Winter Safety Tips

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

Severe winter weather comes with dangerously low temperatures and sometimes with strong winds, icing, sleet and freezing rain. Winter storms are “Deceptive Killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Instead, people die in traffic accidents on icy roads and of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold. It is important to be prepared for severe winter weather before it strikes, so keep in mind the following tips:

• Things to keep in the trunk of each car: a snow shovel, snow chains and some rock salt or other environmentally safe products to melt ice and snow, just in case the car gets stuck in snow.
• The windshield shouldn’t be deiced by pouring hot water on it – the old fashioned way: the ice scraper is much safer.  The temperature difference between the hot water and a freezing car may crack the windshield.
• The car speed must be kept steady and below the speed limit when roads are icy or the threat of ice is imminent.
• When hitting a patch of ice, it is much safer to gently turn the steering wheel in the direction you are sliding and lightly tap the brake, instead of slamming on the brakes and overcorrecting.
• The curtains on south-facing windows should be kept opened to allow sunlight into the home, keeping it warmer.
• Frozen water pipes, should be deiced by applying heat slowly, beginning at the faucet and working towards the coldest section of the pipe. Using an electric heater to thaw frozen water pipes must be avoided, as it may lead to electrocution if something goes wrong.
• It is best to clear snow off roof by using a snow roof rake, instead of climbing onto the roof and risking damaging the structure of the roof and falling off.
• House gutters must be cleaned regularly. This will not only promote good drainage, but also help prevent ice damming. Ice damming occurs when water gets trapped and freezes when the temperatures drop.
• In case of a power outage, using kerosene heaters or any camping or barbecuing heating device must be avoided to prevent Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning.
• Bright sunshine reflecting off of snow can cause macular degeneration and even contribute to age-related eye disease, therefore sunglasses should be worn during winter too.
• A broad-spectrum sunscreen must be applied on the face and other exposed areas before going outside.
• Gloves must always be worn when working or playing outside to prevent frostbite, itchy, dry and cracked skin.
• When temperatures go down, multiple clothing layers, preferably made of wool or synthetic materials such as polypropylene, are recommended. Cotton can lead to hypothermia, especially after it gets wet.

Hurricane Season is Approaching!

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricane Season is Approaching! Here are some Tips to know:

Number ONE: Stay inside and keep away from all windows, skylights and glass doors. Go to a safe area, such as an interior room, closet or downstairs bathroom. Never go outside the protection of your home or shelter before there is confirmation that the storm has passed the area.

• Never use a wet electrical device.
• If the power is out, use flashlights instead of candles.
• Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Be careful near damaged buildings.
• Stay away from power lines.
• Protect yourself from animals and pests.

• Stay indoors and away from windows.
• Listen to local television or radio for updates.
• Conditions may change quickly; be prepared to evacuate to a shelter or neighbor's home if necessary.

Spring Weather

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Spring weather can be unpredictable. When severe weather hits unexpectedly, the risk of injury and weather-related death increases, so planning makes sense. Prepare for storms, floods, and tornadoes as if you know in advance they are coming, because in the spring, they very likely will.

Spring is the time of year when many things change—including the weather. Temperatures can swing back and forth between balmy and frigid. Sunny days may be followed by a week of stormy weather. Sometimes extreme weather changes can occur even within the same day. Mark Twain once said, “In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.”

Thunderstorms cause most of the severe spring weather. They can bring lightning, tornadoes, and flooding. Whenever warm, moist air collides with cool, dry air, thunderstorms can occur. For much of the world, this happens in spring and summer.

Resources to have on-hand...

• A battery-operated flashlight, a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio, and extra batteries for both
• An emergency evacuation or shelter plan, including a map of your home and, for every type of severe weather emergency, routes to safety from each room
• A list of important personal information, including:
  • telephone numbers of neighbors, family, and friends
  • insurance and property information
  • telephone numbers of utility companies
  • medical information
• According to the American Red Cross a first aid kitexternal icon may include:
  • non-latex gloves
  • assortment of adhesive bandages
  • antibiotic ointment
  • sterile gauze pads in assorted sizes
  • absorbent compress dressings
  • tweezers
  • scissors
  • adhesive cloth tape
  • aspirin packets (81 mg each)
  • first aid instruction booklet (NOTE: Customize your first aid kitexternal icon to meet your individual and family needs.)
• A 3–5 day supply of bottled water and nonperishable food
• Personal hygiene items
• Blankets or sleeping bags

Seasonal Storms - Tips & Warnings

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

Advance warning is the most powerful preparedness tool for severe weather. Every family should have multiple methods for receiving severe weather alerts, including at least one with an audible alert to wake you in the middle of the night if necessary.

Alerts and Warnings

How You Can Start Preparing Now:

Know Our Area's Risk

Heavy rainfall, high winds, flooding, tornadoes and pipe freezes are weather related things our area needs to be aware and cautious of.  

Stock Up on The Necessities

It is not uncommon for these larger storms to lead to power outages.  Make sure you are stocked up on water, food, batteries for flashlights, and anything else you may need to feel more comfortable during a power outage.  Keeping your cellphones fully charged as the storm nears is also smart; being able to contact family, friends, and first responders is always important!

Stay Informed

Keep an eye on our local news and weather alerts, for information regarding the storm.  Staying alert for flash flood warnings and strong wind advisories can help keep you and your family safe throughout the storm.

Have a Backup Plan

If your home is in an area prone to flash flooding, have a backup plan!  Call relatives and friends and make a plan to visit a home in a safer location during the storm!

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit ready.gov

First Steps After Storm Damage

11/11/2021 (Permalink)

Your First Step After Storm Damage

When your home is damaged by hail, tornadoes, windstorms, or hurricanes, having an experienced restoration team on your side to repair your property will be invaluable. At SERVPRO of Columbus, S. Muscogee/Chattahoochee County, we are a full-service licensed general contractor specializing in all types of storm related repairs. We will take action right away to protect your assets with emergency board-up and roof tarping services to protect your damaged building. Then, after the gale has passed, we will restore your property to preloss condition or better.

Specializing In:

• Thunderstorms
• Lightning strikes
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes and high winds
• Hail and ice storms
• Freezing weather and broken pipes

Protecting Exposed Property

Our region is no stranger to strong weather capable of causing significant destruction. Strong winds rip off shingles or siding, flying debris breaks windows, falling branches pierce roofs, and large hail damages structures. This type of damage then leaves your property vulnerable to water damage and mold growth. At Southeast Restoration, we offer comprehensive storm recovery services including  24/7 emergency response, expert board-up and tarping services, tree removal, and full reconstruction services. No matter the size or scale of the harm to your property, we have the resources to protect, repair and restore your home.

If you need services after the next storm them give our office a call we are will be there for you! 706-568-1934

Winter is Coming - Frozen Pipes

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Although, its only fall here in Columbus, GA. We know that Winter will be coming it just has not come to the surface yet. However, there is no reason why we cannot proceed with early planning and taking care of our household pipes. 

When freezing temperatures hit, here are some helpful prevention tips:

• When you know temperatures will be dipping below freezing, allow water to run in all the sinks at a slow, constant drip. It only needs to trickle, and that tiny amount of water will keep the water moving through the pipes and prevent them from freezing.
• Open up the cabinet doors in the bathrooms and kitchen. This will allow the heat from the home to circulate and warm up the pipes.
• Keep the garage door closed to keep garage pipes from freezing.
• Keep your house at a warm, consistent temperature both day and night.
• If you leave your home for extended periods of time, do not set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees.
• If you do end up with frozen pipes, a hand-held hair dryer or heat lamp can thaw them.

When Winter does come make sure you have your local SERVPRO of Columbus number saved and give us a call for your next service. 706-568-1934

Flood Insurance 101

11/4/2021 (Permalink)

Last year the National Flood Insurance Program reported that 27% of claims related to flood insurance were in areas where there was low to moderate risk of flooding.  Homeowners and renters insurance does not typically cover flood damage.

SERVPRO of Columbus, S. Muscogee & Chattahoochee County will respond immediately to your emergency. We specialize in storm damages and disaster relief,  

the cornerstone of our business. We have extensive water damage and storm restoration training that allows us to get your home back to normal quickly. 

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• Highly Trained Water Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Water Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Need assistance with your claim?

Call SERVPRO of Columbus, GA 706-568-1934

Strong thunderstorms lead to flash flooding

8/24/2021 (Permalink)

A lot of people enjoy a good rainstorm. However, some thunderstorms can lead to flash flooding in most areas with heavy rainfall. It's important to know your surroundings and keeping up with local weather alerts. 

Below are a few tips to be mindful of during the next storm:

• Flooded Roadways - you should turn around and find another route. 
• Sand Bags (keep stock of sand bags to assist with preventing water intrusion) 
• Stay Tuned in with your local weather station
• Don't drink the water (make sure to boil water to destroy most types of disease-causing microorganisms).
• Be overprotective
• Keep away from moving water
• Check on your neighbors
• Have emergency plan in place

When the water has resided and its time to start the cleaning process use these tips:

• Get Help (Call SERVPRO of Columbus)
• Wear PPE (disinfection protection)
• Throw away food items that came in contact with the flood water
• Keep an eye out for Scammers 
• File an insurance claim

Overwhelmed or drained by the recent events? SERVPRO of Columbus is here to help. Give us a call and our office will assist you with your claim.

706-568-19347

Preparing for a Hurricane by CDC Guidelines

5/4/2021 (Permalink)

The season is almost upon us! It's time to start preparing for the upcoming Hurricane Season of 2021. 

The CDC has updated their website with some recommendations. We will be including that link below for additional information. 

However, your local SERVPRO is prepared with some useful tips as well:

1. Have an Emergency Plan
2. Extra Batteries
3. Can Goods & Dry Goods
4. Bottled Waters
5. Flash lights
6. Generator 
7. Extra Gasoline 
8. Contact Numbers

Once the storm has passed...call our office for your storm or flood damages that occurred to your property. 

We can assist with the following:

• Tarps
• Tree Removal
• Dry out
• Repairs
• Contents

Give our office a call if you have questions or need additional services: 706-568-1934

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/hurricanepreparedness/index.html

Thunderstorm Preparedness in Georgia

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous.  They can cause severe damage to your home and property in Georgia. Thunderstorms include lightning and can:

• Include winds over 50 MPH
• Create hail
• Cause flash floods
• Cause tornadoes

In most places, a thunderstorm can happen at any time of the year and at any time of the day. As we know in Georgia the weather is never predictable. 

Tips to follow:

• Sign up for your local community's warning system
• Cut down or trim back trees from all structures that are close to the roofs
• Install surge protectors, lightning rods, or a lightning protection system
• Keep your generator close by incase power goes out
• Call our local SERVPRO to assist with any wind, tree, or structure damage cause by the storm

Flood Waters

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbus/S. Muscogee specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Columbus, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 706.568.1934

Board Ups

11/1/2020 (Permalink)

Board-up services are designed to safeguard your property and belongings from other forces at work, whether human or environmental, and there are many benefits to acquiring these services for your commercial property.

* They help prevent vandals or thieves from entering your building. Unfortunately, there are many people who try to profit off of a disaster, and seeing an easy opening into a building through broken windows or doors is simply an invitation for these individuals. Boarding up any entrances to the property while you’re gone can keep looters at bay until you have time to get repairs completed.

* They guard against other environmental factors. If any open areas of your building are hit by a rainstorm or intense winds, you’ll be forced to contend with more than just fire damage. Filling in these areas with protective plywood helps to eliminate any chance of flooding, leaks or other mishaps that can end up saving you money for added cleanup.

* They could help you receive more coverage from your insurance company. Insurance companies often require property owners to utilize board-up services, and following their advice can help you get greater coverage if the damage is proven to be solely from the fire. Your provider is unlikely to pay for any extended damage from outside forces, and they could consider giving you less coverage overall for not following procedure.

Call SERVPRO of Columbus for your next board up services. 706-568-1934

Hail Damage

10/29/2020 (Permalink)

In the photo you will see that there is hail damage to the shingles. We are able to chalk the roof in order to show damages to the insurance company.

Why SERVPRO? Now Georgia is known for its random weather here in Muscogee County. This insured had a rook leak. It appears that not only did he have missing shingles but there was hail damage.

Most insurance companies require proof of damages to the roof prior to approval of replacement. As you can see in the before photo SERVPRO of Columbus chalked or marked the roof showing the areas of damages.

In the after photo you can see that SERVPRO of Columbus/S. Muscogee/ Chattahoochee Counties was able to assist the insured with the replacement of his roof and the installation of a new roof.

Call SERVPRO of Columbus/S. Muscogee/ Chattahoochee Counties  on your next loss. We look forward to working with you or your insurance company. 

When a Storm or Flood Hits, SERVPRO of Columbus is Ready!

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

Lightning Can Cause Terrible Damage

SERVPRO of Columbus is your local specialist in storm and flood damage restoration. Since we are in and part of your community, we are able to respond quicker to your emergency, with the right resources. With highly trained staff, specialized equipment, and extensive experience, we are equipped to restore your Columbus home or business back to “Like it never even happened.”

We’ve already faced a lot of storms this year, and the season is not over yet. Should large storms impact our area, we are able to activate additional resources to handle any sized disaster. The faster response, the less the damage, the less likely there will be additional damage, and the faster we can get you back to where you need to be.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call SERVPRO of Columbus today (706)-568-1934

Hurricane Michael

10/12/2018 (Permalink)

Although our hometown of South Muscogee & Columbus, GA was not heavily impacted by Hurricane Michael. We are sending our crews out to surrounding areas to assist in the relief and remediation of the wake that Hurricane Michael left on October 10th, and October 11th, 2018. 

Remember:

- Notify your family members and friends to inform them that you are safe

- Call your insurance company to start the initial process

- Keep a record of all communications between the insurance company, local contractors, and vendors that you plan on using 

- Do not enter a property that appears to be unsafe

- Do not travel near water areas where powerline are down

- Keep your emergency kits nearby 

*For additional tips please look back at our Hurricane Preparedness Blog from Sept 2018*

SERVPRO of Columbus wants to remind everyone to stay safe and to reach out to your Local SERVPRO for any assistance in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. 

When A Tree Falls

7/30/2018 (Permalink)

Tree Being Removed From Roof

Here in the Muscogee County area, we have had an unusual amount of heavy rain and storms so far this year. With those come strong winds that can weaken the trees surrounding your home until one day you hear a sound that every homeowner dreads. A tree has given in to the stress and CRASH, there is a tree in your living room and the rain is pouring in. Now what?

 First: Make sure your family and pets are safe.

Second: If you can safely do so, turn off the      power. Water + Electricity = Bad

Third: Call SERVPRO of Columbus @ 706.568.1934

 We are on-call 24 hours a day to respond to your storm damaged home or business. SERVPRO of Columbus can handle the entire job from top to bottom, and coordinate directly with your insurance company to make the process as stress free as possible. We handle insurance claims for storm damaged homes and businesses all the time, and are familiar with all of the local insurance agents and adjusters.

 Our quick respondors will mitigate your home to help prevent any further damage from the storm and after one of our professional tree removal contractors removes your new addition, we can clean, dry, and repair your home or business. It is always easier dealing with one company that can do everything, than several companies doing different parts of a job.

 Don’t let a tree on your roof or storm damage stress you out. Whether you live in Fortson, Midland, Upatoi, Columbus, Ft. Benning, or any of the surrounding areas, you can call SERVPRO of Columbus 24/7 at 706.568.1934 to any size disaster!

When Storms or Floods hit Columbus, SERVPRO is ready!

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbus specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Columbus, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 706.568.1934