First off, the home’s structural integrity should be determined. Flood waters can literally shake a home to its very foundation, making it prone to collapse. All utilities, (electricity, water, and gas) should be shut off at the source, and protective clothing and safety gear should always be worn when working in and around flood waters.

One of the end results of flooding is the presence of mud, silt, and dirt in great amounts within the home. A shovel can be used to remove as much of these materials as possible. In some cases, you may be able to use a hose to remove mud and dirt from walls.

Any wooden or plastic kitchen utensils should be considered contaminated and thrown away, along with most baby toys and items. Upholstered items such as furniture and carpeting may or may not be salvageable, and prompt cleaning will be required if they are to be saved. Mattresses and carpeting will in most cases be total losses…it is far easier and less expensive to simply replace them.

Windows and doors should be opened in order to get air circulating and allowing the drying to begin. It may not seem like much, but drying at basically occurs as the result of the circulation of fresh air throughout the damaged area. The drying process may be aided by using as many high velocity fans, blowers, and dehumidifiers as you can find, placed throughout the home in order to move as much air as possible.  Complete drying may take up to three to five days depending on the size of the water damaged area.

Loose valuables such as books, photos, documents, and other important possessions should be entrusted to professional restoration services that are trained to determine if the objects in question may be salvaged or if they should be thrown out and replaced.

The restoration process is a long and involved one, which means that in most cases a professional water damage restoration company should be hired. These professionals will have the equipment and experience needed to handle even the most severe flood damage scenarios.

Check for cracks. If you find cracks in or around the foundation, well, those are the easiest means through which water gets into the home. The foundation needs to be inspected both inside and outside and any cracks patched over using cement. The same rule applies to the foundational walls around the outside of the basement. By keeping one step ahead of any small problems as they occur, you may prevent moisture problems and water damage in the future.

Check for leaks. Burst pipes aren’t always the problem; in many cases, a slowly leaking pipe may cause just as much trouble as a free flowing stream….it just takes a little longer to achieve the same result. Small leaks may be repaired using simple plumber’s putty and silicone caulk. If the pipe is in a difficult to reach location, a plumber may need to be called in. This may cost a bit, but it is infinitely preferable to the costs associated with repairing significant water damage.

Check humidity levels. Humidistats and moisture meters can be obtained for around $10 at most hardware stores and used to measure moisture levels within the home. If the levels remain at 60% or more for a period of several days, then you know you have a moisture problem.

Reduce the excess moisture levels through dehumidification. Portable dehumidifier units are the perfect devices for reducing the level of humidity and moisture within a given structure. They can be selected based on the size of the room or rooms that are involved. 70 pint portable models have the storage capacity to handle 1400 square feet of house. In some cases, such as those involving multiple level homes, more than one unit may be required.

In the event of a hurricane, if you are required to evacuate to a shelter, you will most likely not be able to bring your pet.  Although Red Cross shelters and some others will allow services animals in with their owner, many shelters will refuse entrance.  It is therefore best to be prepared ahead of time rather than stuck without a safe place to go with your pet during a hurricane.  Make sure you have an emergency plan established that involves your pets being relocated to safety.

A man helps his pets feel safe during a hurricane.

According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, more and more communities are developing pet friendly shelter plans.  The key is to do your research ahead of time and find out if any local shelters will admit your pet(s). If you cannot find any pet friendly shelters, the next step is to contact hotels or motels outside of the area to find out what their pet policies are and if they would waive a “no pet” policy in the event of an emergency.  You may want to contact your veterinarian as well to ask them if they have any suggestions. While doing research, make certain to keep a list of pet friendly resources with phone numbers and addresses.  If a hurricane comes your way and you need to evacuate, you will be thankful that you had the list prepared.

Next, it is important to have an emergency kit ready for your pet as well.  As with all emergency kits, pet kits should be pre-assembled, left in one easy to access area close to the exit (preferable with your emergency kit as well) and ready to go.  Pet kits should be kept in a water proof container that is sturdy and can easily be transported.

One pet kit should contain:

1. Important documents (veterinary records etc.)
2. Medications
3. First aid kit
4. Food – enough for one week. If your pet eats canned food either set aside a can opener or purchase the easy peel cans.
5. Water – enough for one week
6. Bowls
7. Leashes
8. Toys
9. Foldable pet bed
10. Blankets – it is important to note that if your pet is a bird, you will still want a blanket ready to go so you can cover their cage to reduce stress while traveling.
11. Crate
12. Flashlight
13. Photo of pet in case pet is lost during transport.
14. Special needs: if your pet has any special needs like needs cat litter, litter box, heat lamp, salt lick, pine bedding etc., make sure to set aside those items as well.

The key is to have your pet emergency kit ready to go at a moments notice.

It is important to also securely fasten your current contact information to your pet’s collars or leg (birds) if possible.  If you have birds, small animals or reptiles, you may want to label your pet’s cage as well.  In the event that you get separated from your pet, emergency crews will be able to contact you with the information you have provided on your pet’s collar.  Finally, get a Rescue Alert Sticker.  By visiting the ASPCA online, you can get a free sticker by filling out an online form.

When you have a pet emergency kit and a list of pet resources ready to go, the next step is to stay informed.  Keep track of any approaching threats by listening to weather information on the television, radio or internet.  If an evacuation warning is to be issued, you will often have some time to get yourself, your family and pets to a safe place.  If you hear of an approaching hurricane, call the pet shelter or motel ahead of time to confirm shelter arrangements.  It is also important to keep all of your pets with you and indoors, even if you are not at home.  In the event that an evacuation order comes while you are not home, it is critical to have a contact, like a neighbor or friend, in place who can pick up your pets and meet you at another location.

In addition to having your resources ready, you may want to think a head of time what you may be able to do to keep your pet calm during a hurricane. There are several natural remedies now available to help your pet’s stress level stay down. Products like Bach’s Flower Remedies or NaturVet Quiet Moments Gel are helpful to dogs and cats that may experience anxiety.  You may want to purchase some “keep them busy” treats to help ease pets while they are cooped up during the duration of a hurricane.

If a hurricane is a possibility, the best plan if possible is to go to a safe place with your pet.  If you cannot find a pet friendly shelter, it might behoove you to leave the area and evacuate to a place of safety where you can stay with your pet.

In addition to this article, there are excellent resources available for pet owners on FEMA’s and ASPCA’s websites.  In the event of a hurricane or disaster evacuation, you can never have too much information, especially if you are a pet owner.  Our pets rely on us to take care of them and protect them. With preparation and knowledge, all pet owners can make certain that their pets will be kept safe during a hurricane.

If you have questions about keeping your pets safe or protecting your home from hurricane damage, please contact the emergency water removal specialists at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.

Mold occurs as a natural part of outdoor environments, serving as nature’s own green recycling center and breaking down the dead plant and animal organic matter. We encounter mold and even inhale mold spores almost every day with no side effects whatsoever.  It is only when mold occurs in an indoor environment that it becomes a problem. Suddenly, the mold and its accompanying spores (through which it reproduces) are encountered (and inhaled) in large, dense concentrations. When you consider that mold is designed to break down organic matter, the health issues related to its presence become obvious.

Mold is the single most common byproduct of water damage, but also may occur in any location where the humidity and moisture levels are high enough to support its growth. Even if the mold is not one of the dangerous health hazards, it still presents a serious problem because mold by its very nature destroys the surface on which it is growing, meaning that it can eat itself out of house and home, and a  large enough growth could cause serious structural damage. Homes, businesses, and even entire city blocks have been condemned and demolished for no other reason than out of control mold growth. For this reason alone, professional mold remediation services should be brought in to handle mold infestations.

Unfortunately, too many people mistakenly believe that killing the mold is the solution, but unless the area is properly treated, the mold will eventually return. The affected area should be thoroughly cleaned and humidity levels brought down to within acceptable parameters, as in below 50%. Only by altering the environment to make it inhospitable for mold growth can any property owner hope to avoid a repeat of the problem in the future.

Even new homes may have mold problems, so mold inspections are recommended even for new home purchases. New constructions are often tightly sealed up between the time that construction is finished and the time the home is sold. Any water damage or moisture trapped inside will have no place to go, and over time may easily give way to mold and mildew growth.

Several other water spouts were seen just off neighboring beaches, and a minor league baseball game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Birmingham barons had to be suspended. The tornado occurred on the 15th anniversary of the Great Miami Tornado, which ripped across the area and was captured in a number of very dramatic photographs. The Great Miami Tornado ripped from Little Havana across Downtown, narrowly missing skyscrapers, before hopping the MacArthur Causeway and traveling up the Venetian Causeway, across Biscayne Bay, and briefly touching down on Miami Beach before dissipating.

Saturday night’s twister was eight miles long and packed winds between 100 – 120 mph. Warm weather season usually spawns a number of water spouts off the Florida Coast, with most of these falling under the category of “fair weather” water spouts forming beneath cumulus clouds and weakening rapidly when they strike land. Saturday night’s water spout was a tornadic water spout, meaning that it does not weaken appreciably when making landfall because they are true tornadaoes that just happened to form over water. Most water spouts rarely do damage to structures although it has been known to occur occasionally.

Again, this is a vivid reminder of the instability of the weather systems during severe weather season, and the importance of always being ready and aware of rapidly changing weather conditions. Severe weather season gives way to hurricane season in Florida, which means that conditions are favorable for strong storms, torrential rains, and damaging winds for much of the time between May and November of every year.

Drymeout.com services the entire Florida West Coast with quality, top rated water restoration services including water removal and drying, carpet cleaning and mold removal, as well as structural repair and restoration. Our Immediate Response Team is available 24/7 to handle even the largest water damage problems, and can be onsite usually within an our or two of your call, thanks to the same day emergency service that is offered. All work is guaranteed, meaning we treat your property and valuables as if they were our very own.

Floods occur in every state, all year long, and for any number of reasons. Floods may develop slowly over a period of days, the end result of strong and steady rain coverage over an extended period of time or torrential rains occurring over one area in a short amount of time. Rivers and lakes may rise slowly, overflowing their banks and flooding out surrounding properties, neighborhoods, and businesses. Flash floods, easily the most dangerous type of flood events, can develop in just a matter of hours (and in some cases even minutes) and race across the landscape at high speed, wiping out buildings and vehicles while providing little or no advanced warning to people caught in their path.

However it happens, floods are one of the most destructive natural disasters in the world. Believing that the best defense is a great offense, the professionals at Drymeout.com recommend that home and business owners take an active role in taking steps to predict what any future flood activity might bring and guarding their properties against it.

The best place to begin any such project is your local emergency management office. They will have all relevant weather data records, including rainfall amounts and flood activity for the region going back several years. Past weather patterns are always good indicators of what may be expected in the future. Data such as rainfall amounts and flooding depths, as well as the time of year they are most likely to occur, can give homeowners a pretty accurate determination of just how much water they may have to deal with. In addition, flood zones and flood plains may be clearly identified, and homeowners living in these areas will be made aware of the heightened level of risk that a given home or business may have to face.

Property owners should also check their insurance policy and see if they are protected against water damage from flooding. Most homeowners policies do not provide such coverage, although it may be obtained at additional cost. You may also want to see if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federally funded insurance provider designed to assist communities in flood prone areas. The NFIP works with these member communities to establish high safety standards and protocols for their residents. In return they provide flood insurance coverage for an additional fee.  Unfortunately too many people overlook flood damage insurance, believing that federal disaster aid will help them. The down side is that such relief funds often come in the form of low interest loans that must be paid back, in addition to any mortgage the property owner is responsible for. Paying a simple additional premium is less costly and provides much more in the way of coverage and protection in the event of a major flood. Interested parties should check to see if their community participates in the NFIP.

For starters, any company considered should have the Clean Trust seal of certification, which means the company in question is doing it by the numbers and making sure their bases are covered. This includes making sure their technicians receive the best possible education and training, and that said education goes on as new procedures are developed and new tools of the water damage trade are introduced.

Certified companies will also be at their phones 24/7 and offer same day emergency service in most cases. This is important, because the sooner the water in your home is removed and everything cleaned up, the better are your chances for minimizing water damage and long term problems related to the spill.

The ideal company will offer not only water removal but also the drying out and disinfecting of all affected surfaces. If the water has been standing for an extended period, then decontamination may be required due to the presence of mold and other toxins.

You will want a company that has access to all the necessary tools and pumps and other gear required to handle even the largest water damage problems. They will also provide appropriate moisture content meters and other resources designed to allow for the restoration process to be carried out in the most efficient manner.

Water removal is only the first step in this process, which means that the company chosen should also be able to handle drying procedures, as well as the repair and restoration of any loose items or structural elements that were damaged by the water. All work should also be fully guaranteed

Drymeout.com serves Bayonet Point and the entire Florida West Coast with first rate water damage restoration services. Available 24/7 and all work is guaranteed.

The goal of the Community Awareness day is to provide participants with a greater awareness of the vast history in Hernando county, of the various non-profit organizations located in the area, of the various issues occurring in Hernando county and of the agricultural resources available to the residents of the county.

1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is excited to sponsor this wonderful event and to help bring forth awareness about the wonderful aspects of Hernando county.  Learn more about the Hernando Chamber of Commerce: http://hernandochamber.com

ABOUT 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT:

1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is a full service water damage restoration company that provides emergency water damage mitigation, mold remediation, fire damage, sinkhole and sewer cleanup services.  1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is located in Port Richey, Florida, and proudly services the West Gulf Coast of Florida.  For more information, please visit http://www.drymeout.com.

Firstly, determine your severe weather risk. This is best done by looking at past patterns, since they usually make pretty decent predictions of what may come down the road. Use this information to plan your severe weather strategy.

Remember that your home may suffer considerable structural and water damage as a result of a severe storm, so important documents such as insurance, medical records, financial papers, etc should be properly stored and protected. Some people use safety deposit boxes at their bank for such a purpose. However you may want to put them in a safe, waterproof container, something you can take with you if evacuation becomes necessary.

Similarly, you should make sure your computer files are backed up, either to an offsite backup server or at the very least, an external hard drive that may be removed and taken with you if you have to leave. Computers are commonly damaged or destroyed as a result of severe weather, so make sure the files are provided for.

Storm damaged homes are dangerous enough, but a storm damaged home that is still powered by electricity and gas is even worse. Make sure all utilities are properly shut off in the event of any evacuation, and they should be shut off at their source. Following the severe weather, do not attempt to turn them back on until all systems have been inspected by a professional.

Finally, contact your local flood and water damage professionals to come and begin the restoration process. They are trained on proper procedures for getting the water out of your home and cleaning everything up, allowing you to return to life as normal as soon as possible.

Mass calling events are the most likely culprit for an outage, with circuits unable to handle the increase in call volume. In addition, the mechanisms that switch calls from tower to tower may also overload and shut down, contributing to the problem.

The reason this happens is due to the amount of bandwidth and capacity that is used to make a voice call. Phone company officials are urging residents to use texting to communicate during severe weather, since the average text takes up far less bandwidth than the average voice call. Facebook postings are also very good methods for getting messages to friends and family. Basically, the fewer voice calls that are being made, the better off it will be for everyone involved.

In emergencies, the first instinct is to call loved ones and let them know all is well…..unfortunately, that is everyone’s first instinct, which is why boards become overloaded. In an age where more homes are relying solely on wireless or cellular phones, it is recommended to still have a land line available just in case the wireless networks do go down.

Having a functional phone system following a major storm is also imperative if your property has been dealt serious water damage. This is because it is of utmost importance to be able to have an emergency response team onsite as soon as possible to assess the situation and begin the water damage restoration process.

Drymeout.com services the entire Florida West Coast with top flight water damage repair and restoration service, providing water extraction and drying, carpet drying / cleaning and mold removal, as well as structural repair and restoration. They are available 24/7 and offer same day emergency service in most cases, meaning your call get an Immediate Response Team onsite within the hour.

Call today for a free estimate or phone consult.