Helpful Hints to Expidite Storm Damage Insurance Claims - 09/08/08 11:59 AM
When Filing Insurance Claims:When filing your claim, complete a precisely detailed estimate of what is required to repair or rebuild your property. Assist in the preparation of inventories for damaged personal property, contents, and related items. With your help in providing correct documentation, and determining ages, descriptions and determine the approximate current values. Have your losses or additional living expenses ready to submit in your claim. Establish a professional line of communications with the insurance adjuster and present estimates, inventories, and other valuations to the insurance adjuster. A Public Adjuster can meet with your insurance company to adjust your claim fairly … (0 comments)

Do You Know The Hurricane Scale? - 09/08/08 11:55 AM
Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale1 74-95 mph ~ >980 mb* Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. 2 96-110 mph ~965-979 mb* Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of center. Small Craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. 3 111-130 mph ~ 945-964 mb* Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures … (1 comments)

Know Your Storm Warnings. - 09/08/08 11:54 AM
Hurricane Warnings:1. Tropical Storm Watch - issued when tropical storm conditions may threaten a specific coastal area within 36 hours, and when the storm is not predicted to intensify to hurricane strength. 2. Tropical Storm Warning - winds in the range of 39 to 73 mph can be expected to affect specific areas of a coastline within the next 24 hours. 3. Hurricane Watch - a hurricane or hurricane conditions may threaten a specific coastal area within 36 hours. 4. Hurricane Warning - a warning that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a … (0 comments)

Important Storm Terms - 09/05/08 09:19 AM
Hurricane Terms:
· Tropical Depression - an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
· Tropical Storm - an organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots).
· Hurricane - a warm-core tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or greater.
· Eye - center a hurricane with light winds and partly cloudy to clear skies. The eye is usually around 20 miles in diameter, but can range between 5 and … (2 comments)

FEMA Post Flood Guidelines - 09/04/08 11:02 AM
The following are guidelines for the period following a flood:
Listen for news reports to learn whether the community's water supply is safe to drink. Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. Avoid moving water. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car. Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company. Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe. Stay out of any building if … (0 comments)

What to Look For in an IAQ Professional - 09/04/08 10:54 AM
What to look for when Hiring an IAQ ConsultantMost of us spend 90% of our time in indoor environments. Indoor air quality (IAQ) issues impact the lives of people across the globe. Problems with poor air quality in buildings and homes can result in health concerns, liability issue, lost productivity, and decreased property values.IAQ problems in non-industrial buildings such as homes, schools and offices are often caused by complex, inter-related issues. Diagnosing and fixing the sources of poor IAQ may require the professional expertise of one or more consultants or contractors. It is important that individuals be highly qualified to fully investigate, identify and/or mitigate … (0 comments)

Storm Damage Assessment and Environmental Testing - 09/04/08 10:05 AM
Storm Damage Assessment and Environmental Testing
National attention has brought mold and indoor air quality to the forefront of your clients' concerns. Many clients have become knowledgeable about mold infestations and health issues.
By understanding what is hype and what is truth, you can recommend a certified Indoor Air Quality Specialist who will assess and analyze the property. The solutions recommend by a specialist will allow you and your client to move forward with the transaction quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
After The Clean Up Make Sure Your Home Is Free Of ;
Mold Bacteria Sewage Contamination E. Coli Fecal Coliform Fecal Streptococcus … (0 comments)

Cleaning up after a Flood Step 3 - 09/04/08 09:47 AM
Remember when cleaning up yourself;
Mold cleanup guidelines:
1. Minimize your exposure during cleanup.
People are exposed to mold by breathing spores or fragments. You can also be exposed through skin contact. Wear gloves and a  If you are sensitive to mold, wear splash goggles to help protect your eyes. Wear long sleeves, long pants and sturdy shoes.
2. Isolate the work area and ventilate it to outdoors.
Disturbing mold colonies can cause a massive release of spores, so seal off the contaminated area from the rest of the house. If the power is on, use a fan to … (1 comments)

Cleaning up after a Flood Step 2 - 09/04/08 09:43 AM
Once the Home or Building is Safe:
•1.     First take an inventory: Compile a room-by-room inventory of missing or damaged goods, and include manufacturer's names, dates and places of purchases and prices. Take photographs to document the damages for insurance purposes. A video recording would also be a very effective way to document flood damage.  This documentation will be useful if claims need to be filed with insurance companies, banks or various agencies later.
•2.     Dry all wet materials as quickly as possible. If possible, use air conditioning with fans and dehumidifiers. If you have no power and can get access … (0 comments)

Cleaning up after a Flood Step 1 - 09/04/08 09:41 AM
The best way to avoid mold hazards is to hire a reputable Indoor Environmental Consultant that is certified and trained to provide a written protocol that will allow you to receive competitive bids from licensed restoration and drying contractors trained in dealing with water damage and mold remediation. But that may be difficult after a disaster. You may have to do the cleanup yourself. If so, follow the steps below.
* BEFORE YOU PROCEED:
After the water has receded enough to the point that it is no longer standing in your home or business, you should begin clean-up procedures.
Before beginning clean-up … (0 comments)

Storm Flooding Helpful Hints - 09/04/08 09:38 AM
It is necessary to have your homes damage assessed in a way that your insurance company is familiar with.  For this reason you should use a professional Indoor Environmental Company to provide you with a written protocol for the restoration process of your home.  The protocol will list in detail what materials need to be removed and replaced within your home and how the home will be tested upon completion to ensure the work was completed correctly.  The protocol will help expedite your insurance claim and allow you to receive several proposals for the work listed by the Indoor Environmental Consultant.  … (0 comments)

Helpful Hints "After The Flood" - 09/04/08 09:35 AM
Time is the key factor in the extent of damage done to the elements of the structure.  If the water has been in the structure more than a few hours, the damage and amount of material which will need to be removed will be extensive.  In this case, items such as gypsum board on the walls and insulation under the floor, within the walls become damaged beyond repair and must be removed to minimize further damage to the overall structure.When the power goes off for several days in hot, humid climates, it is difficult to avoid a mold explosion. Molds produce spores … (0 comments)

Property Damaged by Water? It’s not just a Mold problem. - 09/04/08 09:32 AM
The use of untreated or inadequately treated groundwater is responsible for a number of outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses that occur every year throughout the United States. In many of these outbreaks, sewage was most often identified as the contamination source.  The recent flooding events in Florida have created sewage contamination problems, however simple testing solutions can provide fast information to business and homeowners.Here at MicroShield Environmental Services, LLC, we test for sewage contamination by testing for certain indicator organisms (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E.coli, and Enterococcus).  These indicator organisms are assumed to be indigenous to feces, and thus their presence in … (0 comments)