Preparing for a Flood

7/29/2022 (Permalink)

Be Prepared

With heavy rain comes the possibility of a flooding, whether it be caused by the sudden downpour, a nearby river spilling out over its banks, or a storm surge overfilling. Flood plains and other low-lying areas near a body of water have a high chance of flooding. The subsequent water can cause a great deal of damage that requires extensive and prompt clean up. Being prepared for a flood is in the best interest of not only your family, but also to protect your valuables and to minimize water damage. Below are some tips on how you can do that.

1. Elevate Electrical Wiring

It is especially important to be prepared if your home is in a flood zone in the event of a worst-case scenario. If your home is in a flood zone, consider having a professional install or move electrical outlets, panels, and wiring to a foot above any flood levels. Ensure that appliances and heating systems are raised to a similar level, if possible.

2. Waterproof Your Basement

It is recommended if you are in a place that is vulnerable to flooding, to consider making changes and renovations to the basement. Doing so could possibly deter further damage from occurring. You can begin by waterproofing the basement walls with a sealing product. Another option could be installing a sump pump and having a battery-powered backup for the removal of standing water. It is vital to ensure that your plumbing has back-up or backflow valves installed to ensure that floodwaters won’t enter you home in the wrong way. If you do not have those valves, it is recommended to call a plumber to make the installations. A water alarm in the basement is also recommended as it can sound a warning if water is accumulating.  

3. Store Outdoor Possessions

Keep your eyes on the news when heavy rain is expected. If you have enough time before a natural flooding event, gather any outdoor belongings that could be swept away in a flood. Such things could include: loose lawn furniture, bicycles, gardening tools, toys, trashcans, and more. It is recommended that everything be stored indoors.

4. Clear Drains and Gutters

Regular maintenance of drains and gutters is suggested, especially more so in when heavy rain is anticipated. The overflow may cause more damage to your home as flooding occurs. Clearing the drains will help let the water run through the gutter spout and away from your home.

5. Move Valuables to Upper Levels

Any furniture that you can move upper floors to protect them from any potential damage. Wrapping them in waterproof tarps as an extra precaution. Place large sentimental items you cannot take with you into waterproof protection. If you are evacuating you should take irreplaceable photos, documents, insurance information, and vehicle permits with you.

6. Turn Off Water and Utilities

In case of an unexpected power surge, you should unplug appliances and turn off the propane take. If you are evacuating, turn off electricity, gas, and water services, especially if you see downed power lines.

If you have experienced water other damage associated with a flood, SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Wilkes & Burke Counties is always make it “Like it never even happened. ®” Give us a call at 706-843-1990 to schedule and remediation or restoration needs.

Beware of Hurricanes

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and early forecasts are predicting another above-average year of storm activity this year! Being prepared will keep your family safe in the even you are faced with disaster.

Make a Plan

It is vital to your household’s safety to have a detailed plan organized ahead of time. Here are some guidelines to have when setting up a plan.

• Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them somewhere visible at all times, as well as programmed into your phone.
• Prepare an emergency supply kit
• Locate the nearest shelter and all the alternate routes you can take from your home.
• Pet owners: pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel, or an out-of-town person that can accommodate you when your household evacuates.

Gather Emergency Supplies

• Nonperishable food and water
• Medicine supply
• Emergency power sources such as flashlights (and batteries)
• Personal items
• Important documents such as medical documents, wills, passports, and personal identifications
• A fire extinguisher, and make sure your family knows how to use it!

Hurricane Watch vs. Hurricane Warning

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible in a stated area. Typically, experts announce hurricane watches 48 hours before they expect the winds to start. A hurricane warning is more serious, it means hurricane-force winds are expected in the area. Experts normally issue these in 36 hours in advanced to give people in the area time to prepare for the storm.

Are you experiencing the aftermath of storm damage? Don’t stress, SERVPRO® is “Here to help. ®” Our trained staff can take your call at 706-843-1990, no matter the time.

Everything You Need to Know About Tornadoes

4/14/2022 (Permalink)

What To Do Before Tornado Season Begins 

Tornadoes can be a scary environmental event, but that does not mean you cannot prepare yourself for one. Make sure that your home insurance is up-to-date and has a wide variety of coverage. Policies generally need to be updated if anything has been changed, added, or removed structurally in the home. Create an inventory of all the items in your home and store it either digitally or in a secure location. This is an important part when updating your insurance plan. 

If you live in an area that is prone to tornadoes, building a safe room or reinforcing a room in your home may be a great idea. If you are unable to build a safe room, pick an interior room like a basement or a bottom floor bathroom to take shelter in. You will want to prep your tornado room with supplies such as: 

• Water
• Batteries
• A flashlight
• Portable chargers
• Non-perishable foods
• Hygiene items
• Trash bags

Installing up-to-code storm shutters is the best protection for your windows. Installing impact resistant garage doors is an extra preventative step that can be taken as well. Older doors are weakened through time and usage, and garage doors are typically the first element of the house to fail. Secure all cracks in your home's exterior to prevent any water from getting in during the storm. Make sure you research other ways you can tornado-proof your home before tornado season begins. 

When is Tornado Season in My Area? 

In the southern United States tornado season is from March to May, while in northern America it is from late spring through summer. Although tracked tornadoes typically occur between 3-9pm, tornadoes can develop at any time in any location. It is a good tip to know that tornadoes can also cross water and are often accompanied by storms and wind. The most common threat to your home during a tornado is the potential for trees to fall on them. Be sure to prune the trees that are closest to your house, ensuring that wind passes through the branches more easily without knocking them over.  

What To Do When a Tornado Watch Has Been Issued  

Start by bringing in any loose exterior items such as patio furniture, or anchor items down safely. Bring any pets you have inside. Make sure to move furniture indoors away from any windows. Make sure your windows are closed and safely secured. Open windows will blow unwanted water and debris into the home. 

Make sure that any emergency items are easily within reach such as cell phones or battery-operated radios. Be sure to listen to updates about the tornado from a weather broadcaster and do not leave your shelter until a professional says it is safe to do so.  

Does Your Home Need to Be Restored After a Tornado? SERVPRO® of South Augusta is here to make “Like it never even happened.” Give our professionals a call today at 706-843-1990!

SERVPRO®’s Approach to Property Damage

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

‘Weather Proofing’ Your Home

Storms bring weather conditions that could pose a threat to your property. This could mean flood damage, microburst winds that threaten roof damage, and seasonally, Winter storms that bring icy weather conditions could mean trouble for your property.

Weather can be unpredictable, but seasonally there are ways to prepare your home for each season. For this Winter, preventative maintenance tips from our SERVPRO® team includes keeping your attic well insulated, preventing your pipes from freezing, and protecting your trees from microburst winds and freezing temperatures.  

What To Do . . . and Not Do After Water Damage

First, determining the level of safety after an unexpected water damage emergency, is to ask yourself if the home is safe enough to stay inside? Second, calling an emergency restoration company like SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties is important. Calling SERVPRO could mean the difference in helping to not expose your home to extensive damages caused by waiting too long to repair a water leak or remediate water damages. Secondary damages could include things such as the beginnings of microbial growth or expanding mitigation lines to other areas of your property.

Here are a few short tips to for your first actions when discovering water damage:

• Remove any excess water by mopping and discarding.
• Gather loose items from the floor and remove any wet textiles from your home.
• Wipe excess water off furniture, and clean and remove accessories.
• Turn air conditioning on high for drying in the Summer.
• Pick up any wet materials off the floor to salvage them.
• Don't use a regular vacuum to try to remove water.
• Don’t use any affected household appliances.
• Stay out of rooms with sagging drywall or ceilings.

SERVPRO is a One-Stop-Shop

Although knowing calling SERVPRO will help alleviate stress, storm damages can still be daunting. Another stress-reliever is that your local SERVPRO of Augusta South is what many call a “One-Stop-Shop.” What is a One-Stop-Shop? Our SERVPRO specializes in all things Restoration and Cleanup. Unlike other restoration companies, our franchise can complete your property’s restoration process from job start to full completion. That means our team can carry your job to full completion without needing to refer you to another contractor to complete necessary work in restoring the property to pre-los condition. With our experience, our teams are also capable in helping you to navigate the claims process and will work alongside your insurance company to help achieve a seamless restorative process. At SERVPRO, we are always here to make your property damage "Like it never even happened." ® Do you need emergency storm damage help? Our helpful team is ready to answer your call for crew dispatching at, 706-843-1990.

Taking Control Before Storm Damage Hits

1/26/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO ERPs can save you time and money when combatting Winter Storm Damage - Call to set your ERP appointment today at 706-843-1990.

Winter Storms Can Bring Disruption

Seasonal Winter storms can be unpredictable and can bring property damage. Should storm damages occur, SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties can help you on the path to being prepared and fix damages caused by storms. Exercising regular safety practices for Winter storms is always recommended, but one additional precaution you may not be aware of is an Emergency Plan curated by SERVPRO, called an “ERP.”

ERPs Lessen Damages for Your Business

Equipping yourself and your team with the accessibility and information hub such as the SERVPRO ERP offers a useful step towards creating an emergency plan specific for your business. An Emergency Plan can help your business stay equipped with valuable emergency information before a storm. The ERP helps in notifying your team of important locations for water shut offs, gas shut offs, insurance information, and more. SERVPRO crews also can have access to this important, time saving information so when and if you have storm damages, our crews can review the ERP to know exactly how to best respond to the damages before arriving on site.

Beyond the Storms

Beyond utilizing the ERP capability for responding to damages, the ERP has been found to be a useful tool for property managers, property owners, and maintenance professionals. The ERP has been modernized to not only be used as a tangible resource on site, but now as an app for mobile devices. The app access allows the ERP always should an emergency occur after-hours the same information in the tangible ERP can be shared amongst first responders and staff.

Want Help Planning Your ERP to better plan for potential Winter Storm Damage? Call our team to set an appointment with a SERVPRO representative – or for Emergency Help at 706-843-1990.

Water Damage in Your Home Due to Excess Rainwater?

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

Standing water in this dining room affected the flooring and had to replaced. If your home experiences storm damage, call our team at 706-843-1990.

SERVPRO® Water Damage Process Overview 

When a water damage occurs in your home avoid the frustration of cleaning it up by yourself, let SERVPRO® professionals clean it up for you. The biggest key is to respond quickly to damage which reduces the damage and saves you money.

Our 1-4-8 Process makes clean up a breeze and has your home back to preloss condition in no time. The first hour you contact us about your loss we’ll arrange for a service technician to come out and get a scope of the issue. By hour 4, one of our highly trained technicians will be on-site starting the clean-up and drying process. Within 8 hours of arrival, a technician will verbalize what the scope of work entails. 

How We Proceed to Get the Job Done

First, we will check for moisture in your building, to do this we have to guarantee that the source of the leak has been halted. Next crews identify what kind of water and categorize the water damage to ensure that we are restoring your property based upon industry guidelines.

Crews inspect and test the damaged area and make sure there are no additional safety issues that need to be brought to your attention. Once a thorough checklist has been filled, we are ready to get to work! We use SERVPRO® equipment and cleaning products to ensure that water is cleaned up and that your home is restored to preloss condition. Once the damage is all cleaned up, our restoration team comes in and gets your home pieced back together. This is how we make the damage "Like it never even happened."® 

Have a Water Issue That is Out of Your Control? Give our office team a call at 706-843-1990 to set up a consultation today. 

Augusta’s Flood History Sparks Precaution

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

With Augusta’s long history of downtown and surrounding areas becoming flooded due to a rise in water from the Savannah River, it’s no secret that flooding is a threat to many homes and commercial businesses in Augusta. At SERVPRO, we aim to help educate the public about steps, tips, and offer post-storm/flood damage restoration help.

Tips for Mitigating Potential Losses Before a Flood Occurs

With Augusta’s vulnerability to flooding, it’s important to know there are a few effective ways to limit your home and businesses risk to flood and storms. The following is a brief list of measures you can take before flooding occurs to mitigate potential losses:

• Find out what your property insurance policy covers and if it does not cover flood damage, buy additional flood insurance
• Keep valuables and insurance policies in a bank safe deposit box or at a secured storage site away from your residence  
• Locate electric panels, furnaces, water heaters, and other appliances in higher parts of your home that are unlikely to be flooded
• Move expensive rugs, furniture, and other valuable items to higher floors of your house
• Place sandbags around the perimeter of your property to divert floodwaters away from it
• Watch weather forecasts, know essential storm-related terminology, and have all your preparations completed before storms arrive

In each of these ways, you can often safeguard your property and gain some peace of mind in the face of potential flood-related disasters.

After floodwaters recede, it is important that you:

• Not return home until authorities say it is safe
• Contact a reputable flood damage cleanup & repair service as soon as possible
• Stay out of rooms with weakened floors or sagging ceilings
• Refrain from drinking your home’s tap water

At SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties, we care about protecting your property, and assure you and your family, we are always Here to Help.® Call us anytime, 24/7 - 365 at 706-843-1990.

When Storms Strike, SERVPRO Can Help

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Augusta South - We're always Here to Help.® - Call 706-843-1990

Flooding from storms can be devastating in Grovetown - But, SERVPRO professionals can protect whatever possible.

When Grovetown home flooding occurs, it can be devastating for your home and family. Our teams can help restore your home and property after floods cause unfortunate damages. The teams are well equipped and trained with the best in our industry, and rapid response times aid in getting your home and life back on track.

Our trained crew chiefs and technicians professionals deploy professional help to reduce the devastation of flooding in the property in several areas, including: 

• Temporary Construction - Techs can utilize their expertise to identify structural concerns and address these situations immediately. Vulnerabilities in the exterior of the house can lead to continued flood damages. Board up and tarping are standard temporary solutions to these vulnerabilities. 

• Debris Removal – Debris, solids, organic matter, and mud can all get brought in with rising water levels and conditions like flash flooding. Removing these concerns through muck-out cleaning reduces concentrations of foul odors and potential contaminants. 

• Extraction – Our water restorers must deploy several powerful tools in our inventory if pooling water does remain. Mismanaged pooling can result in oversaturation of exposed materials and greater needs for tear-out and build back. We use our industry-leading inventory to manage standing water concerns in the property. 

• Controlled Demolition – Our team must determine what materials and structural elements have become too severely impacted to preserve. Sagging and deteriorating surfaces require removal and discarding for safe restoration in the house. 

• Content Recovery – Identifying damage to personal belongings, furniture, and other contents is vital in cleaning and recovering these items. Through on-site cleaning and off-site restoration solutions, we can salvage what matters most to you. 

How Long Will Flood Restoration Take? 

You may wonder how long will the process take? Every structure, storm, and situation is completely unique. At SERVPRO, we do have highly regimented processes to restoring a loss, but the severity of the loss is always very situational. Our crews follow these highly regimented processes as a means to restore your property as quickly as possible and implement order to a typically chaotic environment.

Need Grovetown Home Flood Damage Help? Our office team is available to answer your call and question, and crews are available 24/7 – 365 to be dispatched to your disaster! Call our teams at 706-843-1990 for help, or click Here for more information on water damages and the SERVPRO process.

Protect Your Home Before the Storms

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

After a storm, wall flood cuts are made by SERVPRO® crews, then, wet insulation is removed to avoid microbial growth behind sheetrock.

Warning Signs as a Homeowner Before the Storms

Severe storm damage annually makes landfall in our area between early June to late November. As a homeowner, it is vital to take precautions and preliminary steps to protect your property before storm arrival. Storm damage to be wary and prepare for include, but are not limited to, roof leaks and damages, foundation repairs, broken windows, invasive flood water that seeps in from excessive rain and overflowing creeks or rivers.

Be in the Know with SERVPRO®

Becoming geared in with your local Emergency Management Agency helps you to become more aware of impending storms. Your local EMA can provide details on storms, landfall timeframe and details, and emergency tips for avoiding storm damage to your property. To learn more about Burke County EMA Office Resources, Click Here!

Storm Damage Tips for Your Home:

• Brace/Reinforce entry doors for tornado winds.
• Clear your yard of debris, lawn chairs, and children’s toys that could during a storm, become a hazard.
• Use shutters to help protect your windows.
• Attach rigid form insulation or plastic sheeting around the outside of your first-floor walls. Water may intrude, but most silt with be kept outside.

Properly preparing for a storm, but more importantly performing routine maintenance of your home helps combat potential storm damages. Regularly clearing your gutters and downspouts helps to extend the life of your gutters and roof. Additionally, pressure washing can help prevent microbial growth, and securing entrance/exit points to your crawlspace helps keep your crawlspace clear and ready for potential drying after flooding.

Need Post-Storm Help? SERVPRO® is Here for You.

Have you and your family experienced storm damages and need help or advice? Please call our SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties at 706-843-1990 for advice and scheduling.

Flooding in Thomson, GA Could Mean Flooding in Your Home

7/2/2021 (Permalink)

After area flooding, this entire building was covered with sewage material. SERVPRO crews restored & sanitized the space back to preloss condition.

Flooding Looms Fear for Thomson Homeowners

The thought of flooding in the streets of your hometown Thomson can lead to worries about the future of your home. Heavy rains coupled with poor storm water distribution and drainage, could contribute to creating a threat against your home and your crawlspace. A moist crawlspace that lacks sunlight with our Summer’s hot conditions can lead to encouraging mold colonization and growth.

Recent News of Flooding in Thomson

In recent news, Thomson streets had flooded from extensive rainfall and blocked drains from debris. Although the city did its best to prepare, storm drain systems cannot prevent all threats when flooding is on the rise. As streets, parks, recreational fields, and sidewalks flooded, the danger of water intruding into homes was evermore present. The rainfall exposed many homes leaking roofs, inundated gutters, and unsecure crawlspace entrance and exit points. These factors all attributing to potentially damaging flooding impacts.

Mold in Your Crawlspace?

After the storms and flooding pass over our area, what the weather leaves behind can lead to potential mold and rot in your crawlspace. If you discover mold in your crawlspace, know that SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Wilkes & Burke Counties can help eliminate the mold and identify how to prevent future growth.

Tips for Caring for Your Crawlspace

Maintaining your crawlspace can help keep the environment and air quality healthy while simultaneously preventing mold and rot. A few regular maintenance duties can help prevent future issues, such as:

• Providing your crawlspace with proper ventilation.
• Securing entrance and exit points.
• Removing any debris, excess moisture, and poor insulation in the space.
• Installing a proper vapor barrier / moisture barrier to help implement a controlled environment.
• On a semi-regular schedule check your crawlspace for any changes.

Need Thomson GA Flooding Help from SERVPRO® ?

SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Wilkes & Burke Counties can help mitigate the effects of flooding. Our crews are committed to assuring your home is protected from future issues. If you find that your crawlspace is in needed of moisture remediation, or different measures like water extraction, our team is more than capable for handling any size disaster.

Have Questions?

Contact our office! (706) 843 - 1990

We can answer your questions, deploy a SERVPRO® crew for immediate emergency response to your home, discuss our processes in more depth, and scheduling.

How Roof Damage Can Cause Flooding in Your Augusta Home

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Storms can damage roofs, causing water damage to homes. Inspect your roof often for signs of wear and tear.

Roof Damage That Can Flood Your Augusta Home

Storm damages can leave you with expensive repairs and unknowns for your Augusta home. Even more pressing than the immediate structural concerns are the effects that could result from vulnerabilities in areas like your home’s roof. The temperature swings through the months, along with severe weather systems, can take their toll on shingled roofs, eventually prying off individual shingles or causing entire portions of your roof’s structure to fail.

Roof damages to your Augusta home can allow for many damaging effects to occur, but the most significant concern for homeowners is flooding. With vulnerabilities and penetration points in your roof’s structure, runoff and torrential rainfall can get inside the attic and upper floors of your home unabated. To resolve this situation, you need a team that can respond quickly with restoration and mitigation experience like our SERVPRO professionals.

From the time that our team arrives at your address, we can quickly determine the source of the damage that your home has sustained and work to provide immediate emergency repairs to prevent further penetration. Board up and tarping services can provide a temporary bandage to avoid additional exposure while the mitigation work gets underway.

With flooding situations, extraction is critical to begin right away to prevent penetration into materials yet exposed to the spreading water. We can utilize portable pumps and extraction wands to ensure that all the excess water gets removed from the affected areas to help in successful drying efforts to follow shortly after. Our SERVPRO Franchise professionals can also remove at-risk items during this mitigation as part of our pack-out process to protect your belongings until the home gets restored.

Roof damage requires an immediate response from trained professionals that have the experience and equipment to help. If your home has already gotten flooded from vulnerabilities in your roof, let our SERVPRO of Augusta South/Burke & Wilkes Counties rapid response team help you to make this disaster “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call anytime that you need us at (706) 843-1990.

Is a Leaking Roof from Storms in Grovetown Damaging?

4/15/2021 (Permalink)

Damaged and missing shingles can lead to water damage. Visually inspect your roof often for loose and missing shingles.

SERVPRO Can Help Restore Flood Damage in your Grovetown Home

A weather event can subject your home to high winds and heavy rainfall. In some situations, these can affect the house's structural integrity by breaking up roofing tiles or allowing rainwater to enter the upper regions and attic spaces in your property.

SERVPRO can help to recover your home and contents following storm damage in Grovetown. Attic spaces can be tough to restore due to inadequate access points, which creates difficulties in using conventional equipment like pumps or water extractors. SERVPRO technicians have the expertise to adapt drying equipment to suit smaller spaces like attics and lofts.

• Air-moving equipment can help to dry structural lumber beams in the roof of your home.
• Install temporary tarp to prevent further damage while a longer-term solution is implemented.
• Porous materials like sheetrock and insulation can often be dried or replaced with minimal expense by SERVPRO.

A leaking roof can lead to significant property damage. Contact SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties for storm flood damage at (706) 843-1990.

Do You Need Help with Inventory after Augusta Flood Damages?

2/4/2021 (Permalink)

After your home suffers flood damage, you need a team of professionals to assist you with cleanup and inventory. Call SERVPRO right away.

SERVPRO Takes The Headache Out Of Inventory

Dealing with inventory is one of the most frustrating aspects of cleanup after flooding in your home.

If you need to claim insurance after flood damage in Augusta, you will need to provide an inventory of what was damaged. This can seem like a daunting task, especially when you are already dealing with the stress of flood damage.

Thankfully SERVPRO can help with inventory. Our Contents Claim Inventory Service includes:

• A preloss list.
• A note of the contents’ value.
• A detailed report on the damage.

Because we provide a detailed report, you have better evidence to take to your insurance company. We can also help provide photographic proof of loss, and in some cases, we can liaise with your insurance provider on your behalf.

SERVPRO’s philosophy is to restore and repair if we can and only dispose of items that are genuinely beyond salvage. Restoration and repair are usually cheaper than replacing items, so our process helps make an insurance claim.

For an inventory service you can rely on, call SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties at (706) 843-1990.

Storms and Flooding Affect Thomson – SERVPRO® can help

1/15/2021 (Permalink)

Lightning from storms can affect properties and cause a fire like this storage unit complex

SERVPRO® of Augusta South Wilkes & Burke Counties has equipment and crews on standby 24/7 to take your call. Our crews and technicians have been trained and are IICRC Certified.

What is IICRC?

IICRC = Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, this certification is needed for potential SERVPRO® employees to begin restoring homes and businesses. To earn an IICRC certification, individuals must undergo numerous training courses and complete rigorous testing, to assure that they are ready and capable of restoring Thomson, GA homes like yours after a disaster.

Recognized Globally

IICRC certification is recognized globally and training is continuous. Crew chiefs and technicians are expected to constantly test and be well educated on advancements within the cleanup and restoration industry in knowledge and equipment usage.

With over 1,800 SERVPRO® franchises throughout the United States and Canada, high importance is placed on earning IICRC certification.

SERVPRO® Storm Teams

Storms may one day plague our Thomson area or the CSRA. It is important to know that you have SERVPRO® of Augusta South Wilkes & Burke Counties at your aid to help you and your property should you be affected by storms such as tornadoes and wind driven rain.

Tornadoes can affect your home through heavy wind-driven rain negatively impacting your roof and shingles. After storms, shingles and other pieces of roofing can be left missing and roofs suffer from leaks because of heavy wind-driven rain. SERVPRO of Augusta South Wilkes& Burke Counties is prepared to help connect you with the appropriate division within our franchise to help stop the leak and begin drying the roof structure.

Occasionally, after storms, roof leaks may not be immediately recognized. Water leaks may only be found once it rains or storms once again thus exposing the issue. Knowing when and how to quickly identify the leak is the first vital step to restoring your home.

It is customary for our crews to arrive, assess, and often temporarily help prevent your home from receiving further damage caused by storms. Thomson storms may take control of your home, but we are here to help guide you through the process of cleanup & restoration.

Recent Storm News Thomson, GA

Thankfully, Thomson is not normally afflicted with tornadoes and like storm events, however storms such as the 2007 Thomson Tornado can prove fatal, causing road closures due to fallen power lines and down trees. If you experience an issue with your property after a storm, Call the experts at SERVPRO® of Augusta South Wilkes & Burke Counties at 706-843-1990.

The Augusta Area is Especially Prone to Flooding

11/28/2020 (Permalink)

Since its Founding, Augusta has Suffered Several Serious Flooding Events

Augusta’s location on the Savannah River has been both a blessing and a curse since its founding.  The river the “Garden City” is situated on, along with the Georgia Railroad, has given it easy access to both the continent’s interior and the East Coast, making it a crucial transport point.  This waterway has also provided the necessary resources to fuel the community’s industrial development and economic growth.  As a result of all this, by the mid-1800s, Augusta had become one of the most important urban centers in the American South.  At the same time, though, the river has often represented a major source of economic loss.  Both the region’s particularly heavy rainfalls and the city’s specific location on the waterway have made it especially prone to catastrophic flooding.            

The Benefits of Being on the Savannah River

Initially, the easy access the river provided to coastal shipping at Savannah made Augusta a transportation hub for area agricultural products.  Then, in 1845, the city’s regional importance was greatly enhanced by the establishment of the Augusta Canal and opening of the Georgia Railroad.  These two major developments transformed the community into a burgeoning southern industrial and transportation center.  The canal facilitated commercial travel around the local falls and powered several mills, factories, and war industries during the Civil War.  At the same time, the railroad effectively linked the city, via the Tennessee River, to the Mississippi River.  This all made transporting goods from America’s interior, through Augusta, to the East Coast much more efficient and cost-effective.

The Hardships Caused by the River

Georgia’s second-largest city, Augusta, is prone to severe flooding because of its location.  It is situated on the Savannah River at the Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line, where the more elevated Piedmont region meets the Atlantic Coastal Plain.  So, whenever storms hit, all excess upland water rapidly drains down onto our prosperous community below.  The effects of this unfortunate positioning are only exacerbated by the fact that the river drains an area with some of the heaviest rainfalls in North America.  Heavy springtime rains and those from tropical storms and hurricanes, which move up the Atlantic Coast between June and November 30th, are often the culprits of our serious floods.  As a consequence of these often unpredictable deluges, local residents and business owners often suffer substantial losses.           

Tips for Mitigating Potential Losses Before a Flood Occurs

Although the Augusta area is more vulnerable to flooding than other places, there are effective ways to limit your risks of suffering catastrophic damage.  While some of these may seem obvious, there are others you may not have considered.  The following is a brief list of measures you can take before flooding occurs to mitigate potential losses:

• Find out what your property insurance policy covers and if it does not cover flood damage, buy additional flood insurance
• Keep valuables and insurance policies in a bank safe deposit box or at a secured storage site away from your residence  
• Locate electric panels, furnaces, water heaters, and other appliances in higher parts of your home that are unlikely to be flooded
• Move expensive rugs, furniture, and other valuable items to higher floors of your house
• Place sandbags around the perimeter of your property to divert floodwaters away from it
• Watch weather forecasts, know essential storm-related terminology, and have all your preparations completed before storms arrive

In each of these ways, you can often safeguard your property and gain some peace of mind in the face of potential flood-related disasters.

What to Do During a Flood

As floods are occurring, it is paramount that you remain both calm and alert.  Although natural disasters can be quite traumatic, you need to remain calm so you can successfully work through various related problems as they arise.  At the same time, you need to remain ever aware of your situation as it unfolds.  Here are some tips for avoiding flood hazards:

• Vigilantly monitor emergency information sources like NOAA Weather Radio, local radio and TV stations, and the Ready Georgia app
• Stay away from downed power lines
• Never drive around barricades or through standing water
• Avoid all contact with floodwaters
• Follow the instructions of local officials

If followed, this advice should help keep you safe during a flooding event.

What to Do After Floodwaters Have Receded

After floodwaters recede, it is important that you:

• Not return home until authorities say it is safe
• Contact a reputable flood damage cleanup & repair service as soon as possible
• Stay out of rooms with weakened floors or sagging ceilings
• Refrain from drinking your home’s tap water

With all that said, your local SERVPRO of Augusta South/Burke & Wilkes Counties is always here to help you recover from flood damage.  Call us anytime at (706) 843-1990.

How is SERVPRO Different from Other Augusta Flood Damage Remediation Services?

While there are several flood damage cleanup and restoration companies in Augusta, few have the expertise or specialized high-tech equipment that SERVPRO does.  It is both of these superior attributes that enable our company to go above and beyond what other services can do.  Our specific training and gear include:

• Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training
• Technicians individually trained and certified in Applied Structural Drying, Applied Microbial Remediation, Water Damage Restoration, and Odor Control
• State-of-the-art water extraction, drying, microbe-eliminating, and odor-neutralizing equipment and chemicals, including:  powerful water extractors; wet vacs; air movers; high-velocity box fans; various kinds of dehumidifiers; Injectidry systems; thermal and ultra-low volume foggers; and a wide array of commercial-grade disinfectants and antimicrobials

Utilizing all of these cutting edge resources, SERVPRO of Augusta South/Burke & Wilkes Counties is usually able to successfully remediate your flood damage and return your home to its pre-flood condition in record time.  So, whenever you are faced with flood-related issues of any magnitude, remember that there is a high-quality neighborhood service that is always ready to help you.  Call us anytime, day or night, at (706)-843-1990 for assistance.

Have Storm Damage in Thomson? We Can Help!

11/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties are ready to serve you should you experience storm damage in Thomson

Assessing Damage to Your Thomson Home or Business

Storms may not produce a large amount of rain; however, wind damage may be enough to affect your home and cause water damage. High winds can lift shingles, and when combined with wind driven rain could mean roof leaks. Water leaks from roof damage may hide in attic cavities that you may not initially see. Spotting weak areas on your home or businesses roof can mean the difference between identifying issues then fixing it quickly, or extensive damage. Call SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties experts to be your guide on assessing damage and restoring your Thomson home from water damage. We can search with you to identify leaks, areas of concern, assess vents and fans that may be prone to leaks, and windows. All of these could pose a potential problem for leaks from storms.

Preventing Damage to Your Home

You cannot completely protect your home from storm damage, but you can take preventative measures. After a storm rolls through your area, you could experience damage to your home or business from flooding or wind damage. Wind damage and storm damage can occur sometimes simultaneously. One step towards creating a safer environment is to relocate or rid the area of loose debris that could harm windows, exterior, and roof.

Pro Tip: Thomson homes at risk for storm damage may need to store away their outdoor furniture and potted plants when expecting strong winds.

Restoring Your Home or Business with SERVPRO

Our processes for approaching a water loss is first, timeliness. We work with a 1-4-8 System, with connecting with you in less than an hour. Reporting to the loss site within 4 hours to arrive on site to start the restoration process through extracting’, setting equipment, and other necessary first-steps. After on-site arrival, 8-hours to communicate with your insurance company and receive a verbal briefing for scope of storm damage help Thomson work.

Pro Tip: Visit the NOAA webpage to get further information about future threatening weather and protecting your home or business.

Need help from SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties? Call us at 706-843-1990

Are Homes Total Losses After Flood Damages?

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

We understand how seriously flood water can impact your home. No matter when you make the call, we have technicians who can assist you.

Natural flooding can be devastating for Grovetown homes, but our SERVPRO professionals can protect whatever possible. 

When natural flooding occurs in Grovetown homes, it can be devastating for the structure and its occupants. With severe weather concerns common to the area, multiple families can get impacted by a singular natural disaster. With the likelihood of storm and flood damages throughout the region, we have a growing roster of experienced technicians ready to mobilize quickly when these disasters damage your house. 

Because flood damage in Grovetown homes impacts so many areas of the property, multiple emergency services must begin as soon as our SERVPRO team arrives. Our rapid response technicians can work through several initial tasks that employ both our Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) and a group with building experience. These these professionals can help to reduce the devastation of natural flooding in the property in several areas, including: 

• Temporary Construction - Techs can utilize their expertise to identify structural concerns and address these situations immediately. Vulnerabilities in the exterior of the house can lead to continued flood damages. Board up and tarping are standard temporary solutions to these vulnerabilities. 

• Debris Removal – Debris, solids, organic matter, and mud can all get brought in with rising water levels and conditions like flash flooding. Removing these concerns through muck-out cleaning reduces concentrations of foul odors and potential contaminants. 

• Extraction – Our water restorers must deploy several powerful tools in our inventory if pooling water does remain. Mismanaged pooling can result in oversaturation of exposed materials and greater needs for tear-out and build back. We use our industry-leading inventory to manage standing water concerns in the property. 

• Controlled Demolition – Our team must determine what materials and structural elements have become too severely impacted to preserve. Sagging and deteriorating surfaces require removal and discarding for safe restoration in the house. 

• Content Recovery – Identifying damage to personal belongings, furniture, and other contents is vital in cleaning and recovering these items. Through on-site cleaning and off-site restoration solutions, we can salvage what matters most to you. 

Can Relocating Damaged Belongings Help? 

The management and inventory of damaged contents in your flooded home can reduce the overall loss for customers. Because so many homeowners have one-of-a-kind treasures and keepsakes, not everything has a monetary value for replacement. We emphasize content management through relocating at-risk items upon arrival. When moved to our nearby SERVPRO facility, our cleaning technicians can offer several techniques to return these items to preloss condition, including: 

• Cleaning – Surface cleaning strategies employ several abrasive and agitative methods ranging from brushes to media blasting. We can remove soils and residues to restore the vibrancy of your belongings. 

• Deodorization – Flooding introduces decaying matter, sewage, and other substances into your home and to its contents. Time spent in the ozone chamber can neutralize harsh odors trapped in porous contents. 

• Storage – With a climate-controlled facility, we can keep your belongings safe from the elements for days or months, depending on how complex and involved the restoration and recovery process is for your flood-damaged home. 

How Can SERVPRO Prevent the Spread of Water Damage? 

• Water Removal – Removing surface water is among the first logical steps in slowing the spread of flood damage throughout a property. Using various extraction methods ranging from submersible pumps to wet vacuums, we can prepare the property for cleaning and drying to come. 

• Drying – Multiple tools play a role in moisture management and drying after a flood. Because oversaturation can be such a concern, controlled demolition must often precede the placement of air movers and dehumidification tools. 

• Containment – By installing wood framing covered with thick poly-sheeting, we can establish clear drying zones. With these areas enclosed, regulating airflow, temperature, and humidity become easier. 

• Monitoring – Using sophisticated tools and technologies, our professionals can monitor moisture pockets and the progression of drying practices in a home after a flood. By understanding a migration path, we can stop the spread and manage moisture concerns.

How Long Will Flood Restoration Take? 

There is no singular timeline for flood restoration and recovery. With our SERVPRO team's fast response to post-disaster cleanup, we can begin mitigation actions to reduce total restoration times and possible losses. Because each situation is unique, some homes suffer more significant exposure to potential contaminants and bacteria after flooding than others. Between controlled demolition and reconstruction necessary in these cases, a property's overall recovery time could extend. 

Specific practices implemented at the right times can be time and money-saving actions for customers. Mitigation is an entire phase of water and flood restoration devoted exclusively to reducing overall property loss through swift actions that lessen the severity of specific conditions. SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties (706) 843-1990.

We Are Knee-Deep in Floodwater -- Who Can Help Remove It Fast in Augusta?

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

Post-Storm Floodwater Removal in Augusta Completes Quickly When SERVPRO Arrives with a Trained Team and the Appropriate Equipment

Torrential rains sweep and train across Georgia toward Augusta, fueled by different extreme weather systems, including hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions. When several inches of rain falls during a short period, the ground cannot absorb the moisture fast enough. Saturated landscaping near your foundation and the potential for overland floods combine to confront you with several inches of contaminated fluids in your lowest levels.

Is It Important to Remove Flood Waters Promptly?
Floodwater removal in your Augusta home is an urgent matter. The need for speed raises your stress levels because no homeowner is ready to rid a property of significant amounts of excess water without professional help. Why is it critical to prioritize water removal?

    •    Water is a corrosive substance, rapidly causing the swelling and distortion or break down of many common building materials including:
    -Drywall
    -Insulation
    -Laminate flooring
    -Unfinished wood (subfloors and framing)
    -Metals
    -Ceiling tiles
    •    Water also contributes to mold growth. Moisture left unabated for 24 to 48 hours can incubate a nasty mold infestation.
    •    Floodwater is nearly always contaminated with chemicals, organic debris, and sewage backup. Human pathogens in the sewage can place your family at risk of grave illness.

What Can I Expect from Professional Floodwater Removal Services?
SERVPRO proudly proclaims: We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. Our rapid response means our trained technicians are on-site within hours with all the floodwater extraction and containment equipment on hand in our signature green trucks. Pumps and truck-mounted extractors make short work of flooding, and out portable units permit technicians flexibility needed to enter and remove water in tight spaces.

SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties gains your confidence with our prompt and well-prepared crews and inventory of commercial-grade flood removal equipment. Call (706) 843-1990 to set up an appointment now.

Are Professional Flooding Recovery Companies Looking Only for Big Jobs in Augusta?

7/17/2020 (Permalink)

Clients of Large Buildings and Small Condos Are Relieved when SERVPRO Arrives to Mitigate Local Augusta Area Flood Damage

SERVPRO Commits to Helping Augusta Residents Reaching Out to Our Team for Assistance with Flood Water Removal for Spaces Large and Small

When a storm rips through your Augusta neighborhood, yours might not be the only dwelling with weather-related flood damage. If you are concerned that we are likely to take a hard pass on your disaster in favor of more substantial jobs, never fear. We are a local disaster recovery firm with connections to a nationwide network of other restoration professionals. Our ability to scale up and down our response ensures we give your circumstances the attention needed to make it “Like it never even happened.”

How Can Flood Damage Response Be Streamlined?

One of the ways we can manage multiple flood water removal projects in Augusta is to send fully-stocked service vehicles to each site. Although every flooding disaster presents a bit differently, our training and experience permit us to predict with some accuracy what tools, products, and equipment will be needed for flooding extraction. Our project manager assesses the situation for safety issues. At the same time, our crews secure the building with boards and tarps if indicated by the severity of the damage and the need to protect the interior from the elements.

What Does Flood Water Removal Involve?

Once our manager has a firm grasp of the needs at your home, the SERVPRO crew receives direction to commence emergency services, including:

• Careful punching of holes or sawing of flood cuts to release hidden water located using moisture detectors and/or infrared imagery
• Pumping and extraction of the floodwaters into holding tanks for appropriate disposal
• Cleaning of soiled surfaces and disinfection with EPA-registered products
• Structural drying using data gathered from wet areas and dry materials in other areas of your home to set goals and monitor progress

The high-quality, scalable resources of SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties are on offer to all our customers, residential and commercial. Call (706) 843-1990 for an evaluation of your circumstances and an ongoing plan.

What Kind of Secondary Damage Can You Expect After a Delayed Response to Flood Damage?

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

Trust the experts at SERVPRO with your homes flood damage. We have the tools and knowledgeable technicians to get the job done.

SERVPRO’s Highly-Qualified Team Is Familiar with the Long-Term Consequences of Flood Damage in Augusta -- We Have the Resources to Respond Successfully

Although you would heed the advice to contact flood water removal professionals immediately and quite willingly if the emergency occurs when you are far from your Augusta home, following the recommendation is impossible. Whether the floodwaters are storm or rising-waterway related, when you return to a lower level full of silty, smelly fluids, you need help, not a lecture.

Why Is Rapid Removal of Flooding Best Practices?

When flood damage in Augusta ripens for hours or days before mitigation and remediation efforts begin, the consequences are largely predictable. The longer restoration efforts delay, the more profound the damage and higher the expense to effectuate solutions.

• Drywall wicks the floodwaters up above the flood line, exposing the building material to deterioration--swelling, bulging, crumbling.
• Laminate floors hold up poorly, the veneer separating from the base, ruining the materials.
• Carpeting and padding absorb the fluids, stretching, and weakening, increasing the risk of adhesive failure and delamination of fibers from the backing.
• Hardwood and subfloors, as well as wood framing and supports, begin to absorb the fluid, the processed, and unfinished wood products in the sublayers and framing faring worse because of the lack of relative density and protective finishes.
• Metal fasteners tarnish and rust. 
• Appliances and HVAC system housing might take on water and begin to corrode, while electronic or mechanical switches short out, an electric hazard created as well.
• Contents, including everything from furniture to documents and photos to clothing and household goods, become saturated and begin to disintegrate in many cases.

Is It Impossible to Recover When Water Removal and Drying Comes Late?

SERVPRO invests in both the best training and the most innovative and effective equipment. Our managers and technicians complete rigorous coursework developed by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), mastering strategies that can transform spaces devastated by even advanced flood damage back to preloss condition. Our equipment is specialized and powerful, able to extract copious amounts of water fast, and our drying inventory is capacious enough to provide the air movement, temperature adaptations, and dehumidification needed for any scale of damage.

What About the Unintended Outcomes of Delay--Secondary Damage?

You might be wondering if your entire home will need rebuilding after a tardy response to water damage. One of the considerations is that floodwaters are already evaluated as Category 3 water, the most contaminated, by definition. As time passes, the contaminants do increase. Some materials suffer severe damage and need to be removed and replaced. Others can be remediated:

• Padding and, nearly always, carpeting must be pulled up and disposed of as hazardous waste. We help with this challenging task, removing water not to save the floor covering for reuse, but to lessen its weight and reduce the humidity in the space.
• Warped hardwood can make a comeback if water extraction gets underway as soon as possible. Wanded extractors and negative pressure floor mats can pull most of the liquid out, and then drying can bring the moisture content in the wood back to the average of approximately 10 percent for refinishing. The subfloors must be dried as well, and inspection might suggest that some plywood sheets might need replacement.
• Structural drying using air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers can reduce the swelling of structural joists, beams, studs, and other supports. We sometimes work with engineers who might recommend selected reinforcement with new materials.
• Worried about microbial growth? We address this with aggressive cleaning using EPA-registered products after the water evacuates. Follow up with EPA-registered disinfectants inhibit regrowth of infectious pathogens. Because our crews are at risk of contact with hazardous agents, technicians wear personal protective equipment (PPE), usually throughout the project.

What About Mold Growth and Damage?

It is nearly impossible to make it through a delayed-response flooding event without some mold involvement. Mold spores are present in all spaces, including your flooded home. If 24 to 48 hours pass, the spores use the now widely available water to fuel their rapid growth and multiplication. We help manage this secondary damage in several ways:

• We can choose to use a preliminary broadcast treatment of EPA-registered antimicrobials to treat the worksite before tasks begin.
• We are on the lookout for mold throughout the mitigation and remediation of your flooded property.
• If we observe colonies and spreading, we add a mold remediation phase to the overarching flood recovery plan. Certified mold remediators contain, remove, and lawfully discard moldy materials. Post-cleanup, we apply EPA-registered antimicrobials to affected and adjacent surfaces to inhibit mold rebound. 

What is the benefit of reaching out to SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties for help with complicated flood damage scenarios? Our experienced and talented team can transform chaos back to “Like it never even happened,” when given the call at (706) 843-1990.

Whom Should I Call If My Augusta Home Has Flood Damage?

4/16/2020 (Permalink)

Augusta Residents Should Call SERVPRO to Assess and Remediate Damage After a Flood

Discussions of climate change are frequently in the news. Our planet seems to be getting warmer, while hurricanes and flooding seem to occur more often. When we are at risk of water coming into our homes, we need to be ready to act. Having a professional team of technicians at our service is priceless when an emergency occurs. At SERVPRO, we are here for you when you need us.

Is it safe to clean floodwater on my own?
Floodwater is not the same as water coming from a broken washing machine or a leaky faucet. Whenever water comes into your Augusta home from nearby rivers, creeks, or the street, it brings bacteria and wastes with it. Our technicians wear protective personal equipment (PPE) to safeguard us against any health threats associated with microorganisms now in your home. When you call us, you can rely on our knowledge and experience to clean and disinfect your home. Once we extract the water, we proceed with the disinfecting and sanitizing process. Thankfully, our industry-grade equipment allows us to target items and areas of your home with different cleaning solutions. Examples of equipment and techniques available to our trained staff include:

    •    EPA-approved cleaning solutions
    •    Foggers to permeate all areas of your home with disinfectant
    •    Containment materials to isolate affected areas of your home and prevent cross-contamination

When undesirable water comes into your home, you should not take it lightly. If you don't eliminate its traces, you leave yourself vulnerable to mold and other biohazards, compromising your health and that of your family. Allow us to give you expert advice at this time and help you assess the damage and its consequences.

SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties is in your neighborhood to help you through tough times. Call us at (706) 843-1990 and let us leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Augusta click here.

Storm and Floods Compromise Thomson Homes--Contact SERVPRO for Advice, Cleanup, and Restoration Services

1/19/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Removes and Replaces Storm-Damaged Building Elements and Fixtures in Thomson Area Homes Only When Necessary.

Why You Need Quick Flood Damage Restoration for Your Thomson Home

Many potential disasters can ruin your home, but floods are the least predictable when it comes to the destruction they can cause. Some property owners can salvage their houses, even if they have to discard some appliances, furniture, carpets, and curtains. Others incur thousands of dollars in repairing their flood-damaged homes.

When your Thomson home has flood damage, mold may also develop behind walls and other areas where moisture is not visible. Apart from causing water damage, flooding can also increase the risk of a fire through:

•    Leaking above-ground gas tanks, containers, or lines.
•    Electrically charged water.
•    Attempts to use electrical appliances that have come into contact with water.

After a flood, your safety and that of your family is critical above everything else. It is, therefore, essential to inspect the property to avoid risking your health or your life by entering an unsafe property. SERVPRO advises securing professional assistance. Some structural destruction to your house can be clearly visible, while other damage may need close inspection. Some of the losses you can look out for include:

•    Warping and distortion of structures like floorboards.
•    Wood rot in the end grain of wooden structures.
•    Termite damage because wet wood entices them (longer-term impact)
•    The visible undermining of your home’s foundation like the erosion of the ground at its base.
•    Damp plaster, wallboard, insulation, and paneling.

You can also hire a professional to inspect these structures thoroughly as well as other structures like the HVAC system, walls, ceilings, air ducts, and electrical systems.

Drying out your home after flooding is essential because it can prevent mold growth and help preserve many structural components and contents. You can rely on SERVPRO to remove the water quickly. We can use powerful water extraction equipment to remove the floodwater and dispose of it following local regulations and guidelines.      

Our team can also remove and discard debris. We can carefully remove all contaminated porous materials and place them in 6-mil polyethylene bags. We can construct a decontamination chamber and move solid waste like bags of carpet and carpet pad as well as drywall into it. Within the chamber, we can bag them again to cover any contamination of the original bag’s surface. After double-bagging the waste, we can move it into the unaffected area and then place it inside a dumpster or close to the work vehicle.

Flooding usually disrupts sewage disposal systems, chemical spillage, and overflow of toxic waste sites. Therefore, the floodwater that entered your home may contain bacteria, chemical toxins, and sewage. Our SERVPRO team can clean and decontaminate your home to eliminate these toxins. We can wash, disinfect, and dry salvageable items like those made of porcelain, glass, and plastic.

After a flooding incident, you need assistance to restore your home to its preloss state. Call SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties at (706) 843-1990 for prompt restoration services. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster

Get Reliable Storm & Flood Cleanup in Thomson

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

Thompson your flood damage can and will take over, let us assist you through every bit of the damage.

SERVPRO knows what your Thompson flood damage will need.

Georgia homeowners know how to be prepared for storm damage to their homes. Still, they may be surprised to know how costly storms can be for homeowners each year. According to 2013 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data, wind damage alone from storms causes $626.8 million in property damage. Lightning contributes to $23.9 million, and flash flooding causes a staggering $956.9 million in property damage costs. 

If your Thomson residence requires storm and flood cleanup, certified SERVPRO technicians are always available to come to your home and initiate the cleanup process. If severe storms and related disasters have caused power outages in your area, technicians can provide their own power sources for sump pumps and extraction tools to ensure that you get the deep clean that your home requires.

Filing Claims After Storm Damage

• Handling fallen trees on your property. Many insurance policies do not offer coverage for full tree removal, even after storms, except for the parts that interfere with structural repairs. Coverage amounts for this type of removal are limited, so keep that in mind when you file your claim and prepare to make repairs.
• Dealing with premiums after filing a storm damage claim. An adjuster can help you determine whether a storm damage claim is the best option for your situation. If you have received a claims-free discount on your premium, you might lose that benefit when you file.
• Adjusters are ready to help. These professionals work with you to speed up the insurance claims process while ensuring that you receive the compensation you need to repair and replace items and structures on your property after a disaster.

SERVPRO Removes Water Fast

SERVPRO technicians have a variety of tools for extracting water and preparing a home for disinfection and drying after storms and flooding have occurred. These pieces of equipment include portable, back-mounted extractors, electric or gas-powered submersible sump pumps, and truck-mounted pumps. All of these remove water with a trio of systems that work together to prepare the home for drying. Heating, pumping, and vacuuming are all critical systems, but the vacuum component is the most instrumental in water extraction. 

SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties serves the community by being Faster to Any Size Disaster.  You can call (706) 843-1990 today for swift disaster cleanup.

To learn more about Thomson, click here.

We Provide Fast Stormwater Removal In Thomson

11/17/2019 (Permalink)

Stormwater Removal in Thomson Gets Fast Help

Georgia gets intense storms all year round, and damage to homes is not unusual from wind, rain, and flash floods. Some fast action by homeowners such as mopping up water or moving furniture out of the water loss area assists in lessening the loss. Exposure time is a crucial factor for limiting the restorability of numerous types of objects in the home.

Stormwater removal in Thomson properties begins both inside and outside the residence. SERVPRO technicians inspect homes with damage allowing rainwater into the house and make any necessary temporary repairs such as boarding up windows or tarping over a damaged roof.

Tracking Water Migration Paths
When water enters a home, it can wind up in a lot of areas. Technicians use different types of moisture detection equipment to trace the migration path and determine if the water ran within walls, floor joists, or under flooring, so the appropriate extraction and drying configurations are set up.

Attics with Water Need Special Handling
Depending on the type of insulation in the attic and length of water exposure, the technicians can remove the fiberglass insulation using a specialized attachment on their vacuum to collect the insulation for drying outside the home. To inhibit the growth of mold, the application of an antimicrobial sealant on sheetrock and wood beams is a common practice.

Walls and Ceilings
In the case of walls and ceilings, SERVPRO technicians halt the wicking process in sheetrock using flood cuts. This controlled demolition action neatly removes damaged sheetrock and readies it for drying and repairs. When water affects ceilings, using weep holes allows for both drainage and more airflow for drying.

Stormwater Affected Carpet and Furnishings
When rainwater saturates carpet or furnishings, as long as extraction and drying efforts begin within 24-hours, the potential for restoration is often high. This salvaging pertains to rainwater, not groundwater, which holds contaminants requiring disposal of the flooring material. SERVPRO technicians have specialized extraction equipment to work on carpet and upholstered furnishings.

Stormwater removal should happen as quickly as possible. Call SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties at (706) 843-1990. The technicians are available 24/7 because We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Thomson click here.

We Provide Thorough Assessments To Thomson Homes After A Flood

9/19/2019 (Permalink)

The carpeting and the soaked drywall have been removed in a "controlled demolition" after flood damage struck this home.

Recovery without Flood Coverage in Thomson Homes

Much of the work that our professional restorers can offer Thomson homes after any loss incident can often get partially or entirely covered by homeowner insurance. Flooding is one of the exceptions to this, as many standard policies do not include flood coverage, especially in areas less prone to this disaster. With every home potentially at risk for these natural disasters and flooding following structural damages, you need to know how to address these threats even without the proper insurance coverage.

Insurance companies are not always forthcoming with the services that they can help to afford, which might include debris removal or even flood water removal for Thomson residences. As vague as a policy might be, the most effective approach that homeowners can take is to reach out to your insurance adjuster or agent directly. You can usually reach a representative 24/7 unless you have a local provider with strict office hours.

This call can give you an idea if any aspects of flood damage recovery get covered by your policy. Our SERVPRO team can arrive quickly to your emergency to provide a thorough assessment and estimate of the repair and restoration costs. We can work with your insurance provider when necessary to coordinate which recovery options are out of pocket expenses for our customers. A general estimate of the proposed restoration cost can also help you to determine if utilizing insurance coverage is cost-effective, as many property owners still must initially afford a deductible.

Our SERVPRO team can help to work with our customers to meet specific budgetary confinements when possible without cutting corners on the quality result you expect. Our ability to keep your costs lower hinges on our fast response to emergencies to contain the damaged areas and to begin vital mitigation efforts that can protect installed construction materials from requiring removal and reinstallation.

Many homeowners throughout the Greater Augusta area do not have flood coverage on their home insurance. Despite this fact, our SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties team can still help whenever disasters strike. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (706) 843-1990.

See more about Thomson.

We Can Save Your Flood Damaged Home In Augusta

7/16/2019 (Permalink)

You can reach our experts at (706) 843-1990 any time.

Cleaning After Flood Damage In Your Augusta Home

Flooding events are not just highly destructive but also pose high risks when they affect your home. Restoring your Augusta home to its preloss state is possible, but it requires sufficient skills and resources to deal with the destruction and risks. We offer professional flood damage mitigation that lightens the burden for you.

Flooding incidents ruin properties in many ways, including soiling and structural destruction. When the flood damage in your Augusta home involves groundwater, only the primary issue is soiling and contamination. While it is painless to extract the water that collects in ground floor rooms and basements, in many cases, sludge is left requiring additional steps. Our SERVPRO teams use advanced equipment such as pressure washers or simple tools like shovels to deal with the slurry.

Contamination is a severe threat when property floods. It is not possible to save porous materials affected by the water even when physical damage is minimal because of the contamination - contents such as carpets and upholstery fall in this category. It is also necessary to remove building materials such as insulation and drywall. Our SERVPRO technicians make flood cuts six inches above the waterline for easier removal of building materials and water trapped in the wall cavities. We also remove carpets and other porous contents for proper disposal.

Flooding and the cleanup processes that follow leave many sections of the property wet. The relative humidity is also high within the house after the incident, which can lead to other problems like mold. Various drying steps can help restore the property to its preloss state. Our SERVPRO technicians manipulate elements such as heat and air movements to expedite the drying process. We can also create drying chambers by dividing expansive areas with plastic sheets to quicken drying. We rely on various advanced equipment such as:

    •    Air Scrubbers

    •    Dehumidifiers

    •    Air Movers

    •    Floor Drying Systems

For peace of mind when dealing with the dirty task of restoring the flood-damaged property, call SERVPRO of Augusta South / Burke & Wilkes Counties. You can reach our experts at (706) 843-1990 any time.

For more about Augusta click here.