When you Midtown Memphis home floods

9/15/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Restoring a Residence After Flash Flooding in Midtown Memphis 

Flooding occurs in all 50 states, causing billions of dollars in yearly damages. While most floods come from heavy rains and river swells over days or weeks, flash flooding poses serious concerns. In just a short time, a flash flood can cause colossal destruction to homes and infrastructure, leaving homeowners overwhelmed by the amount of cleanup and restoration ahead of them. 

When your Midtown Memphis residence has suffered a flash flood, IICRC-certified SERVPRO technicians are only a phone call away from providing service that can return your home to a preloss state. These restoration experts undergo extensive education on disaster mitigation, restoration, and repair to ensure that homeowners have a safe and comfortable residence once more. Technicians, staff, and franchise owners also receive additional education opportunities to expand their knowledge of mitigation and restoration standards and procedures. 

Preparing Your Home for Flash Floods

If you have time to prepare, take the following steps to minimize damage:

• Clear out drains, downspouts, and gutters to prevent water from penetrating your home. Check on any sump pumps and moisture detection systems on your property to ensure they work. 
• Elevate furniture, appliances, electronics, and other items to keep them out of the reach of floodwaters. 
• If you have not already, consider elevation for water heaters and an exterior backflow valve to minimize the risk of sewage backup. 
• Have an emergency kit with important documents, first aid, prescriptions, and contact information. 

How SERVPRO Dries Flood Damage

After extracting floodwaters  and debris and sanitizing the space thoroughly, SERVPRO technicians rely on air movers and dehumidifiers for most of the drying process. These two devices pull moisture out of surfaces, wall cavities, and flooring and replace it with warm, dry air. 

The key to effective drying, however, is a consistent and active measuring of surfaces with a variety of moisture sensors and meters, as well as infrared imaging and thermohygrometers, to assess the relative humidity of both flood-affected structures and the air itself. This process determines accurate drying goals and times and ensures that materials are returned to humidity levels that are appropriate for the structure without encouraging microbial proliferation. 

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis is proud to serve homeowners by being Faster to Any Size Disaster. Call 901-454-4975 for an experienced mitigation team with cutting-edge tools.

No Days off for Disasters

9/15/2022 (Permalink)

Summertime is here and we are all looking forward to warmer days and vacation getaways. The changing season presents us with the opportunity to lay back, enjoy the sun, and let the wind carry our worries away. 

But even with your away messages set and your phones on do not disturb, in our line of work, we’ve noticed that water damage doesn’t always get the memo. While you are away from home, water (in all classes) could be trickling inside your home just waiting upon your return. 

Summer storms, flash floods followed by sewage backups , clogged gutters and downspouts, cracks in the foundation that expand due to the heat; these are all common culprits when for this season’s water damage events. 

One of the easiest ways to prevent these potential dangers from ruining your summer is: (1) Regularly keep up with maintenance on the outside of your home and (2) If you plan to be away from your home for an extended period time, it’s best to shut your water main off. You won’t need it and it greatly minimizes the risk of water running through your home. 

Don’t let the headache of a water damage keep you from enjoying your summer vacation, but if you do arrive and notice that you now have an indoor pool in your living area, our team of IICRC water damage restoration certified professionals are more than happy to help get you back to a vacation state of mind! 

Flood Damage in your Midtown Memphis Home

8/26/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Midtown Memphis

Cleaning after Flood Damage in Your Midtown Memphis  Home

Taking care of flood damage in Midtown Memphis  is no easy task and should be taken seriously to mitigate any further damage, such as dangerous mold infestations or rotted out walls. Due to contaminants found on the ground, flood water is black (category 3) water. Typically, occupants need to leave during the contaminant removal process to protect themselves from dangerous bacteria. SERVPRO restoration specialists wear the appropriate personal protective gear like face respirators, including HEPA particulate/organic filters, full-body suits, waterproof boots, and nitrile gloves when exposed to black water. This PPE personal protective equipment is donned according to the contamination level and environment.

The SERVPRO crew chief or project manager helps to establish building containment involving sealing off doorways or openings with 6-mil polyethylene plastic and tension poles. Outside of this containment area, there is typically a decontamination chamber created where workers exit and remove debris. The HVAC system does not run in the contaminated area since the air system could spread particles throughout the home. However, an air filtration device blows clean air into the affected area from outside the building, but the contaminated air cannot go into the unaffected area. This is known as negative pressure.

Technicians remove solid waste, debris, and silt from the affected area, sometimes using shovels or rakes. If there are more than 2 inches of standing water, technicians use a submersible pump to remove it from the home. Typically, however, flood water recedes, and portable extraction devices remove the excess water from the flooring and other materials within the home. It is essential to understand your local and state regulations regarding the disposal of contaminated water. If using a portable extractor, wastewater is often flushed down the toilet, requiring disinfection later.

SERVPRO restorers sometimes make flood cuts several inches above the damage in the drywall. This is to ensure the removal of contaminants and allows the wall cavities to dry appropriately. Dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers assist in drying the affected areas after cleaning. They may also be used to keep the relative humidity (RH) down in unaffected areas to limit secondary damage.

A Severe Storm can Leave you Midtown Memphis home in urgent need of water removal

8/26/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

A city that is settled on a water source has the chance of flooding during a storm, leaving many homeowners needing water removal services. A particularly severe storm can cause your home to flood with several inches of water inside of it. Any lower levels in your home will have water sinking into them. Reaching out for professional help is wise as soon as the damage happens.

Waiting to call for Midtown Memphis water removal services to remediate the damage that the storm caused can be dangerous for the overall quality of your home. When contaminated water damage has breached the interior, Microbial growth occurs from the Black Water. Having mold grow in your home is generally never a good thing. Additionally, water can ruin your belongings. Rapid extraction and drying are keys to mitigating storm damage and possible demolition. We aim to salvage your belongings, keepsakes, and contents whenever possible.

SERVPRO understands how vital your belongings and home are to you. That is why we always strive to get to your home quickly after your call.

Our skilled technicians can bring advanced technologyto help swiftly remove the water.

• Truck-mounted extractors
• Portable wet vacs
• Rover riding extractors
• Specialized wands for various surfaces
• Sump Pumps
• Trash Pumps

After we rid your home of the flood water, SERVPRO can focus on setting up an ideal environment for drying out your home. We use trade tools like desiccant dehumidifiers and air movers to keep the airflow over the damp places constant. Simultaneously, we can dry out the contents of any items. The drying is monitored for effectiveness, and an antimicrobial agent is applied to disinfect affected areas of the structure.

Do not wait if a storm floods your home. Contact SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis  by phoning (901)454-4975.

We always strive to make you feel "Like it never even happened."

Flooding/ Rising Water

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

No matter the size of the disaster, SERVPRO Storm Team can assist a franchise with capacity and resources to get the damages restored!

There is a long list of reasons why SERVPRO is the premier choice for cleanup and restoration. We brag about our efficiency and professionalism, our technology and equipment. But something that sets us even more apart from the others is our ability to respond to the volume that a major storm event causes.

A large storm event caused by flood, fire, or other natural disaster that surpasses the local franchise's capacity to service in a timely manner can be taken care of by the SERVPRO System. When a storm event like this occurs, The SERVPRO System can provide state of the art restoration services through the best area coverage in the restoration industry. SERVPRO Storm Teams mobilize their crews and are deployed with additional equipment and crews to service property owners, no matter the loss size.

When a storm event occurs and there is major damage, SERVPRO comes together as One Team to help! 

No matter the size of the disaster, SERVPRO Storm Team can assist a franchise with capacity and resources to get the damages restored!

When the storm rolls out, SERVPRO rolls in

3/31/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

When you are in the middle of a crisis, it can be difficult to make the right decision. If your home is on fire, the first thing you should do is call 911. If a storm has dropped a power line in front of your office, you would call the power company. These choices are rational, normal choices but whom would you call after the fire is out? Who do you call after the storm ends and you notice the damage is worse than you thought?  The water and fire damage have affected your property, lightning damaged your siding, wind blew off your shingles, or a tree fell and caused damage.

You call SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis. Our Team is efficient, experienced, and we are open 24/7. We have a trained team of IICRC certified professionals who can take care of water damage, storm damage, fire and smoke damage, and flood damage. SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis comes when you call, and we show up ready to work.

Our Storms Teams are ready to roll in when the storm rolls out. Call SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis if a storm has caused damage to your home or business 24/7 901-454-4975

3 Categories of Water That Can Cause Damage to Your Home

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Any kind of water damage in your Midtown Memphis  home is likely to cause you a fair amount of stress and frustration, but not all water damage is the same. Contaminated water can bring additional problems. Depending on the category of water involved, how it should be handled will vary. There are three different categories of water that you should be aware of.

1. Clean Water
The easiest type of water damage  to remove is that caused by clean water which is also known as category 1. This is the water that will usually come from sources like faucets, pipes and supply lines. Like other categories of water, it should be removed as quickly as possible to prevent secondary damage like mold or rust, but it does not contain harmful contaminants.

2. Gray Water
Category 2 water is also called gray water and is moderately contaminated. Chemical contaminants may be present in this water. When appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers break, this is the category of water often involved. Flooded toilets that only contain urine will also fall under this category as well as clean water that has leaked through multiple levels of a building and picked up contaminants.

3. Black Water
Black, or category 3, water contains high amounts of contaminants. This can include sewage, waste, mold spores and bacteria. This water commonly comes from overflowing plumbing fixtures and flooding from storms. Category 1 or 2 water that is not cleaned quickly enough can also become category 3. Because it is highly contaminated water, it is best to have it removed by a professional Water damage remediation company.
Although water of any type can damage your home, contaminated water often requires more cleanup and repairs. It is important that affected areas of the building as well as damaged belongings are thoroughly cleaned or replaced to prevent the spread of mold and bacteria. To ensure they are done correctly, these tasks should be performed by professionals.

Who is the Best Restoration Company in the Midtown Memphis area?

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Ever asked yourself WHY SERVPRO is a proven industry leader in fire damage restoration? To begin with, we use advanced technology and techniques when restoring your property to its original state. We adhere to the standards set by the IICRC (The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). For instance, we may use infrared cameras to detect locations affected by the water that was used to extinguish the fire. Also, we can use hygrometers and moisture detectors to determine the level of moisture saturation in your Midtown Memphis home or business.

Strong odors can develop in your property after it experienced a fire damage event in Midtown Memphis. Our SERVPRO team uses appropriate equipment to remove the contaminants and improve the quality of air in the structure. Some of the devices that we use during deodorization and odor removal include thermal Foggers and air scrubbers. Spraying the air with a fragrant has never been a good way of dealing with the odors. Our team locates and removes the odor-causing particles. Through thermal fogging, we dispense deodorizing agents that neutralize the smell-causing particles.
 
We understand that restoration and cleaning situations require an immediate response, and that is why we are strategically located. We know that no disaster is too big or too small, so, we give every call the seriousness it deserves. By acting quickly, we increase the chances of salvaging most items and low the restoration costs.
 
Depending on the surfaces we are attending to and the soot particles in your property, our SERVPRO technicians may decide to use dry or wet cleaning methods. We never repaint surfaces as a way of dealing with soot; we have to choose an appropriate cleaning procedure before we do the needed repainting. We have faced all fire damage incidents you can think of, which means we are competent enough to work for you.
 
SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis responds 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all commercial and residential cleaning and restoration needs. Call 901-454-4975 when you need help you can rely on after facing water, fire, storm, or mold damage.

SERVPRO Professionals are the Storm Damage Experts

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Quick Response and High Standards Will Leave you Satisfied after Remediation

When heavy rains and high winds hit hard, property destruction and loss can be devastating to you as a homeowner. Structural damage to the exterior of your home is followed by interior devastation from water and winds. Storm damage is rarely isolated to just a few buildings in an area adding the challenge of finding a restoration company that can respond swiftly to your needs to an already anxiety-provoking situation. SERVPRO delivers the help you need swiftly even when a local disaster is widespread as we are able to call upon a network of over 1,650 franchises nationwide to respond if the need is great.
 
Storm damage in Midtown Memphis  can feel overwhelming, but your fear and panic will disappear when our team of professionals responds to your water, wind, and flooding repair and restoration needs. Your particular situation is of paramount importance to us, and you need not worry that your repairs and restoration will take a back seat even when many in your area are struggling to recover from the same issues you face. Choosing our company puts in motion a vast support system, but our local ownership means you will receive a personalized approach to your particular situation, efficiently returning your home back to its pre-storm condition just “Like it never even happened.”
 
Placing your trust in SERVPRO for your storm damage needs will reap benefits that less qualified companies simply cannot deliver. We use state-of-the-art equipment to clean, repair, and restore your home and in the process, we also restore your and your family’s peace of mind. Our technicians are highly trained and qualified. We also work closely with your insurance company, ensuring that all the work necessary is approved and compensated according to the terms of your policy. Our high standards and relentless drive to do the job on time while meeting local specifications means you and your family will quickly return to the quiet enjoyment of your house and neighborhood. We are not satisfied until you are happily back in your restored dwelling.
 
Once you make sure that your family is safe after a major storm, your first call should be to SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis. Call 901-454-4975  24/7 and begin the road to recovery by scheduling an inspection with our storm damage experts.

SERVPRO is ready when Storms or Floods hit

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we.

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis  provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

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 Midtown Memphis, 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.

After the storm, call SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis for a quick response to help limit any further damage to your home or business!

If you or your business experienced a fire in a commercial building,Call Us Today 901-454-4975

Is standing water dangerous?

5/12/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Midtown Memphis

Surface water can affect your Midtown Memphis home and its tenants in multiple ways. While this standing water can absorb into materials and ultimately allow for the deterioration of exposed structural elements, pooling can also present potential health effects or hazards for those exposed and remaining in the area. 

SERVPRO offers fast extraction and drying solutions for your Midtown Memphis home after a flood. 

We can help reduce the standing water concerns by offering efficient flood removal for Memphis homes. To accomplish this, we can call upon a wide array of extraction and moisture removal tools in our broad inventory. 

What Tools Are Best for Drying Up Flood Damage? 

Because every flooding situation is different from the last, there are different tools and devices that are best to remove water or dry the area. Identifying the most efficient solution is always the priority, as the sooner standing water gets addressed, the less damaging flooding typically becomes. Some of the standard water removal and drying tools include:

• Air Movers
• Dehumidifiers
• Positive Pressure Systems
• Floor Mat Systems

After a flood, you want your home to look like it did before the disaster as soon as possible. Our SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis  team can help anytime you need us. Call us today at 901-454-4975

Be ready: Storm Damage

3/31/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Severe weather can happen at any time. 

Storm damage includes hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, strong winds, large hail, & flooding.

Know your risk:
Landslides 
Floods 
Thunderstorms and lightning 

Develop an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards and practice your plan.

• Make a family emergency plan
• Be informed about emergency alerts 

If your home or business suffers damage from a storm, know who to call to quickly get help.

When you are dealing with storm, flood, and water damage, immediate action is crucial.  You should choose the company with storm damage experience and expertise that has the resources and equipment to handle the job.

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis  responds immediately to your flood and storm damage emergencies. We have the storm damage restoration experience and specialized equipment to restore your home or business back to pre-storm condition.

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions.

Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. Our training program includes the following:

• IICRC Training
• Employee Certification Training
• Initial Franchise Training
• e-Learnings
• Continuing Education Classes

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis is locally owned and operated ready to respond to any of your storm damage incidents.

Have Storm or Flood Damage?
Call Us Today 901-454-4975

What is Muck- out cleaning after a storm?

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Flooding can leave your Memphis home in disarray. Natural flooding invites debris, mud and other contaminants into your home that must get addressed along with countless other damages. With flooding scenarios, it is vital for this cleaning and recovery effort to begain as soon as possible. Migrating water can have detrimental effects on structural cavities and exposed materials, especially when contamination is a threat. 

Understanding the severity of the situation can allow our professionals to address flood damage in Memphis properties in distinct stages. The removal of debris, mud and other solids that have entered the home through national flooding can have multiple benefits for the property overall. Some of the reasons that we conduct this muck out cleaning during the emergency services phase of recovery include:

Identify structural vulnerabilities

Reduce present bacterial

More efficient drying 

Reduce odors

What cleaning practices can protect exposed surfaces?

 Removing the debris in the house is often insufficient to address contamination concerns that can often arise with natural flooding. These situations get deemed blackwater events, which assume that standing water in your home has encountered some contaminant level to make conditions hazardous to those exposed.

Addressing these concerns of contamination often requires efforts like controlled demolition to discard overly saturated or exposed materials and contents. Once the structural framework becomes visible and evaluated, we can focus on cleaning and protecting these areas from contamination and bacteria through surface cleaning approaches with our potent EPA-approved products.

What Steps Ensure that Flood drying happens as it should for my Memphis Home?

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Extraction and drying are essential elements to our flood restoration work in Memphis homes and involve multipal tools, technologies, and experience to complete correctly. 

Flooding can present rapidly changing conditions for your Memphis home. As challenging as these disasters can be, the right response from qualified restoration professionals can help prevent the situation from getting out of control. We have skilled experts in flood restoration and water recovery that can implement the right tools to protect your property as efficiently as possible when we arrive. 

Much of the flood water removal for damage in Memphis homes hinges on an assortment of extraction and drying tools. These industry leading devices are vital in helping to manage flood losses by removing present surface damage concerns. At the time, other technologies and machines can work on labeling other areas of interest where thorough drying might be necessary. 

What initial readings and details are necessary?

It can be essential to identify any possible atmospheric or environmental conditions that could impact the efficiency of drying your home. Moisture content is often one of the first factors to determine, and this might also include identifying where migration of flood loss effects has occurred. It is not challenging for water to find its way into structural cavities between wall systems, so we utilize sophisticated technologies like thermal imagery and hygrometers to detect moisture pockets and dampness to address these concerns as they get discovered.

Beyond standing water concerns, which can often be a substantial obstacle after flooding, we also must ensure that the entire impacted area gets prepared for extraction and drying efforts to come. Part of this venture's success hinges on isolating the affected regions of the property while preventing cross-contamination or migration of these effects to areas currently undamaged by flooding. We document conditions upon inspection with our SERVPRO DryBook software.  

What Extractors Are Best for Floodwater? 

Flooding  almost always comes with a need for extraction and water removal. The tools used to do this vary based on the severity of the damage and where these threats might be in the house. With dozens of potential extraction units ranging from truck-mount pumps in our Green Fleet to mobile extractors like our wet vacuums, we have the right tools and technologies to address the conditions in your home after a flood loss incident. Flooding typically requires multiple water removal tools, including:

• Submersible Pumps – These pumps are often a vital need after a flood, as standing water can exist in various areas. Trash pumps are the common choice to pass debris present in natural floodwater.

• Truck-Mount Pumps – For excessive water damages after a flood, extractor trucks can have a fast and powerful impact. These pumps can remove water at 300 psi, making them the most efficient removal tool in our equipment inventory.

• Wet Vacuums – When water depths drop below two inches, pumps are less effective. Vacuums and their attachments can help to remove surface water and trapped moisture in materials like carpets.

Who Maintains Drying Equipment While It Runs? 

We often set up drying tools throughout your house in the appropriate places and allow them to run for several hours or longer unsupervised. We can trust in the efficiency of our tools and technologies, and it ensures that we can help begin the restoration process without being an overbearing presence in your house. Once affected area barriers and boundaries have been established in your home, we anticipate the devices to be left alone until our return.

We can reevaluate the drying process effectiveness and modify the placement and volume of drying tools like air movers, dehumidifiers, and drying mats to suit the new conditions. There are several reasons that we do not continuously watch drying progress, and these include:

• It can save you money
• It can give you time to process the changing situations
• We are not continuously needed through the drying phases

Is the Desiccant or the Low-Grain Refrigerant Dehumidifier Better? 

Dehumidifiers  are a vital part of the drying process for many flood-damaged homes. The choice between desiccant and low grain refrigerant options often involves the conditions of the house and the unaffected areas or external influences like humidity levels. Desiccants can be a wise choice when dry air can get brought back into the property through the exhaust. When overly moist conditions exist outside of the house, low grain refrigerant models might be a better and more efficient option for moisture content inside.

Quick Tips for Storm Safety Anywhere you Go

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Summertime in Memphis Tn is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors, but when sudden storms pop up, staying safe is of paramount importance. Thunderstorms may come and go quickly, but while they are in the area, they can cause flash flooding and concerning amount of damage.

While the safest place to be during a storm is at home, if a sudden storm pops up when you are away, here are some practical tips for safety. 

Know your options for shelter: When you are made aware of a severe weather scenario and are safely at home, remaining there is the best thing you can do so you can wait out the storm. If you are caught out in a storm, you can shelter in your car as long as you can pull over safely and cut off your engine. Remember to park your vehicle on high ground when possible.

Practice electrical safety: A lightning strike can hurt a structure in many ways, but the most common way is via power surge. As the lightning travels through the home's electrical system, the wires will become overwhelmed with charge and transfer that to anything plugged into an outlet. If you can, go through the area you are in and unplug everything before a storm. 

Avoid direct contact with concrete: Concrete structures are so sturdy in part because of how they are built. As concrete is poured around metal, it creates a great structure—but also causes a concern if there is lightning nearby. The metal in concrete can disperse electricity if the building is struck by lightning, so avoid touching these surfaces directly if possible.

Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes:  If you are out enjoying the day when a storm rolls in, make sure you are not rushing back out too soon and putting yourself in danger. Lightning strikes can travel tremendous distances causing officials to urge people to stay inside for at least half an hour after the last clap of thunder. 

Contact us at any hour to learn more about our storm restoration process 

Preventing Damage During a Flood

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Midtown Memphis

Flood damage is possible in any building. While it’s certainly more common in a flood plain, any area that receives significant rainfall during a storm could experience some effects. There are ways, however, to prevent damage to your commercial building during a flood. Here are some tips for keeping your business safe and dry.

1. Build on High Ground

A great location is the best way to prevent flooding. When you are scouting for places to build, consider the relative elevation of your options. If the lowest level of your building is above flood level, it is unlikely to flood due to rising groundwater. Let gravity work in your favor whenever possible.

2. Maintain Your Property

You may not be able to choose a higher location, but you can choose to inspect your property and make timely repairs. Flood damage experts advise that you clean downspouts and gutters frequently, ridding them of debris that may cause water to pool on your roof. Check your roof, walls and foundation for cracks or other weak points where water could get in. Make sure your windows are sealed properly against outside elements.

3. Dry Proof the Building

In addition to making sure there are no vulnerable points where water can enter your building, you can prevent storm damage by actually setting up barriers to water that directs it away from your foundation. Make sure the grade around your building slopes away from its base. This helps storm water flow naturally in the other direction. You can build miniature dams to reroute the flow as well. Finally, install a sump pump in your basement to get rid of any water that does find its way in.

If you can choose the location of your building, higher ground can prevent a lot of flood damage. Even if your property is in the middle of a flood plain, however, you can still take measures to keep it from flooding.

3 Tips for Storm Preparation

5/12/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Take these Three Precautions:

While you cannot prevent the storms themselves, though, there are several ways you can prepare for the potential flooding problems they can cause. If the forecast calls for stormy weather, take these three precautions.

1. Elevate Equipment 

Electronic equipment is particularly susceptible to flood damage if water flows into your building during storms. Any equipment, particularly on the lower levels of the building, should be elevated off the ground. That way, even if your floor is covered in a few inches of water, the equipment itself can stay clear of the floodwaters.

2. Protect Furniture

Likewise, any furniture that could be subjected to flooding should be protected. You can purchase rubber covers for the bottoms of your desks or chairs, shielding the wooden parts of the furniture from damage. Storm restoration  experts recommend elevating any piece of furniture that would be destroyed in the event of a flood off the floor, protecting it from extensive damage. You may also consider spraying fabrics with a water guard that repels moisture, protecting them from water damage and mold.

3. Shield Exteriors

The best way to protect the inside of your building from storm damage is to keep water out of it altogether. When a storm is approaching, place sand bags around the exteriors of doors and windows or any other area where water could easily enter your building. If your building is in a low-lying area that floods easily, you should also consider setting up a water barrier around the perimeter of your building to keep the flood away from its foundation. Flooding during storm season doesn't have to cause devastating damage to your commercial building.  With the proper precautions, you can protect your most sensitive equipment and maintain the structural integrity of your building.

Severe Weather Safety

3/24/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis

Severe weather can happen any time, anywhere. Each year, Americans cope with an average of the following:

*10,000 severe thunderstorms

* 5,000 floods or flash floods

* 1,300 tornadoes 

* 2 Land-falling deadly hurricanes

Approximately 98% off all presidential declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 650 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damages. Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action, and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.  

KNOW YOUR RISK: The first step to becoming weather ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you, your business, and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly, obtain a Weather Radio and learn about wireless emergency alerts. Severe weather comes in many forms, and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards. 

TAKE ACTION: Take the next step in severe weather preparedness by creating a communicating plan for your home and business. Put together or purchase an emergency kit. Keep important papers and valuables in a safe place.

BE an EXAMPLE: Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, share your story with co-workers and family and friends on Facebook or on Twitter. Your preparedness story will inspire others to do the same.  

SERVPRO's Disaster Recovery Team

9/4/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's Disaster Recovery Teams were recruited to serve your policyholder's commercial large loss needs. This elite group of large loss specialist are pre-qualified and strategically positioned throughout the United States with substantial resources through a network or over 1,700 Franchises. Corporate review and communication on every file helps meet the predetermined client-specific needs. Immediate response, 24/7/365, through 1-800-SERVPRO will minimize business interruptions. 

With the ability to mobilize local command centers, along with the resources of more than 1,700 Franchises nationwide, no disaster is too big. Recent mobilizations of the Catastrophic Storm Response Teams include:

• 2017 California wildfires
• 2017 Hurricane Irma
• 2017 Hurricane Harvey
• 2016 Hurricane Matthew
• 2015 Carolina floods
• 2014 Polar Vortex
• 2012 Sandy
• 2010 Nashville floods
• 2008 Ike
• 2007 Chicago floods
• 2007 Ohio floods
• 2007 California wildfires
• 2005 Katrina/Wilma/Rita

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Flooding from Heavy Rainfall

9/3/2019 (Permalink)

The biggest cause of flooding due to heavy rain is drainage issues. Once water starts pooling above or below the ground, it can seep into your home or business through the cracks or directly through the walls. If you notice pooling around your home or business you should call a professional to come in and assess the drainage around the area. Additionally, there are some actions that you can take that will help prevent flooding during a heavy rainfall 

1. Use less water during heavy rainfall- Doing simple things such as running the dishwasher, doing laundry or taking a shower will only make problems worse. The access water entering the sewer causes an increased chance of a flood or sewage backup. 

2. Clean your gutters- Although gutters are not the direct cause of flooding, they can cause pooling of water around the foundation of your home or business. 

3. Check the landscaping around your home or business- The ground around the foundation of your home or business should slope away from the property. 

4. Fix cracks and gaps in the foundation of your home or business- It is very important to fix any cracks or gaps in the foundation as soon as you can. 

5. Waterproof the foundation of your home or business- Although foundations are waterproofed when they are build, the coasting only lasts for a limited amount of time. 

6. Install a drainage system- If you seem to be having flooding problems often around the foundation of your home or business, it may be a good idea to look into installing a drainage system. 

If you have any questions about water or flooding damage, please do not hesitate to call SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis 901-454-4975

Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

8/13/2019 (Permalink)

When you are dealing with storm, flood, and water damage, immediate action is crucial. You should choose the company with storm damage experience and expertise that has the resources and equipment to handle the job. SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions. 

Why choose SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis?

We're Faster to Any Size Disaster : we are dedicated to responding immediately to water and storm damage emergencies. A fast response  lessens the damage, limits further damages, and reduces cost. 

We're Highly Trained Storm Specialists: As leaders in the storm and water damage industry, we have advanced training and expertise, not to mention a tremendous amount of hands on experience. We use this training and experience to quickly dry your home and restore it back to pre-storm conditions. 

We Have the Resources to Handle Storm and Disasters: We can access the resources and personnel of 1,700 Franchises to handle major storms and disasters. 

Emergency Storm Tips

8/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis provides 24 hour emergency services and is dedicated to being faster to any size disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs. 

24- Hour Emergency Service

Faster to any size disaster 

Highly Trained Restoration Technicians

A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry

Locally Owned and Operated 

Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment

Residential Services: Whether your home needs emergency flood damage or your home packed and moved, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. 

Commercial Services: There's never a convenient time for fire or water damage to strike your commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. 

Aftermath of a Storm

4/15/2019 (Permalink)

Mold grows out of tiny spores. Spores are tough enough to survive indoors or outdoors in harsh conditions. Spores can survive for years. Scientists have found ancient mold spores that could grow into mold.

Standing water and moisture can lead to mold growing in your home. Mold does not need visible water to grow. Humidity inside the home is enough. Small amounts of water vapor can help mold grow.

SERVPRO  of Midtown Memphis  knows that storm or flood damage can allow the mold spores to open up. Any dampness can lead to mold.

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis can remediate mold that grows on:

• Wood
• Paper
• Carpet
• Insulation
• Drywall
• Crawl spaces
• Attics
• Basements
• Bathrooms
• Anywhere in your home or business

The team here at SERVPRO Midtown Memphis is standing ready to help you in any way we can. We have the expertise to handle water damage and fire damage and specialize in mold remediation. If you have sustained water damage to your business or property, give us a call to

Your Belongings and Storm Damage

8/28/2018 (Permalink)

Storm and water damage affects not only the structure of your house but also your belongings. SERVPRO Midtown Memphisunderstands that your home is more than a structure; your family’s furniture, clothing, keepsakes, and other belongings help transform a house into a home.

If You Have Questions or Need Help, Call Us Today – 901-454-4975

Contents Restoration

SERVPRO Midtown Memphis specializes in restoring contents damaged by storms and other water damage events. Our expertise and our “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We pretest your contents to determine what items can be restored back to their condition before the water damage. We utilize several methods of cleaning your contents, including

Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to cleaning.

• Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
• Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand cleaning.
• Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if cleaned.
• Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned. 
• Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.

Move-Outs/Pack-Outs

If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning, SERVPRO Midtown Memphis  can conduct an organized, efficient move-out of the affected area. A move-out will provide several benefits, including:

•  A quicker remodeling process
•  Protecting items from potential damage
•  Protecting contents from further on-site damage

When restoration is completed, we will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.

Electronic Cleanup

Water-damaged electronics can present a serious hazard. Do not attempt to turn on or operate any electrical device that you suspect has been damaged by water. We will coordinate the restoration of your electronics, including:

•  Television sets
•  DVD players
•  Computers
•  And more

The key to restoring electronics is taking prompt action to prevent further damage. We start by cleaning the exterior of electronic devices to help stop further corrosion and damage. Electronics will be cleaned and inspected by a qualified electronics technician

Document / Photograph Drying

When your valuable documents, including photographs, are damaged by water, extreme caution should be taken to help ensure the water damage does not destroy the document. Although some documents may not be restored to pre-water damage condition, SERVPRO Midtown Memphis can save a great deal and help minimize additional damage. 

Depending on the type of documents and the level of water damage, we have five options for the restoration of documents:

• Air Drying
• Dehumidification
• Freezer Drying
• Vacuum Freeze Drying
• Vacuum Thermal Drying

Are you Prepared for a power outage?

8/9/2018 (Permalink)

Photo of a first aid kid

Ready Kit

You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days. Depending on the nature of the disaster road conditions may prevent help from arriving in a timely manner. 

Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.  If the power goes out keep your pipes from freezing by shutting off the valve that allows water to come into your home. Then, open any drain valves and all faucets and let them run until the pipes are empty (it's helpful to identify these valves in advance). Next, flush all toilets and pour denatured alcohol into toilets and sinks to prevent water in the traps from freezing. Do NOT use automotive antifreeze in case there's trouble with your water system; you don't want the antifreeze to contaminate your drinking water. You may, however, use nontoxic antifreeze that's made for winterizing motor homes.

Be prepared for a power outage by keeping necessary items centrally located in your home. Take the time to ensure that everyone in your family is aware of the "kit." Periodically check your kit to see that batteries operate properly. The following is a list of items that are suggested to keep on hand:

1.     Flashlights for each family member

2.     Battery-operated radio and clock

3.     Extra batteries

4.     Containers of bottled water

5.     Canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated food, powdered milk, baby supplies for infants

6.     Non-electric can opener

7.     List of important phone numbers

8.     First-aid kit

Following a disaster, there may be power outages that could last for several days. Stock canned foods, dry mixes and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. Be sure to include a manual can opener and eating utensils. The following items are suggested when selecting emergency food supplies. You may already have many of these on hand.

•Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.

•Choose foods your family will eat.

•Remember any special dietary needs.

•Avoid foods that will make you thirsty.

•Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals and canned foods with high liquid content.

•Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener

•Protein or fruit bars

•Dry cereal or granola

•Peanut butter

•Dried fruit

•Nuts

•Crackers

•Canned juices

•Non-perishable pasteurized milk

•High energy foods

•Vitamins

•Food for infants

•Comfort/stress foods

These and many other helpful tips are available at ready.gov Here is the link to winter tips for before during and after a winter storm  When winter weather strikes the Winston Salem area knowing what to do until SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis arrives will make a difference.  Call us directly at 901-454-4975

"Like it never even happened."

When Storms or Floods hit Midtown Memphis, SERVPRO is ready!

8/1/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis 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.

When widespread damage occurs to an area, a local restoration  company may not be able to make an assessment shortly after the disaster. Unfortunately, a slow response can cause a property to acquire more issues, such as mold growth, structural damage and more. With a large loss response, however, professionals can quickly assess a property, and after a thorough assessment, experts can assist in preventing additional damage and can begin restoration.

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.

Heat Safety

7/31/2018 (Permalink)

It is hot out there! And the hottest part of summer is yet to come. Here at SERVPRO we worry about our crews, but we also worry about you. That’s why we want to share some tips for those of you who are out working in the heat.

• Tip #1: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink about half your body ounces in water and remember to hydrate and stay hydrated, days in advance
• Tip #2: Try to stay out of the sun in the hottest part of the day but if you must work in the sun choose lightweight clothing including hats and sunglasses.
• Tip #3: Don’t forget to use sunblock.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these heat safety tips. And remember, when the unexpected happens call SERVPRO Midtown Memphis

When Storms or Floods hit Memphis, SERVPRO is ready

11/1/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Midtown Memphis

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis 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 Memphis, 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 (901)454-4975

"Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Midtown Memphis