can also include:

Paid temporary relocation during unlivable home flooding
Normal living expenses until the building can be occupied
Replacement of damaged personal items

Unusual Circumstances

Under normal circumstances, landlords are not responsible for damage to their tenant’s property or their tenant’s possessions; however, this is not always the case. If the property owner is responsible for the damage through neglect or irresponsibility, the tenant may have a legal case against the landlord for damages incurred.

Knowing your responsibility as a property owner before beginning the recovery process after a flood can help you provide the best service for your tenants and prevent any legal battles. Since every water damage situation may have its own variations and problems, when in doubt about your responsibilities consider contacting your insurance agent, attorney, or accountant about what is covered by renter’s insurance in Abilene.

Make a Plan

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

Disaster can strike at any time and without warning, be as prepared as you possibly can, make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

Step 1: Put together a plan by discussing these 4 questions with your family, friends, or household to start your emergency plan.

How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
What is my shelter plan?
What is my evacuation route?
What is my family/household communication plan?

Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household.

As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets, or specific needs like the operation of durable medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:

Different ages of members within your household
Responsibilities for assisting others
Locations frequented
Dietary needs
Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
Languages spoken
Cultural and religious considerations
Pets or service animals
Households with school-aged children

Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan

Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use them as a guide to create your own.

Go to www.ready.gov/make-a-plan for their Emergency Plan for Parents guide

Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household

The Risks of Flash Flooding in Abilene

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

Natural disasters can often have the greatest toll on the structural integrity and the stability of Abilene properties. With the rainy seasons settling in with warmer weather, many areas throughout the Big Country become susceptible to devastating situations like flash floods. Even with the warning systems in place to inform residents of the risks of these disasters, many do not fully appreciate the power and devastation possible until it is on their doorstep. This high volume of traveling water can quickly penetrate even well-constructed homes to permit widespread saturation and standing water in the property.

Whether you call it flash flooding or you experience flash flash flood damage in your Abilene homes, property owners have a finite amount of time to reach out to qualified professionals before some of the saturation and exposed construction materials become permanently damaged. Our SERVPRO professionals have a fast and effective response to storm and flood emergencies, bringing our full measure of recovery equipment including temporary power solutions and mitigation equipment that can quickly address much of these detrimental effects like standing water, moisture, odors, and potential contamination.

Many homeowners affected by flash flooding do not even fully realize how dangerous of a situation could potentially exist. Not only has structural elements within the property become affected by this present standing water, but there are legitimate risks for bacteria, contaminants, and other chemical exposure the floodwater can collect in route to your address. Overcoming these harmful threats often requires advanced cleaning agents and products, but also a team of biohazard cleaning technicians. We have highly-trained SERVPRO cleaners.

Flash flooding is a scenario that can quickly get out of control for may homeowners throughout our region under the right circumstances. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (325)672-5661.

Your Basement is Flooded - Now What?

7/25/2019 (Permalink)

If your home is in a flood zone, talk to an expert about measures you can take to mitigate storm damage.

Dealing with a flooded basement is never easy, but that doesn't mean that it has to be entirely difficult, either. Thanks to technology, homeowners no longer have to use the bucket method to clear a room of standing water. Rather, they can count on pieces of equipment such as sump pumps, trash pumps and shop-vacs to suck up water and spit it out outside, where it belongs. If you have two feet of standing water in your basement, call your Abilene SERVPRO flood remediation team, or invest in the following:

• Sump Pump
• Trash Pump
• Shop-Vac
• Truck Mount
• WaterBUG

Of course, these pieces of equipment are costly, and though they can clear a room of standing water, they do nothing when it comes to actually cleaning up the damage. A storm remediation team can help clear your home of standing water and perform the cleanup measures necessary to prevent mold growth and other secondary damage.

Steer Clear of the Water

If you don't have a sump pump or some other piece of water-ridding equipment already installed, you should steer clear of the water entirely. You never know where the water came from, and for all you know, it could be black water. Instead, stay on dry ground and snap photos of the damage from above. Send these to your insurance agency.

Contact the Professionals – SERVPRO of Abilene (325)672-5661

Flood remediation teams are quick to respond, as they understand that the longer water is allowed to sit, the worse the damage becomes. When your home begins to flood, contact your SERVPRO of Abilene restoration team ASAP. The right team can help clear your basement of water, save not-yet-damaged belongings and clean items that have already been touched by floodwater.

If your home is in a flood zone, talk to an expert about measures you can take to mitigate storm damage. Some such measures may include buying and installing certain pieces of equipment, such as a sump pump and truck mount.

Keep Floodwater Removal in the Big Country Manageable

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

Floods happen when least expected, and the costs that pile up in the bid to restore the property to the pre loss state can balloon to unmanageable levels. Secondary damage can also happen in the bid to restore your Big Country property if you make mistakes, driving the costs even higher. We are IICRC certified in applied structural drying and state certified in Mold Remediation enabling us to handle the removal process effectively.

Speed is necessary during floodwater removal to prevent the development of additional problems such as mold and deterioration of materials through rotting or rusting. Making the home habitable also eliminates costs such as external accommodation or eating out. Despite this, care is necessary to avoid exacerbating the problem. For example, before entering the property, you should turn off power at the mains to prevent the risk of electrocution. Using equipment affected by the floods is also not advisable to avoid damaging them further. Our SERVPRO technicians can handle the process speedily because of the experiences we have had. Our team members are also equipped with Personal Protective Equipment to protect them from hazards in the water.

Handling a flooding incident on your own can be overwhelming. Call SERVPRO of Abilene at (325)672-5661 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Cleaning up After a Flood

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

Dealing with the aftermath of a flood in the Big Country can be devastating. In addition to water damage that can take a long time to repair, a flood can damage main contents of a business. When you are content cleaning, you need to categorize each item into one of two material types to know if your belongings can be saved.

Porous Materials

Anything in your commercial property that could possibly absorb water may have to be thrown away, particularly if your building was flooded with black water. Porous materials can include anything from carpets to upholstered furniture and drywall. Because these contents can absorb filthy water, they cannot be cleaned thoroughly enough to prevent health hazards. When you begin the process of content cleaning, know that any item made of porous material that possibly came in contact with the contaminated water will likely need to be disposed of.

Non-Porous Materials

Any item that will not absorb water is made of non-porous material. These contents should be safe after a flood. Items may include metal desks or cabinets, waterproof safes, or even plastic furniture. Thorough cleansing with clean water and a little disinfectant will likely save any belongings made of non-porous materials and keep them useful after restoration. Because these contents did not absorb the dirty water, they do not pose a significant risk if they are kept.

Losing critical business information may be one of the most devastating parts of surviving a flood. Content cleaning can be challenging because you may have to throw away many items, but if you have the right knowledge of porous and non-porous materials, you may be able to save some items. When dealing with black water, knowing which items pose a health hazard is critical to the restoration process. Separating belongings into one of these two categories can help make the cleaning process faster and easier. Visit SERVPROOfAbilene.com for more information on water damage.

The Ultimate Guide to Successful Storm Damage Restoration

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

Few things are more devastating than storm damage. When flooding happens, your priority should be getting everyone to safety. After leaving the premises, the next step should be looking for skilled restoration experts to help you with the storm damage process. Below are a few of the things which can help you with the storm damage restoration process.

Handling water and flood damage

When water damage happens or flooding , assess whether it is safe to stay in the house. Make sure everyone in the house avoids all sorts of electrical and also slip and fall hazards. Be careful when handling wet materials because they can be extremely heavy. Flood pumps are typically used for water extraction. The water restoration company you contact should, therefore, possess quality flood pumps to deal with the flooding.

Dealing with roof damage, leaking roofs, and roof repair

The strong winds that result from storm damage sometimes blow entire roofs off buildings. The ice damage, ice dams and hail damage also lead to complications such as roof leaks. If you realize you have roof leaks after this damage, you should contact a storm restoration company that understands how to do roof repairs. Ice damage, ice damming and ice dams are all problems which can be resolved when experts are engaged in roof repair and storm damage.

Dealing with frozen pipes

When the temperatures are too low after a storm, the water in the pipes tends to cool down. Frozen pipes should not be left unattended to because they will eventually and cause serious water damage in the home. Flood pumps and other equipment can be used to deal with the ice dams and ice damage which contributes to the presence of frozen pipes in the home.

Hail damage and hurricane damage

When the temperatures are low, rain tends to solidify and fall as hailstones. These hailstones can sometimes be as large as golf balls, and when this happens, hail damage will affect the roof, windows and other parts of the home. An expert should assess the hail damage, ice damming or hurricane damage which has occurred and come up with a workable plan for roof repair, home restoration, and storm remediation.

Ground water and flood water

The other huge complication that comes after flooding or river flooding is that when the water is left in the house, parts which are made of wood start rotting. The rotting from flood water, ice damming, and ground water weakens the structure of the house, which can lead to eventual collapse. Storm restoration experts use flood pumps to remove the river flooding water, and then they follow this up with dehumidification and drying.

When you have a reliable wind damage, flood water, roof damage and storm restoration company, you will have an easy time dealing with hurricane damage and storm remediation. Take time and choose a company that is trusted and experienced in storm remediation. This will save you money, time, and give you peace of mind.

Visit SERVPROOfAbilene.com for more information on storm damage.

Three Ways to Stay Safe During a Flood Cleanup

8/9/2018 (Permalink)

Outdoor flooding in Abilene, can cause damage to your home in many ways. Whether flood water poured into your basement or invaded the main rooms of your house, the cleanup process can be a daunting one. However, there may also be a few dangers involved, and knowing how to stay safe as you recover from a flood can reduce the risk of illness or injury to you and your family.

1. Avoid Black Water

When rivers, streams and other outdoor bodies of water spill over their banks and create flooding, the water may mix with sewage overflow, chemicals from drainage ditches and other debris. As a result, flood water is typically loaded with contaminants and pathogens that may cause illnesses in people and pets. This black water should only be handled by a qualified storm cleanup and water damage company that has the ability and equipment to drain and dispose of it safely.

2. Beware of Electrical Hazards

Once flood water enters your home, it may create standing water in one or more rooms. While you may want to enter these areas to retrieve wet belongings, it is important to remember that electric outlets, wires and circuit panels may have been affected by water to create a severe electrical hazard. Before you enter a flooded room, cut your home’s power and wear rubberized protective boots and gloves to minimize the danger of electric shock.

3. Do Not Disturb Mold

A flooded home can be prone to mold growth, especially in the first few days after the flood when humidity is high. However, you may want to avoid cleaning up mold on your own, as disturbing it can cause spores to detach and settle nearby, increasing the spread of the fungus. Let your flood cleanup company handle the removal and treatment of mold.

When flood water invades your Abilene home, it can be difficult to know where to begin with cleanup efforts. However, when you make the safety of yourself and your family job number one, the path to restoration can be easier to travel. For more information, visit SERVPROOfAbilene.com

Do You Have a Storm Plan?

7/5/2018 (Permalink)

In recent years, many different types of disasters have affected the United States. Flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and blizzards are natural disasters that can threaten your home, business and community. Your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professionals want you and your customers to be aware of the steps to take to help prepare for Mother Nature's worst.

Right now is the perfect opportunity to review your emergency plan. Emergencies can happen unexpectedly in communities just like yours, to people just like you. Tornado outbreaks, river floods, flash floods, historic earthquakes, and even water main breaks and power outages in U.S. cities affecting millions of people for days at a time.

The more you know about what to do in an emergency, the more confident and secure you will feel in your abilities to manage through a disaster. Preparation is the key to making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire, or an area flood. The best time to plan for such events is not when the event happens, but well before it happens. No one ever plans on a disaster, but now, you can plan for it. Contact your local SERVPRO of Abilene (325)672-5661 for more information and tools to help you be "Ready for whatever happens."

Tips for Recovering from Storm Damage

7/2/2018 (Permalink)

Stepping outside your home after a severe storm can be traumatic. The damage to your home and property may range from light to severe. You can take heart that a restoration specialist located in Paris, TX, should be able to help you clean up and rebuild from almost any damage. Before help arrives, you can use these storm tips to begin recovery.

Safety

Safety is your first priority. Look for downed power lines, trees that were weakened and are at risk of falling, potential structural damage to your home, and any other dangerous storm destruction.

Adventure

Make these storm tips fun by having an adventure. Attitude can make a huge difference in how you and your family fare before help arrives. A cheerful, adventurous attitude can drive shock away and lift everyone’s spirits, especially if you have children with you. If you have to spend a night or two outside, frame it as a camping trip.

Company

Whether you are alone or with your family, try to get together with other people, especially neighbors who may also be alone or need help. Hardship can bring out the best in many people. You can band together to accomplish much that you couldn’t otherwise manage, such as food preparation, shelter setup or cleanup, or even fire starting if it’s particularly cold weather.

Information

Search safely to find a radio, television, telephone, or other useful communications device. News channels and emergency broadcasts can provide valuable guidance to help you know when you may expect rescue crews.

Water

If help is likely to be more than a day away, water could be the biggest threat to the health of you and your family. Stored water can be a real help. If you don’t have safe water, be sure to purify the water you can find. Here are a few ways to purify water: • Boiling • Iodine solution • Chlorine drops • Filtering Following these storm tips can go a long way toward ensuring your family’s safe recovery from the effects of storm damage. If you live in Abilene Texas, consider contacting a restoration company. These companies specialize in cleaning up after most types of disasters and can even help with general home problems.

SERVPRO of Abilene is always here to help!

Overnight Storm Causes Damage

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

We were awoken to significant rain falling outside of our houses last night and know that especially in Abilene rain can quickly lead to flooding. This rain may showcase, in the worst possible way, a leak you were unaware of in your roof. You do not want to ignore the small leaks, as they have a tendency to quickly become larger. We have crews available to tarp roofs, when safe, as well as perform water remediation to dry your home properly to help prevent secondary damage.

If the rain continues as predicted, you may face rising flood waters if you live in a flood zone and sometimes, unfortunately, even when you don't. Flood waters are highly contaminated and require an expert to remediate. Call us at the first sign of water intrusion and for some tips while you wait visit our website SERVPROOfAbilene.com.

SERVPRO of Abilene is here for any of your weather related remediation needs. Don't allow a rainy day to damage your home or office. Call your Abilene Storm cleanup experts at (325)672-5661

When Storms or Floods hit the Big Country, SERVPRO of Abilene is ready!

8/29/2017 (Permalink)

Our highly trained crews are ready to respond 24/7 to storm or flood damage in the Big Country.

SERVPRO of Abilene 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 the Big Country, 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.

If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (325) 672-5661