Storms in Citrus Are No Match for SERVPRO

3/7/2022 (Permalink)

Storm season is approaching faster than ever. SERVPRO of Citrus 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. We are open to our community 24/7, so we can be there when you need us.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Citrus 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 at (352) 522-1053

Lighting Safety Tips

3/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Citrus County restores storm damage every year in South Beach. Here are helpful information to keep people safe from lightning strikes:

• The safest location during lightning activity is a fully enclosed building with a roof, walls, and floor. Picnic shelters, covered patios, and other partially enclosed structures are NOT safe.
• If you don’t have access to a safe building, your next choice should be a completely enclosed vehicle, such as a car, truck, van, or bus. Convertibles or other soft-top cars are NOT safe.
• There is NO safe place to be outdoors during a thunderstorm with lightning, but if you absolutely can’t get to a safe building or vehicle, here are some last resort tips:

• Do not seek shelter under trees. They might help you stay dry, but they will significantly increase your chances of being struck by lightning.
• Do not seek shelter under partially enclosed buildings
• Stay away from metal objects such as fences and tall, isolated objects like poles since lightning typically strikes the tallest object
• If you are in an open field or clearing, the tallest object might be you! In that case, do not lie down, but crouch down with knees bent and feet together.

Storm Damage Protection Tips

3/4/2022 (Permalink)

In between storms, it is a good idea to check your home’s exterior for signs of damage and make repairs as needed. Here is some information from the Insurance Information Institute on protecting your home from storm damage:

Exterior Inspection and Repair

• Water can be prevented from entering a structure’s exterior through routine inspection and maintenance and making repairs as needed
• Caulk and seal windows
• Inspect the roof for missing and aging shingles
• Check rain gutters and drainage systems and remove any debris
• Check downspouts and clear any clogs and make sure they are draining away from the structure
• Check sprinkler systems and make sure the sprinklers are not spraying water onto the structure and that water is not pooling around the structure’s foundation
• Make sure water drains away from the building. Water is invasive and will quickly find its way into a home or building when water is allowed to pool around the foundation. After a storm, or when the ground is already saturated by rainwater, the water may enter into the foundation wall through any cracks.

When A Flood Causes Damage To Your Home Call Our Experts

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

When your home suffers flood damage, it is essential for you to get help as swiftly as possible. The quicker the standing water is cleaned up, the less likely it is for the formation of mold damage to happen. Fortunately, there is help close at hand that can rush to your home.

While you wait for SERVPRO to arrive, you might wonder what you can do for your home to mitigate damage in the meantime. However, it is unwise to try and do any water removal on your own, as you do not know the state of the water that entered your home. Blackwater contains harmful substances such as bio-waste, chemicals, and even fuel. When it comes to flood water, it is always wise to stay away and let the professionals determine what needs to be done.

As SERVPRO arrives at your home, we can immediately begin to set up water removal equipment. With the sheer amount of water in your home, we can use a combination of portable submersible pumps and truck-mounted wet/dry vacuums and extractors. Once the water is removed, SERVPRO can determine where any flood cuts need to be made to the drywall and if any floors need to be removed. Afterward, our water restoration techs can focus on using drying equipment to return the structure of your home to an appropriate level of dryness.

Once your home has been dried, a rebuild can happen. The rebuild can be done by a contractor that we can help you find. Afterward, your home can be returned to its pre-flooded state.

When a storm causes flood damage inside of your home, get help immediately. Get in touch with SERVPRO of Citrus County by calling (352)522-1053. We're always open and ready to help.

Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today!

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designates September as National Preparedness Month to promote the importance of family and community disaster planning. This year’s theme, “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today,” resonates strongly as local communities and communities around the world battle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For disaster mitigation specialists at SERVPRO® of Citrus County, the scope and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of everyday life, health, and well-being have magnified the importance of SERVPRO’s ongoing message to the communities it serves: When disaster strikes, preparedness is the best defense.

Before COVID-19 exploded into a global crisis, ‘disaster preparedness’ for the everyday home or business owner was largely dictated by the hazards unique to their location or their business. For some, that meant preparing for hurricanes and water damage, for others, tornadoes, flooding, wind damage, or even wildfires. But COVID-19 taught us that everyone – individuals and business owners alike – need to be prepared for a national emergency that may disrupt food and medical supplies, transportation systems, schools, businesses, and every single aspect of everyday life that we take for granted. We have learned that no matter where you live or work, in addition to your ‘disaster’ preparations, making certain that you have a stock of some basic items on hand can make a huge difference if a national or global event suddenly disrupts – or even stops – everyday life.

At SERVPRO, we emphasize that everyone still needs to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. FEMA provides easy-to-use disaster planning guidelines at https://www.ready.gov, and home and business owners both can take advantage of free tools like the SERVPRO READY app at https://ready.SERVPRO.com/home/mobileapp. The app stores essential contact and property information electronically where it can be accessed with a mobile device in seconds if disaster strikes. Local business owners can take an additional preparedness step by designating SERVPRO of Citrus County as their disaster mitigation and restoration provider. SERVPRO professionals will conduct a no-cost assessment of the facility and assist the owner in completing a comprehensive Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) to be stored in the READY app.

COVID-19 has taught us we need to rethink and add to our disaster preparedness toolkits. We are all still struggling with a ‘disaster’ that has disrupted not only our lives and our jobs, but our entire community, our society, and the supply chain that we depend on. While in retrospect, the shortages of some of these items have become the stuff of urban legend, it is a good idea to stockpile a supply of items for which there are no easy substitutes. Toilet paper; yeast and flour for breadmaking; detergents; canned foods, fruits, and vegetables; pet foods and cat litter; fresh dairy items; diapers; and a host of other items were in short supply for weeks at the beginning of the crisis. Think back on those weeks and keep a supply of the things that you just don’t want to do without – along with some shelf-stable dairy items, dried beans, and frozen meals. Use them before they expire but be sure to replace them.

Generator Safety Tips During Storm

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

When you live in Citrus County, Florida, prepping for hurricane season comes with the territory. If you have a generator on hand for power outages during severe weather, follow the safety tips below from the American Red Cross to keep your family safe:

• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any partially enclosed area.

• To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use it in rain or wet conditions. Operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.

• Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in the home. Although CO is odorless and cannot be seen, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately.

• Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home or property and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.

How Soon Should I Call a Restoration Company after a Flood?

9/23/2020 (Permalink)

If your Home in Citrus Floods, You Should Call a Water Restoration Company Right Away!

When homeowners think of flooding, they may imagine their Citrus homes carried away in a violent current and other houses and debris. Whereas such extreme circumstances do occur, more often than not, floodwaters enter your home in a less dramatic fashion. A broken window or a rise in water levels can invite polluted waters into your home, leaving behind microbes and undesirable residue. The only way to mitigate your loss is to call a professional team to restore your home.

In Citrus County, you can delegate your flood damage restoration needs to our SERVPRO team. We serve homeowners in your area to return your life to normal as soon as possible. Safety is our primary concern, so we coordinate with local authorities as appropriate before entering your home. We also wear personal protective equipment and set up staging areas to prevent cross-contamination in your home. A 24/7 hotline call opens the door to our expertise and the best technology available in the industry.

What are the risks of floodwater in my home?

Most people think of floodwater in their homes in terms of a nuisance, but the dangers are grave. A significant volume of water can compromise your home's walls, and foundation and electrical hazards abound. Once we can enter your home, we concentrate on using clean water to begin the cleanup process and then extracting water, disinfecting and deodorizing your home. In the course of the process, you may see our team use items such as the following-

• Truck-mounted pumps connected to local sewage lines
• Dehumidifiers and air circulators for a speedier evaporation
• Foggers to spray disinfecting solutions throughout your home

The restoration of your home after a flood is not simple. Place your trust in our team of SERVPRO of Citrus County by calling us at (352) 522-1053 and let us leave your home "Like it never even happened."

When Storms or Floods hit Citrus County, SERVPRO is ready!

8/19/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Citrus 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 Citrus County, 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 (352)-533-1053