Disaster Recovery News

Logo from the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Home website

The Manor House at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens had water damage and mold problems in the 1990s. A small stream would flow through the basement because of poor drainage, causing plaster to crumble and other damage to the estate. In addition, the wall and balustrade that formed the outer boundary of the West Terrace also suffered water damage. Instead of just fixing the water damage and removing the growing mold, those who managed the estate saw the problem as an opportunity to make big improvements.

A Decade Later

$10 million and thirteen years later, the historical site in West Akron, Ohio is nearly finished with its water-management project with the much-anticipated West Terrace and Japanese Garden. The project allowed for the repair of the building’s water damage and the restoration of other areas of the estate. Photos found of the estate’s original landscaping, which the original owner’s son took, guided those who planned the restoration and renovation of the site.

Water-damage restoration techniques included creating a drainage system under terrace steps and repairing the reflecting pool, which had leaks and faulty repairs.

Read more about this restoration project.

More Time=More Money

Leaks, water damage and mold, when they are not taken care of promptly and correctly, have high costs. Waiting to repair such issues will deem more expensive the longer it is put-off, can affect the health of those exposed to the mold and can cause structural damage to a building. As soon as you see mold, a leak or water damage in a building, immediately investigate the source of the water damage and repair it as soon as you can. Not doing so will cost you more in the end.

Learn more about water damage restoration.

Homes were left in a dangerous state in Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island after storms blew through the northeastern part of the United States, which required extensive documentation. The foundations of these beachfront properties were left exposed. Much of the beach on the island was left heavily eroded and a lot of sand and dunes were lost as a result of the storms.

Officials assessing the damages advise property owners in the area to file an insurance claim if any damage is seen. Officials have also stated they cannot guarantee homeowners will see any money if a claim is filed.

For now, workers are busy piling up sand toward the exposed foundations of the island homes with bulldozers. Sand continues to be pumped onto the shore from dredges as the damage-surveying processes wraps up. The Office of Emergency Management will present the findings to the governor who, in term, can request federal aid and a disaster declaration from the Obama administration.

More on this story.

Any water damage from the high tides and heavy rains need to be remediated and dried ASAP. If not, damages to the foundations of the homes can cause the structures to fall. Mold will also be a problem if proper measures are not taken after a home has seen water damage.

Learn more about recovering from a flood.

A strong storm is predicted to hit the US west coast on Friday and will continue through Saturday. Washington, Oregon, and especially California will feel the strongest effects of the storm. Read the full story here.

Three to four inches of rain is expected to fall throughout Oregon and Washington. Parts of California could see up to five inches of rain. The snow level is expected to fall down to 6,000 feet in the Cascade Range. All of this new rain could cause areas to flood, requiring work from disaster recovery services.

Many areas in the west, such as San Francisco, have not seen rain in a while. There are warning about slick conditions as oil on the roads mix with the newly fallen rain. Areas as south as Los Angeles and San Diego are expected to feel much cooler weather this weekend.

However, conditions are expected to improve by the beginning of next week as the storm moves to other areas of the country. Click here to watch a video of the forecast.

If you live in an area that may be at risk for water damage, click here to learn about what you can do to protect personal and professional belongings.

Photo by Pieter Musterd

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