Returning Home After a Natural Disaster

Water damage is even seen from the hurricane, many of which can send tons of rain. Northern Florida is no stranger to severe weather. Every year, residents face the risk of being struck by a natural disaster, particularly floods and water damage.

After the flooding, the work begins. Flooding causes extensive water damage, and failure to properly restore your home afterward can render it unsafe. We’ll take a look at how water restoration companies like ServiceMaster by PWF make your home safe again after flood damage.

How Our Water Restoration Company Repairs Your Home

You’ve been displaced, and you want nothing more than to return to the home you love. However, what you may not realize is that there are unseen elements that can put the safety of your family at risk.

ServiceMaster by PWF make sure these issues are all addressed. Some of the aspects of this kind of restoration include:

24/4 Emergency Response Service

We offer 24 hours, 7 days a week assistance to consult

Assess storm damage

Help you find temporary shelter– even in the middle of the night.

We also do everything necessary to preserve the contents of your home or business and to keep you operational with:

• temporary board-up
• emergency water removal/pump-out,
• temporary power and heating.

Emergency Tarping and Board-Up

• Experienced in roof repairs and stabilizing structures after disaster strikes, we ensure your business or home is completely protected from the elements and any further damage by tarping and boarding up exposed areas.

Emergency Storage and Pack Out

• We provide temporary storage to protect belongings after a fire so they remain dry and safe while a residence or business is being rebuilt.

Water Removal and Structural Drying

• If your property is damaged by both wind and heavy rain, we are experienced to pump out and remove excess water from flooded basements and other affected areas, using air movement and dehumidifying equipment to thoroughly dry the space. We have the equipment to sanitize, dry and deodorize carpeting and floors to restore them back to their original condition.

What To Do When You Return Home After a Disaster

Be Proactive about De-Stressing

This is a time of emotional and physical stress. Look after yourself and your family during cleanup and repairs.

Keep a manageable schedule. Make a list and do one job at a time.

Rest often and remember to eat.

Even when there is rebuilding or cleanup to be done, playtime with children is time well spent.

Get the Essentials

When you shop or ask for clothing or personal items from relief workers, imagine that you’re preparing for a camping trip. Don’t forget

underwear (or diapers for the baby)

shoes and socks

pajamas

personal care items like toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, deodorant

towels and washcloths

Follow Food Safety Rules

Your fridge may have been off for some time. Take precautions to avoid food poisoning.

Power outage? Some foods may be spoiled

Do not consume any food, beverages, and medicine exposed to floodwaters, mud, or other contaminants.

Don’t assume frozen food is safe to eat. It may have defrosted and then refroze when power was restored.

Take Water Safety Precautions

Think of water in your yard as swamp water. Waterborne illnesses may be present.

Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas

Make sure you and your family wash your hands frequently (always before meals) with soap and water.

Do not allow children to play with floodwater-contaminated toys that have not been disinfected.

Clean Safely

Toxic cleaning products and solvents may have been blown from their cabinets or your neighbors’ garages. Steer clear. Do not try to clean up the toxic products yourself. Call a professional or emergency worker for assistance.

Wear rubber gloves and a face mask to protect yourself.

ServiceMaster by PWF Treats Any Type of Situation

Whether your home has water damage due to flood or heavy rain, we offer the scope of water damage services that provide complete and comprehensive solutions. We treat your home as if it were our home. This means we want you to be back in your house as soon as it is safely possible to do so.

We offer:

Water and storm damage restoration services

Drying and dehumidification

Water removal

Content and document drying

The Right Call When it Comes to Water Damage Restoration Companies

Has your Northern Florida home flooded? We are the leading restoration company near you, and our dedication to customer service means our goal is to exceed your expectations. Make a call to the experts at ServiceMaster by PWF and contact us for a free estimate. Dial (866) 599-0871.

How to Stay Safe After a Hurricane: ServiceMaster by PWF Storm Damage Services

Florida is no stranger to severe weather. Even hurricanes make their way to Florida and wreak havoc on homes and commercial properties.

Regardless of the type of damage your property is facing, time is of the essence. That’s why it’s important to quickly request professional storm damage restoration services. The quicker the mitigation and restoration process can start, the quicker your family can get back into your home.

Professional Storm Damage Restoration Service in Florida

Water damage and storm damage is a problem that most property owners dread. Water damage restoration and storm damage restoration is the process of restoring the property to pre-damage condition.

When it rains heavily the risk of this type of damage increases. Water can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage by damaging:

Wood furniture

Upholstery

Electronics

Household appliances

Plumbing equipment

Water damage also increases the risk of mold growth, which is a very expensive problem to remediate. Hiring a water damage restoration company like ServiceMaster by PWF can make the cleanup process easier to handle, as these companies hire experienced workers who know the best ways to repair or replace damaged items and help with water damage cleanup.

How to Stay Safe After a Hurricane:

Stay inside until the storm has completely passed.

• It is critically important that you do not attempt to go outside until the winds have calmed down significantly. Keep in mind, that unlike the start of the storm, there is now a ton of debris out there that can fly around a lot more easily. This is where keeping your battery-operated radio functional is important, so you can hear from forecasters and local officials about when the threat has passed.

If you evacuated, do not return until local officials say you can.

• Depending on the severity of the storm, you may be better off staying where you are for a while. There’s a good chance you won’t be able to make it back anyways with all the trees and power lines down. Some areas, such as barrier islands, may have specific re-entry requirements. Be sure to have your identification and proof of residency with you.

Conduct an initial damage assessment of your immediate area.

• When as safe as possible, take a look around your immediate area to make sure there are no continuing hazards such as:
• live power lines,
• gas leaks
• If a hazardous condition exists, flee that area immediately. Seek a safer location elsewhere. Know where shut-off valves are for electricity, natural gas and water are and turn them off if needed.

Conduct an initial damage assessment of your immediate area.

• Even after the storm passes, there are many additional hazards that can harm you. Many people are injured or killed walking or driving around after the storm. Live power lines, gas leaks, dangling tree branches, flooding, damaged roadways, and dangerous wildlife can be life-threatening.
• Do not go sight-seeing unnecessarily; the added traffic may prevent essential personnel for getting people who need their help.

Attempt to contact your family or friends outside the area.

• As soon as possible, contact your family or friends outside the impact area to let them know your condition.

Stay tuned to local media and emergency officials.

• This will be a critical time for information about ongoing threats, conditions, and sources of assistance.
• Continue to follow the advice of emergency officials during this time.

Do not drink or prepare food with tap water until notified.

• Contamination of the water supply, particularly if you have an on-site well, is possible.
• Do not drink or prepare food with tap water, if functional, until notified by officials or until your well has been professionally inspected and tested.
• If there is low water pressure, refrain from bathing or using the water for any other purpose. Water supplies should be reserved for fire fighting.

Help your neighbors, but refrain from venturing too far.

• Refrain from venturing too far from your safe space until authorized by local officials. However, if you are able, check in on your neighbors and lend assistance, if possible.
• Be careful to not exceed your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Many well-intentioned volunteers have been injured or killed conducting tasks they are not qualified to do.

Do not grill or operate gasoline-powered machinery indoors.

• Carbon-monoxide poisoning sickens or kills many people long after the storm has passed. This is often the result of using generators, charcoal grills, or other gasoline-power equipment in poorly ventilated areas.

Stay out of floodwaters.

• Playing in floodwaters might seem like fun. However, they are many hidden dangers present. There could be raw sewage, hazardous chemicals, bacteria, dangerous wildlife, and underwater hazards that could severely injure or kill you.

Refrain from using candles.

• Using candles is very dangerous, for obvious reasons. Remember, the fire department may not be able to respond to put any fires out.

You should save an emergency number of a water and storm damage restoration company in Northern Florida so that when these disasters happen, it will be easy to reach out to them.

• This is something you should do as quickly as possible, as the longer, you leave your property damaged, the more serious the damage will ultimately be.
• After a hurricane, your home may be left with a serious leak or with a wall missing which will result in the property getting wet and having dust, dirt, and debris blowing in.
• The sooner you deal with this, the less expensive this subsequent damage and mess will be.

Get In Touch With The Experts Today

In order to be sure that the entire structure gets dried, hiring the professionals from ServiceMaster by PWF with the experience, tools, and skills to get the job done right is the best bet. They are the best water and storm damage restoration company in Northern Florida.

Don’t risk your family’s or employee’s health and well-being by trying to do it yourself. Always ask the experts to do it for you! Contact ServiceMaster by PWF by this number (866) 599-0871.

Prepare Your Property in Florida for The Hurricane Season

According to the National Weather Service, the Atlantic hurricane season starts this June and ends in November, and every Floridian knows that advanced planning and preparation are the essential keys to cope with hurricane disasters.

Never wait for last-minute preparations or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advisories before you make preparations for an incoming hurricane. A ready-made anti-hurricane program plan is one great solution, applicable during pre-season hurricane preparation.

Professional Storm Damage Restoration Company

Has a heavy wind storm left you with an unexpected tree or other large debris in your property? ServiceMaster by PWF, a storm damage restoration company in Florida offers storm damage restoration services, and water damage restoration services in Clay, Duval, St. John, and Pinellas Counties. We have:

We have the equipment needed to remove it all promptly and handle any rebuilding you may need as well.

We guide you through the entire process of storm damage restoration.

We work one-on-one with your insurer from the very beginning to get your property back to its original standing.

We aim to help get your life back to normal, as soon as possible, with as little hassle as possible.

Here are some unique property preparations for this season.

1. Inventory of Personal Property and Insurance Review

Organize a home inventory by recording all your assets from real estate (structures) to all parts of the house (inside out), up to the small details.

Taking into account what needs to be repaired, remodeled, and upgraded help you make cost accounting estimates for your budget.

Assess, analyze, and decide what needs to be done whenever a disaster strikes your location.

Review your insurance policies, either homeowners or hurricane insurance (if there’s none, better get one while it’s still early).

2. Prepare your Property Inside and Out

Start building more structural supports and strengthening the parts of the house that are weak and susceptible to damage, such as:

• Windows
• Doors
• Garages
• Rooftops.

Install hurricane-proof roofing which is designed to stand against a hurricane’s 175 mph to 190 mph winds.

Safeguard the entrance and exits of your house, such as doors and windows. Install:

• Shatter-proof, wind-resistant windows and
• Hurricane-proof doors

Repair or upgrade garage doors.

Invest in a reinforced safe room in your house, or a simple and economical windowless low-level area or room where, in a worst-case scenario, you and your family can be safe and well-protected.

• Stock a three-to-seven-day list of items/goods like:
• Food
• Water
• Kitchen accessories
• Hygienic items
• Flashlights and batteries
• Tools
• Grab bag which includes cash, camera, keys, mobile phones with chargers, and your most important documents
• Assembled emergency box (basic emergency medical supplies and equipment, blankets and pillows with rain-resistant covers), battery-operated radios and extra batteries, clean and consumable water, and other important personal items.

What to Do When Your Home Suffers from Storm Damage?

What needs to be done with residential and commercial properties in Florida that have suffered severe water damage from storms? No matter the cause, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damages. For advice on what you can do, ServiceMaster by PWF has put together these steps to recovery for storm damage on your property.

Whenever a hurricane strikes Florida, do not hesitate to hire ServiceMaster by PWF, Florida’s trusted professionals, and experts in water damage and storm damage restorations for residential and commercial properties in St Petersburg, Florida, and other parts of Pinellas County.

If you’re dealing with storm damages and their effects in Florida, you can trust the reliable residential and commercial disaster restoration experts at ServiceMaster by PWF. We specialize in restoring homes after severe water damage. Call today at (866) 599-0871.