Storm Damage in Ascension Parish: How SERVPRO® Can Help You Recover

12/10/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO crew repairing water damage

Storms can strike suddenly and wreak havoc on your Ascension Parish home, leaving behind a trail of destruction and distress. When faced with storm damage, it's essential to take immediate action to minimize further harm and begin the restoration process promptly. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the steps to take if your Ascension Parish home sustains storm damage and explain how the skilled professionals at SERVPRO® can help you recover.

1. Ensure Safety First:

Before anything else, prioritize your safety and the safety of your family. If your home has suffered significant damage, consider the following safety measures:

• Evacuate your home if it's structurally compromised or poses immediate risks.
• Be cautious of downed power lines and other electrical hazards.
• Avoid entering flooded areas, as they may be contaminated or pose hidden dangers.
• If your gas supply is affected, contact your utility company to shut it off.

2. Contact Your Insurance Provider:

Notify your insurance company about the storm damage as soon as possible. Document the damage with photographs or videos and keep a detailed record of all communication with your insurance provider. This information will be crucial when filing a claim.

3. Contact SERVPRO® for Professional Assistance:

SERVPRO® is your trusted partner in storm damage restoration. Our skilled professionals are available 24/7 to respond to your emergency. Here's how we can assist you:

• Emergency Response: Our rapid response team will assess the situation and take immediate action to prevent further damage.
• Water Extraction and Drying: If your home has experienced water damage due to storms, our experts will extract standing water, thoroughly dry affected areas, and prevent mold growth.
• Structural Repairs: We offer complete restoration services, including structural repairs, roofing repairs, and replacement of damaged materials.
• Tree and Debris Removal: Our team can safely remove fallen trees and debris from your property.
• Board-Up and Tarping: We provide board-up and tarping services to secure your property and prevent additional damage.

4. Document the Damage:

Take photographs and videos of the storm damage both inside and outside your home. This documentation will be invaluable when filing insurance claims and working with restoration professionals.

5. Mitigate Further Damage:

While waiting for professional assistance, take steps to prevent further damage, such as placing tarps over damaged roofs or covering broken windows with plywood.

6. Keep Important Documents Safe:

Gather and protect important documents, including identification, insurance policies, birth certificates, and financial records.

7. Stay Informed:

Stay updated on weather forecasts and emergency alerts. Follow local authorities' instructions for evacuation or safety measures.

Conclusion:

When your Ascension Parish home sustains storm damage, prompt action is essential to ensure a smooth recovery process. By prioritizing safety, contacting your insurance provider, and reaching out to SERVPRO® for professional assistance, you can begin the journey toward restoring your home to its pre-damage condition. Our skilled professionals are here to help you navigate the challenges of storm damage and get your life back on track. Don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO® for expert storm damage restoration services. We're here for you 24/7, "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish, your Storm Damage Experts!

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

Strom Damage in Ascension Parish

Storm damage and severe weather damage in south Louisiana can cause irrevocable problems for homes, business, facilities and properties in the south. At SERVPRO we understand that as someone affected by these untimely events you are looking for a company that can get the you repair’s, clean-up, water damage mitigation and reconstruction back to preloss conditions with as little headache as possible.

SERVPRO has been providing our service for well over 50 years throughout the United States to people, companies and municipalities alike with the highest of integrity and quality of service. SERVPRO gets boots on the ground to provide specialized emergency cleanup, water restoration services and storm damage mitigation to get your property back up and running in the least amount of time possible. Our company works closely with your insurance company and adjusters on losses of all types and sizes to provide exactly what is needed and covered by your insurance policy. We are the professionals when it comes to storm damage losses in the south.

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish offers the following services:

Emergency Readiness Plan

Priority Service Agreements

24/7 emergency storm response services

Emergency Roof Tarping and Board Up Services

Storm damage estimates

Water damage Mitigation

Wind damage repair

Tree and brush Removal

Structural Assessments and Stabilization

Complete Reconstruction services

Insurance claim assistance with all providers

We cannot predict the weather but we can provide you with an accurate breakdown of your building and property with an Emergency Readiness Plan which outlines all of the significant factors of the facility including water main, electrical man, gas shutoff, safety concerns, emergency contact persons, insurance policy, insurance contact and all other significant information so that SERVPRO can remediate emergencies as quickly and as efficiently as possible. For more information about our company and our services or to schedule an ERP for your facility please give us a call at (225)753-3434.

I have Storm Damage! What is the Process?

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

East Baton Rouge Storm Damage

In south Louisiana terrible weather which causes Storm damage is a pretty common occurrence whether it's Hurricane season or not and this storm damage can wreak havoc on properties, homes, buildings and vegetation. With storm damage comes high winds which in turn cause wind damage that can loosen or blow of roofing shingles and massively affect the health of your roof. The roof is a key element of any structure and when it gets compromised then moisture can penetrate the structure causing wood and other building materials to be affected. These affects are rotting, swelling, warping and destruction of these building materials. When these things start to happen the ceiling will become compromised and then a whole litany of problems can follow this problem. Storm Damage brings high winds, hail, rain and lightening and these things can exasperate the problem. For these reasons SERVPRO offers Storm Damage remediation 24, 7, 365 and we come in when nobody else will answer the phone and we get you back to your where you were before the storm, "Like it never even happened."

The storm damage restoration process is pretty simple and usually follows these specific key stages of the process.

Step 1: Initial Inspection

It does not matter if it’s a business, residential or facility property the initial inspection is one of the most important aspects of the process. SERVPRO will send its storm damage experts to do a thorough examination of the interior, exterior, roofing and grounds of the property. This extensive inspection will help the SERVPRO professional discover and identify the extent of the damage, the source of the water intrusion and any other safety elements or important notes that need to be documented for the client and the insurance provider. When the initial inspection is completed the SERVPRO storm technicians will be able to create an initial scope of work for the project that will be discussed with the point of contact and the insurance adjuster on the claim.

Step 2: The Work Begins

Once the scope of work needed to remediate the issues on the property have been agreed upon by the clint, the adjuster and SERVPRO it is now time for the work to begin. The type and level of work will vary with each project sometimes requiring pumps & water extractors. Then there are times when the visible and standing water have already left the building and some light demo is necessary before placing dehumidifiers, fans and air scrubbers into the space. For larger loss projects things like desiccants, DX units and generators may be necessary. Regardless of the situation needed by the client at hand SERVPRO can handle any job large or small when it comes to storm damage or water damage.

Step 3: The Work is Completed

Once the team has remediated all of the affected areas, removed all of the water and cleaned all of the affected areas professionally the technicians will remove all of the equipment from the property and make it like nothing ever happened. SERVPRO will create a report full of pictures, explanations, videos, daily reports, equipment logs, drying logs and a time line to submit to the insurance company for approval.

As you can see, when anyone suffers from storm damage due to natural disasters, the storm damage restoration process is something the SERVPRO experts can handle quickly and easily.

If you've recently suffered from storm damage and are looking for storm damage repair or water damage cleanup, contact the specialists at SERVPRO of Ascension Parish today to help restore your home, (225)753-3434

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish comes to the Aid of Delgado Community College

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

Project Coordinator Tim Credeur and Delgado Baseball Coach Joe Scheuermann

On August 29^th 2021 many people in Southern Louisiana were dramatically affected by Hurricane Ida and the devastation it left in its path throughout the state of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. Thousand of homes, businesses, institutions and state properties were severely affected by the rain fall, wind damage and hurricane force storm surge that swept throughout the state and local principalities. One of the major institutions that was affected by Hurricane Ida was the 100 year old institution of Delgado Community College which has 8 separate campuses around the New Orleans and south Louisiana region.

Delgado Community College is one of the largest technical and trade colleges in the south and is responsible for putting more young people into the workforce than almost any other institution in South Louisiana. The project coordinator Tim Credeur was dedicated to get the campuses back up and running as soon as possible due to the needs of the kids enrolled and the incredible work that the teachers and faculty are doing building the Louisiana economy with the workforce of the future.

The Main Campus sustained some water damage to its main building due to roof failures. This building was originally donated to the University by Isaac Delgado in 1921. Isaac Delgado was a businessman and sugar dealer who migrated to New Orleans from Jamaica in the late nineteenth century. He was a very successful businessman and through these efforts became a charitable philanthropist who became a significant benefactor in the areas of the arts, medicine and education throughout the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area.

The SERVPRO of Ascension Parish Storm Team work to remediate multiple buildings on all 8 campuses including the baseball field. Our teams worked tirelessly to get the college back up and running and get those students back in their classrooms. The faculty and students were blown away with the professionalism and sped that the team worked in getting the campus back up and operational in weeks. For any questions or concerns please give us a call at (225)753-3434

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium calls on SERVPRO following Hurricane IDA

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

LUMCON calls in SERVPRO of Ascension Parish following Hurricane Ida

On August 29^th much of the coastal regions of south Louisiana took major damage but the area known as Cocodrie, LA took some of the worst damage in the state’s history by taking the category 4 hurricane straight on. In Cocodrie, La there is a place called the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and it looks like a real live space station on earth. LUMCON as it is known is actually a research laboratory that uses education and outreach to enable the next generation of marine scientists and ocean literate citizens. LUMCON also builds and expands collaborations among marine scientists across Louisiana by removing barriers and providing tools that bolster scientific investigation. LUMCON is a Louisiana state treasure to say the very least and at SERVPRO of Ascension Parish we were honored and privileged to get the call from them to help them restore their facility after such a devastating loss.

          I turned out that LUMCON had very formidable structures and engineering to minimize the affect of major hurricanes and storms but one of those preventative measure failed and that was the storm shudders. During Hurricane Ida the storm shudders in front of many of the windows failed to prevent the wind and water from entering the building through various seams in the building. The result was a large intrusion of water in various spots throughout the facility which caused major water damage to the dorm rooms, living areas and laboratory facilities as well.

          Project Manger Louis Bergeron was brought in to identify and interpret the damage and then help build a scope of work to remediate all non-salvageable building materials and then dry the remainder of the building. Mr. Bergeron worked with a labor staff of 85 individuals to not only get out all of the damaged materials but clean and dry-out out the remaining portions of the facility to IICRC standards. The project was one for the record books and was completed in record time and with the highest level of professionalism and craftsmanship. LUMCON will be back good as new after the reconstruction process is completed in early 2022. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please let us know at SERVPRO of Ascension Parish (225)753-3434.

Post Storm Checklist for Homeowners & Business Owners

10/14/2021 (Permalink)

Louisiana Storm Damage

Severe storms can come out of nowhere and cause a lot of damage really quickly, especially if you live in South Louisiana. Whether the damage be from hail, water, tornadoes, hurricanes or flying debris it can be a real inconvenience in a home or business quickly. When it comes to Storm Damage or Roof Damage it can sometimes be a little more difficult to find and identify especially if there is no visibly leaking or water inside the home or building.....YET! To help you deal with these situations we have put together a simple checklist for homeowners and business owners alike to work through after the storm ends. 

POST STORM CHECKLIST 

• Safety is the #1 Priority : make sure that you and those that are living in your home or working in your business is safe and protected. Walk through all of the yard outisde the property and ensure all spaces have been checked and cleared. 
• Visual Inspection of Property : Walk the building and property to inspect for any obvious signs of damage or dangerous situations outside. Take pictures of everything that you see no matter how small. 
• Secure and Tarp in the Roof : makes sure that you have some tarps handy before the storm and some 1x2's as well. If you observe damage get up on the room and tarp the damaged area to prevent any secondary damage.
• Interior Inspection of the Property : Walk all of the interior rooms and hide spaces to ensure to document and report and damage or finding that are of concern. Make sure you are looking for wet spot and water stains. 
• Get a Roof Inspection Scheduled ASAP : The longer you wait to do this the harder it will be to get someone out to your property after a major storm. Do this as soon as possible and make sure to walk the property and the roof with the inspector and take more pictures. 
• File an Insurance Claim : Make sure that you call your Insurance Agency and let them know that you are filing a claim on your roof for damage incurred during the storm. 
• Implement Repairs : After you get a roof inspection and contact your insurance company to file a claim you can get them started on the work to repair your roof.
• Schedule Regular Maintenance : Your roof should be inspected and have yearly maintenance so that you can prevent damage in the future. 

I hope this checklist has helped you understand a little bit more about the process of what to do with Storm Damage to your roof after a major weather event. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us SERVPRO of Ascension Parish at (225)753-3434

When a Storm is coming...who you gonna call? SERVPRO of Ascension Parish

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO of Ascension Parish Storm Team for the 2021 Hurricane Season

Any water or flood damage can be a scary event but post Hurricane restoration can be even more difficult. But you never have to worry about those kind of issues with SERVPRO of Ascension Parish. For more than 25  years, SERVPRO of Ascension Parish  has been fighting Hurricane damage and floods to help our customers recover their home or business as quickly as possible. You can rely on our highly trained staff for help with water or fire damage, mold removal, storm damage cleanup and more 24/7. We also offer free estimates and respond immediately to your emergency. We are proud to serve East Baton Rouge, Ascension Parish and Downtown Baton Rouge areas.

After experiencing a hurricane, storm, flood or water damage, you want someone who has the experience and expertise to restore your property properly.   When it comes to flood management, there is no job too big or too small for our team at SERVPRO of Ascension Parish. The business of restoring your life after flooding, water damage or storm damage has never been more important. Our key services include: Structural Drying and Dehumidification to reduce residual moisture; Mold Control to reduce the risk of secondary mold; Odor Control using natural and synthetic based products; Removal and Disposal of Acid-Forming Materials such as: drywall, carpet and other porous building materials; and Cleaning and Sanitization to restore sanitary and aesthetic conditions. We also perform complete re-construction services including creative repair, replacement and reconstruction.

Tough, no non-sense water and flood restoration services for homes, business and local institutions. SERVPRO of Ascension Parish offers "all in one solutions" for all damages caused by water and storms such as gutting the affected areas, drying out areas with air movers to prevent mold growth and then cleaning everything before restoration begins. If you have any questions, concerns or needs please give us a call at (225)753-3434 and we will get someone out to visit you and help you in your time of need today!

Fallen Trees on your Ascension Parish Home

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

Recently, SERVPRO of Ascension Parish has received several calls into our office either during storms in our area or just after regarding fallen trees on homes. 

For as inviting as the natural light can be to your Ascension Parish home, grand window layouts can also present potential threats when your home encounters one of the many severe storm systems expected throughout the year. When trees get pushed over or split due to excessive winds, lightning, or other damages, these significant additions to your property can find their way to the windows you have installed and break them out. As alarming as this situation might be, the flooding that can result from this exposed portion of your home can become even more threatening. 

There are many homes throughout the area and its smaller surrounding communities, so storm and flood damage in Ascension Parish after a severe storm can affect many properties simultaneously. While there are many steps to recovering your home after substantial damages like this, you need a team of professionals that can arrive fast with the expertise to handle all phases of the job through its completion. Our SERVPRO team offers comprehensive support in flood damage situations to handle mitigation, assessments, reconstruction, and final restoration work that returns your damaged home to preloss condition.

Our professionals can arrive quickly with the equipment to begin extraction while our licensed contractors board up the areas broken out from the wind or falling trees. We can remove the tree or its limbs from against your home as well to further protect it from continued water damages. Once mitigation completes, our contacting division can step in immediately to repair and reconstruct damaged areas of your property.

The faster that our SERVPRO team can get notified of the situation the better able we are to protect your home against threats from flood effects. In the right circumstances, many of the saturated materials and affected areas can get fully restored without the need for further demolition and reconstruction.

It is essential to secure professional restoration services immediately when disasters like this strike, as you are rarely the only home in the area affected by the severe weather. Our SERVPRO of Ascension Parish rapid response team can work to make flooding in your home “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call at 225-663-8877.

Is Your Roof Storm Ready?

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

When it comes to our homes, and even commercial properties, our roofs are the first line of defense against storms. While spring/summer is when severe storms are most likely to occur in our area, the long and cold rainy days we have during the winter often result in water damages when they penetrate through a roof that was not repaired after a heavy storm season earlier in the year.

In order to ensure your roof is ready for anything the weather may bring you should check for damage regularly. Missing shingles, signs of small leaks, or mold damage are some of the things you yourself can check for regularly, especially following a hard storm or consecutive bad weather days. If you suspect there may be any type of problem with your roof, you should call in roofing professionals that can give you a complete assessment. When the weather gets bad the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your roof can hold up against a storm, so try to do regular inspections throughout the year and at least one professional assessment per year in order to protect your home.

If you have a water damage due to a roof leak at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Ascension Parish anytime at 225-663-8877. Our team can be onsite quickly to begin the restoration process as soon as possible.

6 Steps to Water Damage Restoration

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

When your property incurs water damage, acting quickly is important

6 Steps to Water Damage Restoration

1. Initial Emergency Contact
   • You can call us 24 hours a day to begin the water restoration process because taking immediate action is crucial after water damage occurs. When you call us, we will ask you questions to get an overview of the damage and to help us determine what resources to dispatch to you.
2. Inspection and Damage Assessment
   • When we arrive on the scene in response to water damage, we will do a detailed property inspection to assess the scope of the damage and to develop a thorough plan of action. We will identify the water source, the category of water, and check for safety concerns.
3. Moisture Extraction
   • The water extraction process will remove the majority of moisture via our vacuum and pump units. We will start this process as quickly as possible to lessen the likelihood of more damage occurring and to reduce drying time. We can also help you move out of your belongings in the event that they might be damaged as well.
4. Dehumidifying and Drying
   • After the excess water has been removed, we can begin fully drying all porous materials that have absorbed water. Our industrial-grade equipment moves air quickly and helps moisture to evaporate as fast as possible, which will dry out floors, walls, and carpets as well as discourage mold growth.
5. Cleaning and Repair
   • After sustaining water damage, impacted surfaces will typically require professional cleaning. In addition to structural cleaning, we will clean your belongings that are able to be restored. We will also do odor removal to prevent the musty odor that water-damaged objects often develop.
6. Restoration
   • The final step is ensuring that your property is restored to its pre-water condition. This will involve things like drywall and flooring repairs or even reconstruction. By working with us, you are working with a company that can handle all elements of the restoration, including the difficult reconstruction parts that truly restores things back to their pre-damaged state.

Protecting your Business from a Storm

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

Have you taken steps to protect your business and employees?

When we experience a thunderstorm in Ascension Parish they can potentially cause extensive damage to your business. Power outages downed tree limbs, and flooding from rainstorms are all possibilities. SERVPRO of Ascension Parish has a few preventative steps you can take to ensure you are able to protect your business when these storms happen.

1. Keep Your Lightning Rod Maintained

A lightning rod is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike. If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through a wire, instead of passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. If your business is located in a tall building that may attract lightning, then maintaining the lightning rod can be essential. Have the rod checked annually for damage and ask your certification professionals to verify that it is up to code. If your business is located in an area where lightning is common, it is wise to have the unit cleaned and inspected at least twice a year.  

2. Maintain All Trees on the Property  High winds can turn tree limbs into projectiles that may shatter your building’s windows and cause serious injury to your customers or employees. Make sure you are maintaining your landscaping so dead branches do not detach and strike people entering your business below. Trimming trees away from your building’s power lines can protect its power source during a thunderstorm 

3. Have a Flood Plan in Place  Having a flood plan in place can possibly prevent flooding in your business, especially in the case of mitigation services. Contacting SERVPRO of Ascension Parish before the wet season can be a wise choice because if your building should experience flooding, our team can have help on hand right away.

Be Hurricane Ready

9/5/2019 (Permalink)

Hurricane Winds

Are You "Hurricane Ready"?

This time of year can always be scary for anyone who lives in the possible path of hurricanes or may have friends and family who do live in a consistent path. Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over ocean water and often move toward land. Hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents and tornadoes all of which can destroy homes, buildings, and roads. It is important to stay ready so you do not find yourself scrambling to brace for the impact. There is always the potential looming that our area could be hit by a hurricane. Here are a few things to know ahead of a hurricane if one was to head our direction. 

Know the Difference

• Flood/Flash Flood Watch—Flooding or flash flooding is possible in your area.
• Flood/Flash Flood Warning—Flooding or flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. 

How to Prepare

• Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or other critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
• When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.
• Because standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more information on flood insurance, please visit the National Flood Insurance Program Web site at www.FloodSmart.gov.

Always Know the RisksTo find your risk, visit FEMA’s “Know Your Risk Map.” Be better prepared for this hurricane season, and learn more at www.ready.gov/prepare

Tips to Prepare for a Hurricane

8/29/2019 (Permalink)

Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico

Preparing your Home or Business for Hurricanes

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is keeping a close watch on Hurricane Dorian as it approaches landfall in the next several days. We wanted to provide a few tips on how you can prepare your home for an upcoming storm.  

10 TIPS ON PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR HURRICANE SEASON

1. Make sure your insurance policy will cover the full cost of rebuilding your home if it is destroyed during a storm.
2. Consider getting flood insurance. Floods often follow a storm- and many homeowner insurance policies do not cover them.
3. Take an inventory of your property, so that in the event of a storm you know exactly what you need to replace and how much it’s worth.
4. Trim or remove damaged trees and limbs surrounding your home
5. Retrofit your roof and seal all windows and doors so that they are secure. Consider adding roof straps if you have access to your roof via an attic
6. Secure loose rain gutters and downspouts and make sure you clear any clogged areas to prevent any water damage
7. Install a vertical garage door brace into your existing garage door so that it doesn’t blow in during a storm
8. Make sure not to leave any furniture outside that could be picked up by strong winds and transformed into a projectile (such as patio furniture, grills, decorations etc.)
9. Consider purchasing a portable generator for use during power outages
10. Look into building a FEMA safe room for your property.

As always, SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is here to assist following any disaster. We can help restore your property back to it’s pre-storm condition. Give us a call at 225-663-8877.

Taking on Storms with Technology

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Ascension FREE Emergency Ready Profile

With Hurricane Season upon us, it is important to be ready for a storm and disaster can strike at a moment’s notice!

Technology is working hard to let us be aware of danger with more time to prepare before it hits! Technology can also be a vital tool in preparing for emergencies or disasters, as well as during or after to stay informed of the situation and in communication with others. From common technology you already use on a day-to-day basis to taking a few extra steps to prepare. Below are a few things that will help you be ready in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Store Information Online

There are many places to store important information securely online. Services like Google Drive and Dropbox offer a free way to store different types of files, from a Word document to images of important documents. Ready.gov suggests saving an electronic version of insurance policies, identification documents, medical records, and information on your pets, if necessary.

Follow the News

Stay informed by following agencies such as FEMA, local news channels, and local government on Twitter for the most up-to-date information in a disaster situation. You can also alert first responders if a rescue is needed through Twitter.

Mark Yourself Safe

The American Red Cross offers a Safe & Well check-in site to list yourself as safe or find family and friends in situations where communication is difficult to establish. Facebook also has a feature called Safety Check that is activated after natural disasters or a crisis. You will receive a notification from Facebook if you’re located in the affected area at that time.

Get in Touch

Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in your phone and e-mail for communication with family, friends, business contacts, and others whom you may need to get in contact with before, during, or after a disaster.

Charge Up

Keep a portable charger in your car and home in case of an emergency. You may need to recharge this from time to time, but you can also buy solar-powered chargers as well. 

An Emergency READY Profile from SERVPRO of Ascension Parish will provide a FREE assessment of your facility to help prepare you, your property, or your business for an any emergency. By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your property or business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action.  Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your property or business. Put help in the palm of your hand with the Ready Plan App.  Get in touch with SERVPRO of Ascension Parish today for more information on developing an ERP for your property or business! Call us Today: 225-663-8877

Is Your Roof Ready for a Storm?

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

Roof Damage

When it comes to our homes, and even commercial properties, our roofs are the first line of defense against storms. While spring/summer is when severe storms are most likely to occur in Ascension Parsh, the long and cold rainy days we have during the winter often result in water damages when they penetrate through a roof that was not repaired after a heavy storm season earlier in the year.

In order to ensure your roof is ready for anything the weather may bring you should check for damage regularly. Missing shingles, signs of small leaks, or mold damage are some of the things you yourself can check for regularly, especially following a hard storm or consecutive bad weather days. If you suspect there may be any type of problem with your roof, you should call in roofing professionals that can give you a complete assessment. When the weather gets bad the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your roof can hold up against a storm, so try to do regular inspections throughout the year and at least one professional assessment per year in order to protect your home.

If you have a water damage due to a roof leak at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Ascension Parish anytime at 225-663-8877. Our team can be onsite quickly to begin the restoration process as soon as possible.

Protect your Business from Storm Damage

7/22/2019 (Permalink)

Here are are, at the start of Hurricane season 2019. 

So we thought it would be a great time to cover some tips to protect your business in the event of a storm. 

A flooded building can wreak havoc on your business operations. If flood water is a real concern in Louisiana, it is important to do what you can now so that your business property is better protected later. Here's how you can protect your property from water damage.

Preparing Your Building

Before a flood even occurs, you can take steps to seal your building from water. Start by applying a waterproof coating to the exterior walls. Several other steps are also important.

" Install waterproof shields over windows and doors where possible.
" Strengthen walls to stand against the pressure of flood water or flood debris.
" Seal all areas where utilities enter the building.
" Anchor the building if necessary.

Protecting the Lower Levels

Inspect your first floor to ensure there are no areas where flood water can easily enter the premises. Regrade any land that slopes into your property, extend or redirect gutter spouts and repair any cracks in the walls. Move any valuable equipment or furniture to higher ground and create digital backups of any important paper documentation.

Taking Other Safety Measures

Water damage is not the only thing to worry about during flooding. It is also important to properly anchor any fuel tanks to prevent the water from sweeping them away, which can cause the lines to break and fires or explosions to happen. Sewer backflow valves are also important.

Preparing for Restoration

No matter how well you prepare your building for a flood, at least some damage is still likely to occur. Call a well-respected restoration company to help you remove moisture, dry materials and get your property ready to do business again.

Being 100 percent prepared for a natural disaster is practically impossible, but preparing now for a later storm means getting back into the swing of things as quickly as possible after any damage happens.

Red Cross - Storm Weather Tips

7/17/2019 (Permalink)

Recently, Ascension Parish and surrounding areas have encountered flooding, tornadoes and thunderstorms. All of these storms have had a significant effect on residents in our area for both residential and commercial properties. 

TORNADOES 

Tornadoes can strike without warning and destroy a community in seconds. Before a tornado warning is issued for your area, here are some things you should do:

1. Know your community’s warning system.

2. Pick a place where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way. It could be your basement or, if there is no basement, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this place uncluttered.

3. If you are in a high-rise building and don’t have enough time to go to the lowest floor, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building.

4. Remove diseased and damaged limbs from trees.

5. Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.

THUNDERSTORM SAFETY

Thunderstorms injure an average of 300 people every year, and cause about 80 fatalities. Here are the top thunderstorm safety steps you should follow:

1. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.

2. As the storm approaches, take shelter in a building.

3. If you are driving, pull off the roadway and park. Stay in the car with the windows closed and turn on the emergency flashers. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside of the vehicle.

4. If you are inside, unplug appliances and avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Avoid taking a bath or shower, or running water for any other purpose.

5. If you are caught outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground, water, tall, isolated trees and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are not safe.

FLOODING 

Heavy rains could fill rivers and streams, bringing flooding to the area. If your neighborhood is threatened with the possibility of flooding, here are some things you should do:

1. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.

2. Stay away from floodwaters. 

3. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.

4. Keep children out of the water.

5. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.

No Storm Too Big or Too Small

6/11/2019 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes it is hard to know what path to take. When it is a widespread disaster it is even harder to figure out which restoration company you can trust. SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is there for you! We have dedicate teams to help you through storm season. 

Whether it is damage due to wind, hail, tornadoes or hurricanes our team is on standby. Our crews can respond quickly and handle a residential customer or a downtown high-rise. 

With over 1700 franchises around the United States, our reach is endless to get you back up and running as quickly as possible. 

Our office team is well versed in covered and non-covered events and can get you the correct information you need when you need it. Our teams document with pictures, daily moisture readings and daily notes ensuring when it is time to send information over to your insurance company we have it. 

Experienced a loss give our teams give us a call.

National Preparedness Month

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month

This year for National Preparedness Month, SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is joining the community in preparing for emergencies and disasters of all types. SERVPRO of East Baton Rouge is leading efforts to encourage the community as a whole to become even more prepared. "Disasters happen" and not only devastate individuals and neighborhoods but entire communities. Working together as a team to ensure that our families, businesses, places of worship, and neighborhoods are ready.

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is educating the community citizens and business owners to work together in the event of an emergency. At Ready.gov/business, companies can find vital information on how to begin preparing their organization and addressing their unique needs during an emergency. You can also contact SERVPRO of Ascension Parish to find out more on how to be ready when the disaster strikes with the Emergency READY Program.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help

Call Today – 225-663-8877

Why and How To Create a Business Continuity Plan

8/21/2018 (Permalink)

A wide variety of vulnerabilities in your business may lead to loss of income and customer loyalty when a disaster occurs. A business continuity plan, also referred to as an emergency response plan is a technique you may use to identify and prepare for potential problems, keeping your activities running with the least disruption possible.

5 Steps To Create a Plan

To make the process easier, the creation process is broken down into five steps. Consider each part with your business’s needs.

1. Business Impact Analysis: This is a questionnaire that allows you and your managers to assess potential emergencies and the materials required to deal with them. Preparation, distribution and evaluation of results are usually necessary elements of this first step in your business continuity plan.

2. 
   Recovery Strategies: These are plans that allow you to analyze resource needs, the gaps between the required resources and those currently available, managerial choices of strategies to be used and action on those decisions.
3. 
   Plan Development: This is the laying out of the actual emergency response plan, the arrangement of teams to implement recovery from the disaster, production of documentation and approval by management.
4. 
   Training: This is the preparation of the team responsible for continuity actions.
5. 
   Testing and Exercises: This is the creation of training and evaluation materials, which are then tried and implemented.
   
   Value of the Plan for Your Business
   
   An emergency response plan provides a clear, deliberate and well-thought-out way to deal with potential disasters at your business facility. Employees and management should be trained in the procedures that should make a crucial difference in the rapid recovery of your business.
   
   Guidance in Developing Your Plan
   
   There are online materials that provide detailed information on how to create your business continuity plan. Some of these materials are aimed at specific types of emergency services available in Pearl River, LA, such as IT repair or commercial water damage mitigation.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help

Call Today 225-663-8877

Why and How To Create a Business Continuity Plan

6/29/2018 (Permalink)

A wide variety of vulnerabilities in your business may lead to loss of income and customer loyalty when a disaster occurs. A business continuity plan, also referred to as an emergency response plan is a technique you may use to identify and prepare for potential problems, keeping your activities running with the least disruption possible.

5 Steps To Create a Plan

To make the process easier, the creation process is broken down into five steps. Consider each part with your business’s needs.

1. Business Impact Analysis: This is a questionnaire that allows you and your managers to assess potential emergencies and the materials required to deal with them. Preparation, distribution and evaluation of results are usually necessary elements of this first step in your business continuity plan.

2. Recovery Strategies: These are plans that allow you to analyze resource needs, the gaps between the required resources and those currently available, managerial choices of strategies to be used and action on those decisions.

3. Plan Development: This is the laying out of the actual emergency response plan, the arrangement of teams to implement recovery from the disaster, production of documentation and approval by management.

4. Training: This is the preparation of the team responsible for continuity actions.

5. Testing and Exercises: This is the creation of training and evaluation materials, which are then tried and implemented.

Value of the Plan for Your Business

An emergency response plan provides a clear, deliberate and well-thought-out way to deal with potential disasters at your business facility. Employees and management should be trained in the procedures that should make a crucial difference in the rapid recovery of your business.

Guidance in Developing Your Plan

There are online materials that provide detailed information on how to create your business continuity plan. Some of these materials are aimed at specific types of emergency services available in Pearl River, LA, such as IT repair or commercial water damage mitigation.

Storm Damage

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Storms happen quickly and if your business experiences storm damage we know your recovery must happen even quicker. Even the biggest commercial building seems small in a storm and can experience damage as easily as a home.

No matter how big the storm, SERVPRO® of Ascension Parish can provide a quick and safe clean up. We’ve cleaned messes like standing water in multi-floor buildings and are equipped to handle the cleanup your business needs.     

We work with you every step of the way and do our best to work with little interruption to your normal schedule. With our service on call 24/7 we can have your business open by lunch time the next day. Storms may be big, but no amount of damage is too big your SERVPRO® of Ascension Parish.

Contact us today 225-663-8877

When storms or floods hit the Ascension Parish area. SERVPRO is ready!

6/1/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish 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 Ascension Parish, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 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 225-753-3434

Hurricane Preparedness 2018

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

Hurricane Season starts this week!

Top six things you should do now to be ready for Hurricane Season 2017, according to the American Red Cross :

1. Talk with household members and create an evacuation plan. Be prepared to evacuate quickly and evacuate if told to do so.
2. Build an emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for an infant if applicable, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area, and emergency contact information.
3. Get access to NOAA radio broadcasts. 
4. Identify a place to store lawn furniture, toys, gardening tools and trash cans (away from stairs and exits) to prevent them from being moved by high winds and possibly hurting someone. Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or invest in one-half inch marine plywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows.
5. Be informed. Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as encouraged and make plans for pets. If travel is in your plans, learn about how emergency situations are communicated at your destination.
6. Download the free SERVPRO Ready app. Learn more about the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Program.

Have questions? Call us - 225-753-3434

Ready to Respond in a Storm Situation

5/7/2018 (Permalink)

Hurricane Season starts June 1 and our Disaster Response Team is ready to respond in the event of a Storm. Following Hurricane Harvey our teams assisted numerous cities in the state of Texas. We responded, acted and served around the clock making sure all clients were taken care of. With storm damages it is important to remember a couple of key tips. 

1. If you experience back water flooding it is important to remember the water is contaminated. Make sure to decontaminate any items that may have come in contact with the water.

2. Do not drive in rising water. Wait until water recedes to go into your home.

3. In wake of a tornado do not enter a structure that is unstable - when in doubt contact a professional to assess. 

4. Take pictures, plenty of pictures. It is important to remember to include time stamps to show insurance companies when image was taken. 

5. If a hurricane is coming towards your area, collect any important paperwork that you would need in case you need to evacuate.

Need assistance give us a call 225-663-8877.

Flood Information for Ascension Parish

6/16/2017 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. FEMA reports, in the last 8 years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. As most of us have recently experienced, nearly 20% of all flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low risk areas. 

Here are a few Flood Facts provided by FEMA:

• Flash floods can bring walls of water from 10 to 20 feet high.
• Flooding can be caused by spring thawing (snow and frozen grounds melting in the spring), heavy rains, snow melt runoffs, flash floods, and mudflows.
• Floods are the most widespread natural disaster aside from wildfires. 
• A 2,000 square foot home undergoing 12 feet of water damage could cost more than $50,000 to repair.

Here are a few supplies you need to prepare for a flood:

• Stock up on First Aid items
• Non-perishable foods
• Three gallons of water per person for 3 days
• Battery operated radio for weather reports
• Extra batteries
• Personal hygiene necessities

About SERVPRO of Ascension Parish

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Have a Question? Call us Today - (225)663-8877

When Storms or Floods hit, SERVPRO of Ascension Parish is Ready!

6/16/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish Disaster Recovery Team

SERVPRO ofAscension Parish 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 Ascension Parish, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams [http://www.SERVPROascensionparish.com/storm-flooding-restoration] that are strategically located throughout the United States.

About SERVPRO of Ascension Parish

SERVPRO of Ascension Parish specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 225-663-8877

Be Ready! Hurricane Season in Ascension Parish

6/2/2017 (Permalink)

Be Ready for Hurricane Season in Ascension Parish.

Top six things you should do now to be ready for Hurricane Season 2017, according to the American Red Cross :

1. Talk with household members and create an evacuation plan. Be prepared to evacuate quickly and evacuate if told to do so.
2. Build an emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for an infant if applicable, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area, and emergency contact information.
3. Get access to NOAA radio broadcasts. 
4. Identify a place to store lawn furniture, toys, gardening tools and trash cans (away from stairs and exits) to prevent them from being moved by high winds and possibly hurting someone. Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or invest in one-half inch marine plywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows.
5. Be informed. Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as encouraged and make plans for pets. If travel is in your plans, learn about how emergency situations are communicated at your destination.
6. Download the free SERVPRO Ready app. Learn more about the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Program.

Have questions? Call us - 225-663-8877