MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Hurricane Irene, the first hurricane to seriously threaten the nation in three years, bears down on the east coast, ServiceMaster Clean, one of the leading national disaster restoration companies, is mobilizing to assist residential and commercial storm victims contain and reduce water damage.
In addition to the list of 12 helpful tips on how to mitigate water damage on its Web site, http://www.800respond.com/Tips/, the company suggests several things you should do to prepare before extreme weather hits your home.
"Before a hurricane strikes, it's important to carefully map out a response," says Pete Duncanson, director of training and technical support for ServiceMaster Clean. "Because the amount of planning you do upfront is going to play a significant role in the post-storm clean-up."
As the experts in disaster restoration, the professionals from ServiceMaster Clean make the following recommendations in anticipation of a hurricane or tropical storm:
MAP OUT AN EVACUATION ROUTE
Secure a community hurricane preparedness plan through your local emergency management office or Red Cross chapter and make sure to fill your gas tanks, as you may have to travel long distances inland to find a hotel or shelter.
HAVE AN OUT-OF-STATE CONTACT
Identify an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the official family contact, and be sure all family members have this person's contact information.
IDENTIFY MEETING PLACES
In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster (for example, when adults are at work and children are at school), identify two places to meet: one right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home. Make sure everyone knows the address and phone number of your second meeting place.
HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR YOUR PETS
Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate. Understand that most shelters and hotels will not allow them on the property, so it is critical to determine early on where to house them during a pending storm. Photograph them and make sure they are wearing identification collars in case you lose them during the storm.
PROTECT VALUABLES FROM WATER DAMAGE
Photograph and/or video both the interior and exterior of your home for a record of all valuables. Make sure to store originals of important documents, including birth certificates, banking and credit card information and medical records in a waterproof container as well.
UTILIZE DIFFERENT FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
Purchase a battery-operated AM/FM radio and/or battery-operated television to keep updated on events. Since most telephones will be out of order when the storm hits, weather radio will be your best source of information. However, make sure your cell phone is fully charged and have a phone charger in the car in case land lines are out for an extended period.
STOCK EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
These items include the following:
- Three days worth of non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned food items and a manual can opener
- One gallon of water per person per day for three days
- First aid kit that includes pre-moistened antibacterial wipes and insect repellant
- List of medications and prescriptions for each member of the household
- Flashlights and plenty of fresh batteries
- Disposable flash camera to take pictures of post-storm damage to home and/or vehicles
- Pen and paper
- Extra blankets and clothing
- Alternate cooking source
- Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members, including one-week supply of medications and foods for infants or those with special diets
- Crescent or pipe wrench to turn off gas and water
- One quart of unscented bleach or iodine tablets (for disinfecting water if ordered to do so by health officials) and an eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)
- Personal hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Fire extinguisher
PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY
Close and board up windows with ½ inch marine plywood and make sure to remove all outside antennas. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead wood and clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts. You should keep extra plywood and plastic for repairs you may need to make after the storm. Be sure to hold onto all receipts to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
KNOW HOW TO SHUT OFF YOUR UTILITIES
In the event that electricity is lost, be sure to turn the main switches in the circuit breaker box to the off position. Make sure all household appliances are turned off, as no one may be home when power is restored. Appliances left on could cause a fire.
REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND INSURANCE COVERAGE
It is important to understand what deductibles in your policy are in place for hurricane damage. You will need to investigate flood insurance, as homeowners policies do not cover water damage that results from a hurricane. Check out the National Flood Insurance Program, which is designed to provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves when catastrophe strikes.
About ServiceMaster Clean
With nearly 3,200 franchise locations around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide cleaning and restoration resulting from damage caused by water or fire, janitorial services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care and residential carpet and upholstery cleaning. Visit our website at www.servicemasterclean.com. Residential customers should call 1-800-Respond, while commercial customers should reach out to 1-866-Recover.
About ServiceMaster
With a network of more than 5,000 company-owned and franchise locations, Memphis-based ServiceMaster is one of the world's largest residential and commercial service networks. The company's high profile brands are TruGreen, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. Through approximately 24,000 corporate employees and a franchise network that independently employs over 31,000 additional people, the ServiceMaster family of brands serves more than 8.2 million customers every year. Our brands hold market-leading positions in residential and commercial lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home service contracts, furniture repair, home inspections, residential and commercial cleaning and disaster restoration. Go to www.servicemaster.com or twitter.com/ServiceMaster for more information about ServiceMaster.
Contact: Chris Curran
Chris.curran@servicemaster.com
Office: 901.597.7829
Cell: 901.619.9056
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