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GALLATIN, Tennessee, August 30, 2021--SERVPRO’s Disaster Recovery Team has been activated to help residents and business owners in storm-damaged areas in Louisiana and Mississippi. SERVPRO’s Disaster Recovery Teams will be assisting more than a dozen local franchises already located in the affected areas. SERVPRO has more than 200 crews ready to mobilize, with some crews already on the ground ready to assist home and business owners.
After the water begins to recede and authorities determine it is safe for residents to return to their property, there are several steps that can be taken to prevent additional damage from occurring. SERVPRO suggests the following steps to help minimize additional damage to your property while waiting for disaster professionals to arrive.
- If water has entered the structure through the flooding of a creek, stream, or river, or if it has filtered through insulation during its intrusion, it is considered to be black water and could be hazardous to your health. Avoid contact with contaminated items as much as possible.
- Take the greatest caution while entering your home, and wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing when dealing with flooded areas.
- Do not attempt to operate any electrical equipment while standing in wet or damp locations.
- Throw away all foods—even canned goods—that have come into contact with floodwaters. Without power, refrigerated foods may spoil in as few as 4 hours; frozen food spoils in 24 hours.
- Remove and prop wet upholstery and pillow cushions for drying. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
- If your home has a crawlspace, be aware excess moisture in this area can often foster mold growth.
- The frequent use of hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol content) and disinfecting wipes may help prevent illness and infection.
- If using a portable generator, keep it outdoors at all times and at least 20 feet from doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
SERVPRO’s Disaster Recovery Team mobilizes from across the country, as needed, to support large storm events. SERVPRO’s Disaster Recovery Team has responded to large loss and storm events across the country, including: 2021 Winter Storm Uri, 2020 Hurricane Laura, 2019 Hurricane Dorian, 2018 Camp Wildfire, 2018 Hurricane Michael, 2018 Hurricane Florence, 2017 Hurricane Irma, 2017 Hurricane Harvey, 2016 East Tennessee Wildfires, 2016 Hurricane Matthew, 2016 Louisiana Flooding, 2016 Houston Flooding, 2015 Siberian Express, 2014 Mid-Atlantic Flooding, 2014 Polar Vortex, 2013 Colorado Floods, 2013 Alberta, Canada Floods, 2012 Hurricane Sandy, 2012 Hurricane Isaac, 2011 Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee.
About SERVPRO
For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, mold mitigation, biohazard, and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 1,900 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small – from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners, and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”