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Memphis, Tennessee (Vocus) June 2, 2010
As today marks the first day of hurricane season in 2010, ServiceMaster Clean franchises across the nation are ready to assist the victims of the storm to contain and reduce water damage. In addition to the list of over 12 useful tips on how to mitigate water damage on its Web site, http://www.servicemasterclean.com, the company offers a number of things you can do before extreme weather conditions strikes your home.
Before a hurricane, it is important to accurately map to give an answer, says Pete Duncanson, director of training and technical support for ServiceMaster Clean. Since the amount of planning in advance you are going to play a significant role in post-storm clean-up.
as experts in disaster restoration, ServiceMaster Clean professionals to make the following recommendations in anticipation of a hurricane or tropical storm:
MAP OUT A WAY OF ESCAPE
secure a community hurricane preparedness plan through your local office of emergency management or Red Cross chapter and make sure to fill gas tanks, as you may have to travel long distances inland to find a hotel or shelter.
HAVE an out-of-STATE CONTACT
Identify an out-of-state relative or friend to act as official contacts with the family, and make sure that all family members have this person contact information.
identify places MEETING
In case family members are separated from each other during a disaster (for example, when adults are at work and children are at school), identify two meeting places: one right outside home and another outside your area, if you can not go home. Make sure everyone knows the address and telephone number of the second meeting place.
have a plan in place for your PETS
Make a plan now what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate. Understand that most shelters and hotels do not allow their property, so it’s critical to determine where to house them during the initial phase of a pending storm. Photographing them and make wearing collars identification in case they are lost during the storm.
PROTECT VALUES
from water damage
photograph and / or video for both the interior and exterior of your home for a record of all valuables. Be sure to keep the originals of important documents, including birth certificates, bank and credit cards and medical records in a waterproof container as well.
USE DIFFERENT FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
Buy a battery-powered AM / FM radio and / or battery powered TV to keep updated on events. Since most of the phones will be out when the storm hits, weather radios will be your best source of information. However, make sure the phone is fully charged and have a charger in your vehicle where land lines are out for a long period.
emergency supplies SUPPLIES
These elements are the following:
? Three days worth of non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and a manual can opener
? A gallon of water per person per day for three days
? First aid kit that includes pre-moistened wipes, antibacterial and insect repellent
? List of medications and prescriptions for each household member
? Flashlights and plenty of fresh batteries
? Flash disposable camera to take pictures of post-storm damage to the house and / or vehicles
? Pen and paper
? Blankets and extra clothes
? Alternate cooking source
? Special items for children, elderly or disabled, including one week supply of medications and foods for infants or those with special diets
? Or crescent wrench to turn off gas and water
? A quart of unscented bleach or iodine tablets (for disinfecting water, if ordered to do so by health officials) and eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)
? Articles for personal hygiene such as soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes
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extinguisher protect your property
Close and board up windows? inch marine plywood and make sure to remove all external antennas. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead trees or clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts. You should keep more of plywood and plastic repair, you may need to do after the storm. Be sure to hold onto all receipts to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
ABLE off the UTILITIES
If electricity is lost, make sure to turn off the main switches in the switch box to the OFF position. Make sure all appliances are off, because no one can be at home when the power is restored. Appliances left could cause a fire.
examine and understand INSURANCE
It ‘important to understand what deductibles in your policy are in place for hurricane damage. You will need to investigate flood insurance, homeowners policies do not cover water damage resulting from a hurricane. Discover the National Flood Insurance Program, which is designed to provide a means for homeowners to protect themselves in case of financing catastrophe strikes.
For more information, please visit the National Hurricane Center in http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.
ServiceMaster Clean is not only prepared to respond to disasters when Mother Nature strikes, but is also ready to help when theres a fire, water leaks or other mechanical failure in your home or office. The companys operations of local services across the country are trained, equipped and ready to restore your property after any disaster, from water in the basement of damage from fire and smoke in the lobby. The company dry and clean everything from documents to carpet to help you avoid mold problems later. And ServiceMaster Clean handles jobs as large as the entire office building or as small as a single room in your home.
About ServiceMaster Clean
With more than 4,500 franchises around the world, ServiceMaster Clean serves customers through a global network of franchises that provide cleaning services, commercial carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, carpet cleaning and upholstery residential and disaster restoration services. The company has more than 60 years of history as a market leader. ServiceMaster Clean is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the worlds largest and most versatile service networks. The company’s brands include TruGreen, TruGreen Landcare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec.
Contact:?
Michael Bielski
ServiceMaster Corporate Communications
(901) 597-6886 (office)
(901) 491-6330 (mobile)
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