ServiceMaster Restore Disaster Experts Urge Preparedness & Offer Recovery Tips as NOAA Predicts Above-Normal 2018 Hurricane S...
June 19 2018 - 4:10PM
Business Wire
The start of summer also means the start of the Atlantic
Hurricane season, which delivered more than $280 billion in damage
last year through Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. With NOAA’s
just-released announcement about a near- or above-normal season,
the disaster restoration experts at ServiceMaster Restore, one of
the largest residential and commercial disaster recovery companies
in the U.S. and a part of the ServiceMaster (NYSE:SERV) company,
say it’s crucial to prepare now and be sure you know what to do
before and after a tropical storm or hurricane.
“With the devastation of 2017’s storms still fresh in the minds
of many, now is the time to get prepared for the upcoming hurricane
season,” said Peter Duncanson, a 30-year disaster recovery veteran
of ServiceMaster Restore. “We care deeply about public safety and
don’t want anyone to get caught off guard. If you live in a coastal
region, take time now, ahead of this year’s tropical storms and
hurricanes, to ensure your entire family knows what to do. A good
plan can also help you avoid more costly damages down the
road.”
An effective pre-storm plan, according to Duncanson, includes
things such as a list of all medications and copies of relevant
medical records and other important documents; details of
evacuation routes and pre-determined meeting locations for family
members; essential supplies such as non-perishable food and first
aid items; and an updated list of contacts, including insurance
providers, and qualified professionals such as tree trimmers and
restoration companies.
If you have to evacuate, wait for authorities to declare it's
safe to go home. When it is, keep these steps in mind:
1. Safety first. Avoid driving or even walking in
floodwaters. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down,
and fast-moving waters can sweep your vehicle away. Not only is
floodwater contaminated with all sorts of debris and pollutants, it
might be electrically charged by downed power lines. If you see any
fallen power lines, contact your utility company immediately – do
not assume someone else has.
2. Check the power. When you return home, if you can
safely reach the breaker box, turn off the power to your house, or
ask your power company to cut power remotely. Standing water inside
your home can create an electrical shock hazard.
3. Check the structure. If your home's structure or
foundation appears unstable, do not attempt to go inside.
Immediately call for professional help and get a thorough
assessment of the damage. Water damage can cause walls, ceilings
and floors to swell, decay or collapse, in addition to other storm
damage that may have affected your home’s structure or
foundation.
4. Take inventory and contact your insurance
agent. Photograph and document all damage to your home and
your belongings to support insurance claims. Better yet, do a
complete inventory of the contents of your home now and
electronically scan or take photos of important documents; these
will come in handy if you need to file a claim. Once the storm has
passed, it’s important to contact your insurance company
immediately to confirm your coverage and start the claims
process.
5. Partner with professionals. Professional
restoration companies like ServiceMaster Restore offer
24-hour emergency assistance to minimize the impact a storm can
have on your home or business. Water damage restoration experts
follow industry best practices and come equipped with the tools to
extract water, effectively dry your home and belongings, restore
damaged items and help prevent or remediate the development of mold
so you can get back to normal as soon as possible after a major
storm.
6. Download the American Red Cross Emergency mobile app:
This app, which is sponsored by ServiceMaster, not only provides
expert advice on what to do before, during and after severe weather
events, but it also includes real-time local weather radar, maps of
nearby shelters and notification capabilities to let friends and
family know you’re safe. To download, text “GETEMERGENCY” to 90999,
search “American Red Cross” in the app store or go to
redcross.org/apps.
About ServiceMaster Restore
With approximately 2,000 franchised and licensed locations
around the world, ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Recovery
Management (SRM) serve customers through a global network of
franchises available 24/7/365 to provide residential and
commercial restoration services resulting from damage caused by
water, fire, smoke or mold. SRM is the large-scale commercial
catastrophic disaster restoration unit of ServiceMaster Restore.
ServiceMaster Restore and SRM have operations and consulting
experience on countless disasters, including clean-up after
Hurricane Katrina and the Pentagon after September 11, 2001.
ServiceMaster Restore is a business unit of Memphis-based
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading
provider of essential residential and commercial services. More
information can be found at www.servicemasterrestore.com and
http://www.srmcat.com/. ServiceMaster Restore is the Official
Disaster Restoration Specialist of Minor League Baseball™.
About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the
homeowner’s dilemma. Every day, we visit more than 75,000 homes and
businesses through our extensive service network of expert
professionals. Technology powers our trusted experts to engage with
customers so they can order, buy and receive services when, where
and how they want them. Our well-recognized brands include American
Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections),
Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential
cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial and residential floor
cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and
Terminix (termite and pest control). Like, follow or visit us at
facebook.com/ServiceMaster, linkedin.com/ServiceMaster,
twitter.com/ServiceMaster, or servicemaster.com. ServiceMaster is
the Official Home Services Provider of Minor League Baseball™.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180619006349/en/
ServiceMaster RestoreAlison Bishop,
901-827-6956Alison.bishop@servicemaster.comorBristol
Whitcher, 617-939-8363bwhitcher@conecomm.com
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