Disaster Recovery News

The time is now to prepare your home and business for the upcoming freezing weather. DisasterSafety.org offers ideas on how you can reduce your risk of flooding and water damage in and around buildings.

Check your plumbing and appliances. Plumbing supply lines should be inspected on a yearly basis. Refrigerators and freezers should have their hose lines inspected for damage. Washing machines, water heaters, and toilets should also be inspected about every six months. Shower stalls should have the pans inspected bi-annually and grout and tiles should be replaced if cracked or loose. Also make sure to inspect your sump pump.

In your building’s interior, there are many things that can help make sure you stay dry. Check windows, doors, drywall, and air conditioners for leaks. Also check for termite damage and ensure the humidity level in your home is between 30%-50%. It is a good idea, too, to have flood shields or barriers installed in basements.

Outside of a building, many things can be done to help ensure a dry building inside. Check the flashing where two building surfaces meet for areas that need to be replaced. Check the exterior siding and walls to ensure they are properly sealed and that natural, landscaping materials are not up against the building. Make sure the irrigation system is not sending too much water to the foundation of the building. Landscaping is also important in preventing water damage to a building or home. Make sure trees are properly trimmed and vines are not growing on the outside of the building. Have your roof inspected annually to see if any repairs need to be made.

Find out more about preventing water damage during freezing and cold weather.

Should your home or building suffer from any damage from water, call a restoration specialist to help you restore documents, books, archives, etc. Acting fast will help minimize the expense and time needed to help ensure a faster recovery. Find out more about the restoration process today!

Picture by Sean Dreilinger.

This week was National Fire Safety Week in the U.S.

The National Fire Protection Association has posted tips on their website about preventing fires in your home and how to plan for a fire:

Learn facts about fires and how they can start.

• Take a quiz about house fires.
• Watch a video about heating your home.
• Download a Fire Inspection Checklist .

Fires are unpredictable so it is essential that your family is aware of fire prevention methods. If there is a fire, concentrate on getting you and your family out of the building safely. Do not worry about grabbing important papers; there are companies that can help recover documents that have been damaged in a fire.

More on document preservation and restoration.

House fires often start unexpectedly and can happen at any time of the day. This was the case for a Eugene, OR woman who escaped unharmed from her home that became engulfed in flames on September 23, 2008 during the noon hour. The fire started on the porch in the backyard and spread to the home. It is suspected a propane tank from a grill caused the fire, but it is not certain. Read the full story here . Click here to see the video of the story.

The total cost of the damage is still not known. However, many people do not realize that personal items in such situation are not lost just to flames. Smoke, water, and flame retardant solution also contribute to the loss of many items. Click here to see tips about preventing the loss of your documents and pictures that are irreplaceable.

Photo by By KVAL Web Staff

FEMA announced it would provide federal Public Assistance to Wabash and Wayne Counties in Indiana to help pay for emergency services and repairs to public facilities. The state was hit hard by storms, tornadoes and flooding during the month of June. The addition of these two counties brings the total counties receiving federal Public Assistance to 43.

Public Assistance is made available to local governments and some nonprofit organizations to aid in the rebuilding or replacement of public infrastructures. In some cases, the assistance also includes aid in the replacement or restoration of federal entity contents, including documentation, equipment and books. The categories govered by the assistance varies depending on the nature of the disaster and the severity.

More on disaster recovery services for documents.

The Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency reported that a one day total of flood related waste picked up last week was nearly 900 tons. That was in addition to the 500-600 tons of garbage the service picks up on a regular day. The measurement was taken on Wednesday, June 18, twenty-two days after Iowa was first declared a major disaster area. Since then, 70 counties have been included in the disaster recovery programs set-up by the federal and state governments after flooding ravaged the state and took it to a virtual stand-still.

The waste agency estimates that the flood will result in approximate 300,000 cubic yards of waste by the time the recovery efforts are complete.

Find out more about waste and debris removal in Cedar Rapids area

Find out more about flooded document and materials restoration