Archived Storm Damage Blog Posts
Staying Prepared for Any Storm | SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage
2/20/2024 (Permalink)
Has a disastrous storm hit your home? At SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage, we're Here to Help®. Call us today!
Do you love or hate storms? For some, hearing the sounds of rolling thunder and rhythmic rain can be very relaxing, but relaxed or not, storms are something we should always be prepared for.
When you stay prepared ahead of severe weather, you can lower the possibility of enduring major losses. You will also know how to take quick action in order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Stay prepared so that you can get back to enjoying the sound of thunder—from your safe space, of course.
Prepare for Safety
Safety should always be your top priority when it comes to weathering any kind of storm. You and anyone else in your household will need to know how to quickly respond when things outside are getting intense.
Make a plan with your loved ones so that everyone will know what to do with little direction. Practice going to your safe space, somewhere low in your home with as few windows as possible.
Assign family members to help young ones or grab pets as they go. Create an emergency supply kit, and store it somewhere near your safe space. Check it periodically to make sure there are enough supplies and everything is in-date.
Always have two ways to receive weather alerts as well. One of those should be something that does not require external power, like a battery-operated weather radio. That can ensure that you always know what is going on even if the power has been out for a while.
Prepare to Prevent Damage
Just as keeping your family ready to respond when the weather gets wild is crucial, so, too, is preparing your home. With some regular maintenance, you can mitigate potential damage even when severe weather rolls in unexpectedly.
Keep your yard well cared for, including picking up loose limbs and other debris that could become projectiles during a high-wind event. Large trees should be trimmed regularly, especially if they are leaning toward your home or other structures.
Secure any outside furniture that can be quickly moved into an interior space, and make a plan for anything that can. Don’t forget to grab the trash can!
Make sure your gutters and downspouts stay clear, and always repair roof or siding damage as soon as possible. If you see any puddling of water in your yard when it rains, add more sloping or absorbent materials to keep things flowing well.
We may not be able to stop the storms from coming, but we can take steps to stay safe when they do. Prepare your family and prepare your home so you can ride out anything that comes your way.
Do you have storm damage to your home? Call us to get things restored quickly.
Bracing for Coastal Flooding: Preparation Tips and Early Warning Signs from SERVPRO of Levittown & Bethpage
1/9/2024 (Permalink)
The Aftermath of Water Inundation
The National Weather Service has recently declared a Coastal Flood Warning for Long Island. Members of Long Island communities could experience road closures, tidal surges, inland flooding, and more. To help our valued communities stay safe and protected during the duration of this Coastal Flood Warning, SERVPRO of Levittown and Bethpage has compiled a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for coastal flooding, including early warning signs and preparation tips.
Early Warning Signs
- Monitor Weather Updates: Stay informed about weather conditions through reliable sources. Pay attention to warnings and advisories issued by local authorities.
- Tidal Predictions: Keep an eye on tidal predictions, especially during high tide cycles. The National Weather Service provides vital information on expected inundation levels, along with local news sources.
- Wind and Wave Conditions: Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet along the oceanfront, along with west-to-southwest gale winds, can contribute to coastal flooding. Regularly check wind and wave forecasts for your area.
Preparation Tips
- Evacuation Plan: Develop a clear evacuation plan, including the nearest shelters and evacuation routes. Familiarize yourself with community evacuation procedures, and communicate the plan with your family.
- Secure Valuables: Move valuable belongings to higher ground, especially in basements and low-lying areas. Consider using waterproof containers for essential documents, ensuring they remain protected in the event of flooding.
- Emergency Kit: Assemble a comprehensive emergency kit with essential supplies. Include non-perishable food, an ample supply of water, medications, a flashlight, extra batteries, and a well-stocked first aid kit.
- Property Protection: Take proactive measures to safeguard your property. Install flood barriers or sandbags around your premises, particularly if you reside in vulnerable areas. Elevate electrical appliances and furniture to minimize potential damage.
- Vehicle Safety: Be cautious about where you park your vehicles. Avoid low-lying or vulnerable areas near the waterfront, and move your vehicles to higher ground to prevent flood damage.
- Communication Plan: Establish a communication plan with family members and neighbors. Ensure everyone is aware of emergency contact information, evacuation plans, and meeting points.
- Stay Informed: Stay up-to-date on the latest developments by continuously monitoring weather updates through official channels. Be prepared to adapt your plans based on the evolving situation and any additional advisories.
- Clearing Drainage: Ensure that drains and gutters around your property are clear of debris. This helps prevent water buildup and facilitates proper drainage during heavy rainfall, reducing the risk of localized flooding.
SERVPRO of of Levittown and Bethpage's Water and Storm Damage Restoration Expertise
In the aftermath of coastal flooding, SERVPRO of of Levittown and Bethpage stands ready to provide swift and efficient water and storm damage restoration services. Our highly skilled restoration team is equipped to handle the aftermath of flooding, offering comprehensive solutions to mitigate damages, restore affected areas, and make it "Like It Never Even Happened". SERVPRO of of Levittown and Bethpage brings trusted expertise to Long Island, aiding residents in the restoration process and offering peace of mind during challenging times.
Conclusion
While the Coastal Flood Warning remains active, it is important that Long Island Residents such as yourself stay safe and prepared. Implementing preparation tips such as creating a clear evacuation plan, securing valuables, and maintaining a comprehensive emergency kit demonstrates proactive readiness and helps avoid disaster. Property protection measures, thoughtful parking choices, and clearing drainage contribute to minimizing potential damage. Clear communication with family and neighbors, coupled with continuous monitoring of weather updates, enhances community resilience.
Should you incur any water and storm damage during the Coastal Flood Warning, feel free to contact SERVPRO of of Levittown and Bethpage, and we'll make it "Like It Never Even Happened!"
Heavy rain created flooding in basements
10/6/2023 (Permalink)
Man near equipment
Our Crew Chief Bill representing his Breast Cancer Awareness shirt, and showing off our equipment picked up from one house after the flood damage last weekend in a customers basement.#teamluzzi #flooddamage #breastcancerawareness #SERVPRO
Handle Storm Flood Damage in Bethpage With SERVPRO's Help
9/20/2022 (Permalink)
Don't let flood damage take over your property, Call SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage at (516) 261-9600.
Tips for Dealing with Storm Flood Damage in Bethpage
No one looks forward to a storm flood damage event striking their homes. When disaster strikes, having a plan for restoring your home within a short time is vital. Make sure you call professional restorers like SERVPRO to perform the necessary mitigation.
With a well-thought-out and well-executed restoration plan, your home can return to its pre-damage state within no time. Our technicians have expertise in handling storm flood damage in Bethpage residences. We can provide the following services to restore your home from storm flood damage.
Water Removal
SERVPRO restorers can use state-of-the-art extraction equipment to remove floodwater from your home. We often use portable extractors to remove the water because we can take them to most areas of an affected building. This stage's goal is to prevent further damage that can happen because of mold or corrosion.
Controlled Demolition
Our goal is to dry your home with minimal demolition. When necessary, we can remove damaged flooring, drywall, and other materials down to the studs. We know that it is easy for contaminants to get dislodged or aerosolized during demolition and travel to unaffected areas through the air. We use proper engineering controls like establishing negative pressure and building containment to reduce this cross-contamination. Erecting or building containment involves using 6-mil polyethylene plastic to seal off the openings or doorways of affected areas.
Dry out
After water cleanup, we thoroughly dry a house before attempting any repair or rebuilding. Drying helps prevent structural water damage and mold growth. Our SERVPRO team can use high-powered air movers and dehumidifiers to dry your home quickly.
Sanitization
Floodwater is blackwater and may contain bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and sewage. Our SERVPRO technicians can use EPA-approved antimicrobial products to decontaminate all affected areas.
Deodorization
Our crew can use ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers to dispense solvent-based and water-based deodorants into your home. The foggers generate small particles that penetrate most areas where odors can hide.
SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage, is available to repair your home when you need us most. Call (516) 261-9600 for efficient flood damage repairs. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
What You Can Do After Flood Damage at Your Bethpage Home
7/24/2022 (Permalink)
If you find flood damage in your home, contact SERVPRO immediately. We are available 24/7 with professional technicians who are ready to help you.
SERVPRO Oversees Procedural Flood Restoration in Bethpage
Flooding is perhaps the most tedious to resolve of the incidents that can damage your Bethpage property. Different dynamics, including the presence of toxic materials, high water volumes, and soiling variety, affect your home's contents and structural areas. If you do not know what to do, flood restoration can easily overwhelm you.
Seeking help to manage flood damage at your Bethpage property may seem like a costly choice, but when you consider the benefits, you realize that any added expense is negligible. A seasoned restoration team like SERVPRO uses cutting-edge technologies to simplify or hasten restoration tasks, thus increasing the chances of saving money. We also help with the human resource aspects.
Critical steps for flood damage management:
- Managing moisture accumulation and spreading
- Controlling contamination
- Addressing material deterioration
- Preventing and removing odors
Unlike other incidents that damage properties, you can learn about flooding when it is about to happen or after. Storms are forecast hours or even days before. In both scenarios, it is possible to take actions to limit the overall damage. SERVPRO provides the means for such intervention, whether human or technical resources.
Necessary intervention after a flood
Any water left in the house, after flooding in the general area recedes, soaks into porous and semi-porous materials like wood, concrete, and fabrics. Although the flooding may be restricted close to the floor, moisture migration can spread it to other areas if there is no intervention. Our SERVPRO technicians facilitate such action by making flood cuts and expediting extraction with sophisticated pumps. A flood cut eliminates the physical connection in materials keeping moisture from wicking through them.
When flood damage is caused by groundwater, you should be worried about the contaminants left in your house after the water is evacuated. Our SERVPRO crews spray EPA-registered disinfectants around the affected areas. Physical removal of porous materials like carpets, pads, and insulation
Sources of odors after a flood
- Biological residues like raw sewage
- Chemical agents
- Deteriorating materials
SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage develops an action plan for properties affected by flood damage to ensure mitigation efforts address it "Like it never even happened." Call us at (516) 261-9600.
How to Handle Flood Damage After Local Bethpage Storms
5/28/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO is prepared with restoration equipment and experienced technicians.
Storm Damage and Flooding in Bethpage is No Match for SERVPRO
The longer you wait to address any water emergency on your property, the worse the issue gets. When it is contaminated floodwater from a recent Bethpage storm, you are also looking at contaminated water and many risks above and beyond a clean water event. Only hiring skilled water restoration technicians (WRT) gets you the ultimate clean and peace of mind you deserve. This is where the IICRC-certified technicians at SERVPRO shine.
For storm and flood damage in Bethpage, SERVPRO specializes in restoring versus replacing whenever possible, saving you time, money, and the loss of your belongings. Our technicians go through regular training to keep up on the latest techniques, and we have all the best industry equipment at our disposal. We’re ready to go 24/7 with our disaster response team!
What You Can Expect When You Have Storm Flood Damage
Whether you have a flooded basement, a leaking roof from storms, or water infiltrating your ground floor, we are here to help. Common steps we take in flooding projects include:
- Assessment – We assess all damage, the makeup of the water present, and materials impacted. Our crew chief carefully inspects everything, including structural safety, so that we can proceed.
- Extraction – Water removal services and thorough drying begin with the help of extractors, powerful pumps, dehumidifiers, and air movers. Contaminated water gets treated with special anti-microbials upon arrival.
- Debris Removal – Some of our powerful extractors handle water and debris, but we also perform muck-out services to handle all silt, mud, and debris.
- Drying – Specialized drying helps restore relative humidity (RH) and limits the possibility of secondary damage or the onset of mold and mildew.
We handle every aspect of your flood damage needs, from assessment to controlled demolition. Call SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage, when you require assistance. We are available 24/7 by dialing (516) 261-9600 or requesting help online.
Tips for Handling Storm Flood Damage in Levittown
4/10/2022 (Permalink)
When a flood damages your home, you need SERVPROs storm damage restoration team. Our IICRC certified technicians will have you covered.
To Deal with Storm Flood Damage in Levittown, Call SERVPRO
My residence has sustained storm and flood damage, and I need a restoration firm that can help me stabilize it. Which firm can I hire?
Flooding may cause extensive damage to your home because the water is contaminated and can get soaked into the wood, carpeting, drywall, and other porous building materials. To restore your Levittown home after storm flood damage, you should work with technicians from SERVPRO.
The wind is another hazardous element of a storm since it can ruin your home's siding, windows, and roof. It can also knock over utility poles and trees, causing worse damage. Our SERVPRO technicians can restore your property with the following steps:
- Thorough inspection
- Removal of natural and unnatural debris
- Floodwater extraction and drying
- Disinfection and odor removal
Inspection
Our IICRC restorers can inspect your property both visually and by using moisture meters to determine the extent of water penetration in floors, carpets, ceilings, and walls. This enables us to use the most appropriate techniques and equipment to complete the restoration process.
Debris Removal
Our SERVPRO team can remove natural and unnatural debris like tree branches, leaves, sand, silt, siding, and glass from your home. We can use power washing equipment to remove mud and muck from the exterior of your property.
Floodwater Extraction and Drying
We can pump out the water if it is two or more inches deep using electric submersible pumps. We can also check the ruined area and crawl spaces for stagnant water. Our SERVPRO team can dry your home using air moving and dehumidifying equipment.
Disinfection and Odor Removal
We can use Vanquish, an EPA-registered artificial detergent, and disinfectant with fungicidal, bacterial, and virucidal properties to kill a wide variety of microorganisms. Using Vanquish ensures effective cleaning, disinfection, and deodorization. We can use a pump sprayer to apply it.
If your home has sustained storm and flood damage, contact SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage at (516) 261-9600. We can fix the damage to make it "Like it never even happened."
What Can Levittown Homeowners Do About Garage Flood Damage?
2/16/2022 (Permalink)
When flooding hits your area, you need to call the technicians at SERVPRO.
SERVPRO Flood Damage Cleanup Can Restore Levittown Home Garage Spaces
Garages are one of the most vulnerable areas to flooding in a given residence. These areas are designed for durability, but a flood can introduce contaminants and water damage that can quickly lead to more costly structural concerns that impact garage contents.
Levittown SERVPRO flood damage cleanup specialists are ready to return affected areas and their contents to a pre-flood state after a disaster occurs. This task is accomplished with the help of EPA-registered biocides, commercial-grade personal protective equipment (PPE), and sophisticated SERVPRO mitigation tools.
Sanitizing and Drying a Garage After a Flood
SERVPRO professionals can spray an OSHA-approved biocide solution on walls and floors and remove silt, sewage, and other solid debris from the area. Sheetrock and insulation in the garage may require removal with flood cuts. Techs can install new drywall and fiberglass insulation to replace unsalvageable materials per the property owner’s wishes.
- After taking care of basic cleanup tasks, technicians can focus on extracting the remaining moisture from structural materials and belongings in the garage.
- In many cases, contents can be cleaned onsite, but SERVPRO warehouse space is available for the restoration of flood-affected items.
- Technicians can also clean electrical systems in the garage and return them to a clean, dry, usable state once more.
- Suppose electrical power is unavailable on the property. In that case, SERVPRO can provide power sources for equipment, including truck extractors, air movers, and dehumidifiers.
- Structural materials benefit from desiccant dehumidifiers, but contents and electrical power restrictions, among other factors, may necessitate the use of low-grain refrigerant dehumidification, which uses refrigerant coils to convert air moisture into condensation for collection and disposal.
SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage can be contacted at (516) 261-9600 for “Like it never even happened,” levels of cleanup and restoration.
How Likely Is Frozen Pipe Damage this Winter in Levittown Homes?
1/4/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO says to maintain pleasant ambient temperature to prevent frozen pipes in your Levittown home--or call us for water damage cleanup
Levittown homeowners should prepare for the possibility of frozen pipes and subsequent water damages
The winter months can be a wonderful time for the region and test the construction and potential vulnerabilities of Levittown homes. There are several causes of adverse conditions like frozen pipes, including:
- Threatening temperatures
- Poor insulation coverage
- Full, unused lines
Why Did Pipes Still Freeze When the House Was Heated?
To prevent frozen pipes and ice damming in Levittown properties, homeowners need to appreciate the damage cold snaps and bitter conditions can cause and how to avoid it. It is important to ensure that warm air used to heat your home circulates to all house areas, especially where exposed and vulnerable pipes exist. Places like the basement can contain exposed plumbing, and ensuring that warm air can circulate at this level helps prevent water damage.
Ensuring that you have adequate insulation of the pipes in your home is another method of protecting your property against possible water damage during the cold season. Direct insulation of pipes sensitive to cold air is an immediate defense against freezing and subsequent bursts.
Should You Drain the Lines?
Another way that you can prevent costly water damage is through draining supply lines and fixtures that do not get used in the winter months. Lines going out to pool houses or outdoor fixtures can ultimately succumb to severe temperature drops and break.
What To Do When a Pipe Bursts
It is important not to panic when pipes burst. Move quickly to sever the incoming water supply through the main shut-off where the service line enters your home. Professionals like our SERVPRO team must be contacted immediately to begin vital mitigation efforts. The longer a home is exposed to standing water, the more damage that ultimately results.
The threat of a burst pipe can be overwhelming for homes, especially in the winter months. Frozen plumbing can lead to substantial water damage, but our SERVPRO of Levittown, Bethpage team is ready to help with efficient mitigation and restoration services. Call today at (516) 261-9600.