Recent Storm Damage Posts

With Spring, comes tornadoes and other strong storms

3/31/2022 (Permalink)

 

With Spring, comes tornadoes and other strong storms. Tornadoes can destroy well-made structures, uproot trees and send objects through the air like deadly missiles and they can happen anywhere.

Here are some tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.

  • Identify a save place in your home where family and pets will gather during a tornado: a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • In a high rise building, if you don't have have enough time to go to the lowest floor, pick a hallway in the center of the building.
  • In a mobile home, choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your safe place. No mobile home is safe in a tornado.

Know the difference between a Tornado Watch &  Warning: 

  • Watch means a tornado is possible.
  • Warning: means a tornado is already occurring or will occur soon. GO TO YOUR SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

Always remember to play it safe and we are always here, if you need us. SERVPRO of Western Lake County(219) 922-9300

 

SERVPRO Is Ready For When Storms Hit!

11/14/2021 (Permalink)

Our trained crews are ready to respond 24/7 to storm or flood damage in Griffith, Schererville, Crown Point, Merrillville, Highland, Munster, Dyer.

SERVPRO ofWestern Lake County 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, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 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 (219) 922-9300. 

The vital importance of maintaining your home

3/23/2021 (Permalink)

Maintaining your home is often regarded as one of those tedious tasks that is easy to push to the side. However, as many homeowners have learned the hard way, every dollar spent on home maintenance has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars in total maintenance cost down the line. Here’s a couple of areas to focus on to save you money fast:


Look for Leaks


Water leaks are usually simple to fix but can easily lead to disastrous results if left unattended for too long. Mold and mildew can take root and grow in wet spots in your home and can be very expensive to remove. Get ahead of mold by conducting a sweep of your home and checking all plumbing for leaks. Walkthrough your residence and inspect for active dripping or water stains on ceilings and walls.

It is also important to check your roof after any major weather event to make sure no leaks have sprung. In the emergency event of major roof damage, have the contact information of a roof tarping specialist ready to mitigate further damage. This is a maintenance cost worth investing in.


Assess Your HVAC System


Having a well-maintained HVAC system can save you a lot of money in the long run. Heating and cooling systems that are in tip top shape run at peak efficiency, ensuring that you get the best value out of your energy costs. Routine monthly inspection of air filters should become part of your facility management plan for your home. Performing frequent maintenance on heating and cooling systems will help prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system.


Check the Gutters

Regular cleaning of your home’s gutters can help prevent devastating damage to your home. Gutters can become clogged with leaves, branches and other debris which could lead to wood rot, pest infestations and leaks. These costs can pile up quickly and can be avoided by annual maintenance of your gutters and downspouts.

Regular maintenance may not be the most enjoyable part of being a homeowner, but knowing that putting couple of extra dollars towards maintenance cost can save you thousands in remediation.

Ask The Experts: Contaminated Water After The Storm

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

Should you experience a flood in your home after a storm, our team of technicians will inspect your home or business to determine the appropriate plan of action for the type of water encountered.

Category 3: "Black Water"

Category 3 water is grossly contaminated and could cause severe illness or death if ingested and any contact should be avoided. Examples include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

  • May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

24 Hour Emergency Service

Water contaminated with sewage backup should be considered an emergency situation and dealt with as quickly as possible. Our technicians at SERVPRO are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any emergency situations that arise. We have been a trusted name in safety and properly restoring homes and businesses for almost 15 years! We are here to help!

Ask The Experts: The Dangers of Dark Water

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

Should you experience a flood in your home after a storm or otherwise, our team of technicians will inspect your home or business to determine the appropriate plan of action for the type of water encountered. It's very possible you have 'black water" in your home that mustn't be touched.

"Black water", aka category 3 water is grossly contaminated and could cause severe illness or death if ingested and any contact should be avoided. Examples include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

  • May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

24 Hour Emergency Service

Water contaminated with sewage backup should be considered an emergency situation and dealt with as quickly as possible. Our technicians at SERVPRO are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any emergency situations that arise. We have been a trusted name in safety and properly restoring homes and businesses for over 15 years! We are here to help.

Ask The Experts: What Can I Do To Prevent Floods?

12/20/2020 (Permalink)

So far, it's impossible to prevent rain from falling and high waves to overflow their banks. The control of natural events is still out of the hands of humans. However, there are some flood prevention tactics that can keep properties safe from damage. You may recognize some of these methods in action. Town planners are often responsible for actions, such as

• Keeping waterways clear
• Installing and maintaining drainage systems
• Clearing litter and debris out of waterways and drainage systems

Communities situated near large bodies of water may have sea walls, tide gates, and sandbag barriers in place. These structures are intended to prevent tide and its waves from bringing too much were onshore.

In many communities, retaining walls such as levees, lakes, dams, retention ponds, and reservoirs are used to hold excess water. These are especially helpful under flooding conditions. Today, many of these solutions are structured to function as attractive landscaping, as well as providing flood prevention.

This solution involves a small reservoir that is connected to a waterway. The reservoir serves as temporary water storage until the water is able to flow back into the waterway. It also holds water and gives the community a longer amount of time to evacuate when necessary.

Bare soil is much more likely to wash away than land help in place by trees, shrubs, and grasses. You may see vegetation throughout your neighborhood that will break up the flow of moving water, reducing erosion, and limiting the flow of floodwaters.

If you're not sure what you can do to reduce the necessary flood cleanup and damages around your commercial property, contact water and flood remediation professionals in your area for more advice. These professionals can offer advice about the impact of litter and the ways that high water is most likely to affect your property.

What steps can you take to improve flood prevention? Make your voice heard as a business owner. Engage in civic planning and take time to learn more about flooding.

If a disaster does strike, give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help make things "Like it never even happened."

Ask the Experts: Ways To Save Money On Home Repairs

12/20/2020 (Permalink)

Maintaining your home is often regarded as one of those tedious tasks that are easy to push to the side. However, as many homeowners have learned the hard way, every dollar spent on home maintenance has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars in total maintenance costs down the line. Here’s a couple of areas to focus on to save you money fast:


Water leaks are usually simple to fix but can easily lead to disastrous results if left unattended for too long. Mold and mildew can take root and grow in wet spots in your home and can be very expensive to remove. Get ahead of mold by conducting a sweep of your home and checking all plumbing for leaks. Walkthrough your residence and inspect for active dripping or water stains on ceilings and walls.

It is also important to check your roof after any major weather event to make sure no leaks have sprung. In the emergency event of major roof damage, have the contact information of a roof tarping specialist ready to mitigate further damage. This is a maintenance cost worth investing in.

Having a well-maintained HVAC system can save you a lot of money in the long run. Heating and cooling systems that are in tip-top shape run at peak efficiency, ensuring that you get the best value out of your energy costs. Routine monthly inspection of air filters should become part of your facility management plan for your home. Performing frequent maintenance on heating and cooling systems will help prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system.


Regular cleaning of your home’s gutters can help prevent devastating damage to your home. Gutters can become clogged with leaves, branches and other debris which could lead to wood rot, pest infestations, and leaks. These costs can pile up quickly and can be avoided by the annual maintenance of your gutters and downspouts.

Regular maintenance may not be the most enjoyable part of being a homeowner, but knowing that putting a couple of extra dollars towards maintenance costs can save you thousands in remediation.

Ask The Experts: Flooding vs. Storm Damage

11/14/2020 (Permalink)

Storms can lead to flooding, but flood damage is not the same as storm damage. Although this sounds like a riddle, it is important to understand the difference between the two when you are insuring your commercial property.

Storm Damage
Storms can cause all sorts of damage to a property. The following are some common ways that a storm can damage a business building:

  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Lightning

Damage from the above sources are likely covered under your commercial property insurance policy. However, damage caused by rain is a bit trickier. If the rain entered the building after damage caused by the storm, such as through a roof leak caused by strong winds, the water damage is likely classified as storm damage and covered under the same policy. However, in other situations, water damage from heavy rains may only be covered by a separate flood policy.

Flood Damage
For insurance purposes, flooding is defined as the inundation of two or more acres or properties that are normally dry. The inundation can be caused by heavy rains, mudflow, or overflow from rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. If the water damage is classified as flooding, it will only be covered if you have a flood policy.


There is another important difference between water damage from a storm and from a flood. While the water from a storm usually comes as rainwater from the sky, flood water has accumulated on the ground and become contaminated with mud, sewage, etc. This is important to keep in mind during the restoration process. Items damaged by floodwater should be thoroughly sanitized. If they cannot be fully disinfected, they should be thrown away.
It is important to discuss your business’s needs with an insurance agent and carefully read through all policies to ensure your business is properly covered in the event of flood damage. In addition to an insurance policy, it is important to select a certified restoration company to help get your property back to normal quickly and safely after a flood or storm.

SERVPRO Is Here To Help After Storm Damage

2/12/2020 (Permalink)

Spring is coming and that means the threat of severe thunderstorms in our area rises. SERVPRO of Western Lake County is here to assist in any storm damage your home or business may encounter.

Wind Damage Restoration

Storms and tornadoes can cause severe wind damage. Roof damage in this situation may range from a missing roof to harsh winds, or rain shearing away asphalt tiles. Correcting roof damage may challenge homeowners after a disaster, since a roof leak may not appear obvious.

How can a roof leak and roof damage escape easy detection in this situation? Wind damage may loosen flashing, eventually causing another roof leak weeks after the storm. Even a subtle roof leak of this nature can produce damp, moldy conditions inside the home. Obtaining fast roof repair may prevent long term interior damage. A wind damage home restoration expert may assist clients in receiving comprehensive roof assessments and roof repair services when hurricane damage afflicts an area. Our expertise helps property owners address storm damage and roof damage more effectively.

Flooding And Recovery

Heavy rains can cause flooding. If the surrounding terrain cannot absorb groundwater, runoff contributes to flooding water. Flood pump failures contribute to basement flooding and contaminated groundwater as well.

Flooding may disrupt municipal water systems. Experts need to assess groundwater and evaluate the condition of pipes following flood damage. Hiring SERVPRO for flood restoration may allow you to begin your cleanup process even before water restoration occurs. 

We are here to help 24/7 and are ready whenever a major storm hits our area!

Check out reviews and more info about us on GoogleBetter Business BureauFacebookYelp and Angie's List.

What To Do & Not To Do After A Storm

1/22/2020 (Permalink)

After a storm damages your home or business you can feel lost and vulnerable. Luckily for you, restoring storm and fire damage is the cornerstone of our business. SERVPRO offers 24-hour emergency service meaning we can respond immediately and return your property to its pre-storm condition.

Our employees are trained in storm damage restoration. Our restoration process puts an emphasis on scientific drying techniques, progress monitoring and documentation. SERVPRO has over 1,700 Franchises across the U.S. That means that if a catastrophic storm strikes we can call in additional recourses.

What To Do

  • Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
  • Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
  • Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
  • Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
  • Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
  • Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
  • Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
  • Gather loose items from floors.

What NOT To Do 

  • Don't leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
  • Don't leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
  • Don't use your household vacuum to remove water.
  • Don't use television or other household appliances.
  • Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

When you see the next weather report you can rest easy because SERVPRO is ready to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Check out reviews and more info about us on GoogleBetter Business BureauFacebookYelp and Angie's List.

Onset of Spring

5/4/2015 (Permalink)

With the beginning of May comes the onset of storm season. Make sure your family has a storm plan in place and all members are aware of the plan. Be aware of weather alerts, and most importantly, Be Safe!