Disaster Recovery News

 After what is considered “massive amounts of snow” by Seattle residents, the area is now under a flood watch as it all begins to melt.

Seattlepi.com reports: “Meteorologists predict that the combination of rising temperatures, rainfall and the last week’s snowfall could cause flooding in the city.” City officials are anxious about the costs the floods could incur after already having spent nearly $1 million during the recent snowfall and ice development in the city.

The temperature is expected to rise this weekend in the Pacific Northwest. This is a problem because there could be a lot of standing water on the roads as drains are clogged by sand and gravel placed to provide traction in the snow and ice.

It is also feared that rain falling into the snow could weigh-down flat roofs, therefore causing them to collapse.

Read the full story.

Click below to learn about the following about flooding:

• How to prevent mold
• Steps to take after a flood
• Flood restoration specialists

The winter weather has not made any exceptions this year. States west to east have had massive amounts of snow dumped upon them as if a giant snow cone machine was shaving ice in the clouds above.

“The Weather Guys” with USA Today have stated the following for today for your area of the country and your neighbors:

“Northwest nightmare — A powerful winter storm is hammering the Northwest today. Gusty winds and heavy snow and rain are affecting Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Blizzard warnings have been issued for the Cascade and Olympic mountains today. Rain will spread south across California by later today.
Dangerous cold in the center — Intense cold and howling winds are the main weather story in the central USA today. Dangerously cold wind chills values will bottom out well below zero across most of the Plains and Midwest. The winds will bring some lake-effect snow in the lee of the Great Lakes.
More nastiness in the Northeast — Yet another in a series of winter storms is bringing snow and ice to the Northeast today. The heaviest snow should be in northern New York State and northern New England. Strong, bitterly cold winds will be the main story later today and tonight in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic areas.”

The Climate Prediction Center expects the month of January 2009 to be warmer than usual for states east of the Rocky Mountains.
Learn how to keep yourself safe at home or work amid all the wintry weather and the upcoming holidays. The winter months tend to bring a lot of moisture to our homes and businesses that often lead to mold growth; learn more about mold prevention.

Two separate fire hydrants in two separate locations were damaged yesterday. Both were damaged by a commercial vehicle crashing into them and nearby buildings were damaged by water as a result.

One of the damaged hydrants was at the Clairemont Mesa Apartments in San Diego, California. Tenants in several units had to be evacuated as fire fighter took two and a half hours to turn off the hydrant. The shut-off valve, reports the Union Tribune, was broken in the crash, therefore causing the extended length of time to turn the water off. Twelve apartments had had up to a foot of water in them after all the commotion was over.

The Star Tribune repots the Plymouth Hotel in Minnesota had a pipe burst within the building because of a collision a semi truck caused as it ran into a fire hydrant down the road. The water flooded much of the first floor, causing damage to 18 of its hotel rooms. Up to 60 guests of the hotel had to be relocated to nearby accommodations.

The clean-up process is underway at both locations in order to prevent mold growth and ensure business continuity. To learn more about flood restoration, click here.

Snow in the Northwest Video

Temperatures are expected to lower significantly while the chances of precipitation remain high. This is the perfect recipe for SNOW.

Dave Salesky with KGW’s weather blog in Portland, OR reads:

“There is no way around it– we’re going to get hit with a pretty big storm…

…Cold air arrives…Saturday. Snow levels will drop like a rock. From 7000ft to 1500ft in just a few hours. Heavy snow will fall in the Cascades and Coast Range. Blizzard conditions will exist in Cascades much of Saturday. Maybe 3 feet of snow will fall in the mountains. Locally we’ll see snow in the higher hills not on the valley floor. Precipitation Saturday will be a wintry mix with no accumulation below 500ft.

…A second wave of arctic air that arrives Sunday. Temperatures will fall into the teens and twenties. Another weak low will drop south along the coast. Moisture coming ashore will be snow, all the way to the valley floor. Amounts are still hard to predict at this time. We could see just a few flurries maybe an inch or two.

Lastly I don’t see a warm up coming anytime soon. We might even see another snow event late next week!”

There are several things one can do during the winter to protect their home from the elements and fires. Click here to learn how to keep your home mold-free with all the frightful weather. Then, learn how to keep your home safe as you warm up by the fire (or space heater).

Officials in Baltimore County, Maryland have declared they are ready for winter weather–no matter what it brings.

Currently, the county has 300 trucks and 14 storage facilities full of salt (50,000 tons of  it). On top of this, 100 private contractors are on retainer and 400 people are ready to move if the winter weather hits hard.

What is more amazing than the fact that the storage units are 2,000 tons of salt under capacity is that the county conducted a winter weather drill on December 2. The Towson Times reports that county police, fire officials, the school districts, and the departments of public works (health, aging and social services) came together to practice what they would do in the event of severe winter weather. This was called a “winter-weather preparedness drill” and it will help all involved be better prepared, more coordinated, and work more effectively towards providing relief and safety in the county.

Read the full story here.

Is this drill something your county does? Do you have a preparedness drill for your home or business? Would you know what to do if your business or home was a victim of winter weather disaster?

Find out how to make a recovery plan for your business and how to make your own emergency disaster kits. Learn about winter storm protection and how to prevent mold during the winter months.