New Bern, NC Storms Can Cause Sewage Backups

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

Don't ignore your instincts or any of these signs of a clogged sewage pipe.

Eastern NC is known for some intense storms, and New Bern is no exception. When there are heavy rains, an abundance of water and debris end up in municipal sanitary sewers, which can overload the sewer system. When there is more water than the sewer system can handle, excess water can flow backward into your home's sewer line, leading to some unsanitary and unsafe conditions that need immediate attention.

Growing tree roots may pose another danger to your sewer line after storms. Tree roots may grow quickly over the summer months. Tree roots can pierce the pipes as they search for nutrients found in sewage. Within the system, roots continue to grow and may cause broken or blocked pipes. There are some warning signs to be aware of which can help you spot a problem early on.

Signs of a Clogged Sewer Pipe 

• Slow drainage in toilets, showers, or sinks
• Bubbling noise as you flush toilets or shower/sink drains 
• Another drain backs up when you flush the toilet
• The smell of sewage (rotten eggs or sulfur)
• Lush, green spots can form in your yard above the septic tank or broken pipes

Sewer backups should be considered an emergency since the water may contain viruses, bacteria, and other microbes that can cause serious illness. SERVPRO of New Bern has the specialized training and equipment to quickly and safely clean contaminants like sewage. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Give us a call when you need professional service at (252) 637-7274.

3 Reasons Not To Wait for an Insurance Adjuster

4/8/2022 (Permalink)

Follow our tips and be ready for Stormy Seasons.

Storms in New Bern, NC, don't allow homeowners much time to prepare. They can come without much warning and leave a lot of water and flood damage in their path. When large storms roll through the community, it is often difficult for the flood insurance adjuster to get to your home before water and mold damage occur.

Begin your flood claim as soon as possible after the flood, but don't wait for the adjuster before you begin repairs and cleanup.

Don't Wait For an Insurance Adjuster

1. Damage Gets Worse With Time

Water is notorious for causing damage that worsens over time:

• The structural components of your home may deteriorate and weaken.
• Mold growth takes place within just a couple of days.
• Secondary damage may not be covered by your insurance policy; this includes damage that happens while you wait for the adjuster to arrive.

Don't risk increased damage and costs by waiting.

2. There's Work You Can Do

Instead of watching the damage and mess get worse, be proactive about addressing the restoration of your home. For example, you could document and take pictures of the damage. You can move belongings to dry areas of the home or sort your possessions according to whether they should be tossed or cleaned and repaired. You can also contact water, mold, and flood damage professionals for cleanup and restoration.

3. Cleanup Experts Work Closely With Insurance Providers

Many insurance companies prefer that cleanup experts handle the repairs and other restoration efforts after flooding. This is because the professionals prevent further damage, keep careful records, work to keep costs low, and generally avoid damage that untrained homeowners may cause.

If a storm has caused damage to your property, and the flood insurance adjuster won't make it to your property for several days or longer, don't put off cleanup efforts. An immediate response is the best way to mitigate further damage and get your family and home back to your normal routines.

Content Cleaning After a Flood

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

Know more about Content Cleaning After a Flood by following These Tips.

What do you think of when you think about the phrase content cleaning? If you are like many homeowners, you likely imagine a house cleaner or housekeeper running a vacuum and swashing a mob across your floors. However, if you are a restoration service in New Bern, NC, your idea is likely to be much different.

For restoration services, this type of cleaning refers to the restorative cleaning of damaged contents. Unfortunately, different disasters can make restoration impossible for specific items. For instance, a fire can leave little remnants of photographs, and its smoke can make appliance repairs risky. A flood can ruin floors, but some fabrics might be salvageable, depending on the water category.

When it comes to contents, you need to consider the item and its material. Commonly damaged items include:

• Electronics
• Fabrics
• Papers
• Photos

For some items, you can find specialized cleaners who can work miracles. Still, it would be best if you were prepared to let go. In many cases, the ability to save content depends on how quickly you respond to the disaster.

How To Organize Content Cleaning Efforts

When speaking of storm damage, a flood is a common disaster. The flood does not have to stem from the exterior of the home either. Weather can weaken the roof or cause sewage backups.

Before delving into the cleanup process, it is crucial to organize the effort. Restoration services can help by separating potentially salvageable materials from clear trash.

While restoration companies understand that some contents hold sentimental value, it is vital that clients trust the experts' opinions. Sometimes, sentimentality is not enough to salvage a piece.

What Is Salvageable?

In general, nonporous items can be saved, and porous items need further assessment. If porous items were submerged in clean water, they could often be cleaned. However, when dealing with gray or black water, it is typically best to throw away anything porous.

Restoration experts often suggest being vigilant when sorting through your contents. Many experts urge clients to be grateful for their safety and the possibility of recovery. While they understand the loss of sentimental items is difficult, sometimes the best thing you can do for your health is throw away contaminated items.

Trust the opinions of the remediation service you hire. The technicians working on your property are licensed and trained in disaster response cleaning. They will understand what items can be saved and which should be discarded.

Who Can Help With the Recovery?

While many homeowners want to cut recovery costs, they need to consider the extent of the damage and the category of the water. Not all water disasters are suitable for DIY responses. In fact, clean water disasters are likely the only type of water issue homeowners can help with. There are certain health risks to consider when it comes to gray or black water.

Content cleaning after a flood from a storm is often best left to professional remediation experts. While homeowners might want to save money, it is essential to put health and safety first. It is also necessary to accept that not every item can be salvaged.

Steps You Should Take Before Flooding Occurs

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Follow these tips before Flooding occurs in your New Bern, NC home. If any doubt arises, please contact us.

Having a plan for what to do before, during and after flooding is critical for protecting your family and reducing the amount of damage that may occur to your property. These are some of the steps you should take before a flood happens.

Flood Damage Preparation Steps

Waiting for a flood to occur to take action can jeopardize your safety and lead to greater property damage and financial loss. Consider adding these steps to your flood plan.

1. Know the Difference Between Flood Warnings, Watches and Advisories

Knowing what to expect will help you make plans for the immediate future. A flash flood warning means that a flash flood is either about to happen or is already happening. If you are in an area that may flood, move to higher ground immediately.

A flood warning is similar to a flash flood warning, except that it usually involves flooding from overflowing water sources and is slower to develop than flash floods.

A flood watch means that weather conditions are favorable for a flood to occur. It doesn't mean that a flood will definitely happen, but you should monitor the weather closely.

A flood advisory is similar to a watch, except that it means that conditions are favorable for a less severe flood to happen.

2. Create a Communications

Plan Storm damage may knock out electricity and phone service. It can sometimes even disrupt cellular phones. It is important to plan how you will communicate with friends and family if a flood occurs. Arrange a safe location to meet in case you do not have access to phone or internet service. Designate a person to be the contact for status updates.

3. Stock an Emergency Kit

Some flood situations may take days to develop, but others can happen in minutes. Have an emergency kit on hand at all times in case you need to quickly evacuate. Stock your kit with enough water, food and medicine for three days or more. Pack batteries, flashlights, blankets, rubber boots and gloves, a first aid kit and an NOAA Weather radio.

4. Sign Up for Weather Alerts

The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service makes RSS feeds with weather, river and other water alerts available to the public. You may also be able to sign up for alerts from your local television or radio station and your cell phone company.

5. Prepare Your Home

If you have time, place sandbags or other flood barriers around your home. Have check-valves installed in your plumbing to prevent floodwater backups and install a sump pump with a battery-powered backup pump in your basement. Ensure your circuit breaker panels or fuse box is clearly marked. Consider purchasing flood insurance. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Keep contact numbers for services you may need, such as a plumber, tree removal company or flood remediation company in New Bern, NC, in a safe place.

Flooding can be a danger to both your family and your home. However, having a plan in place can help keep you and your property safe during severe weather events.

How To Protect Your Home and Family From Flooding

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

Storms can be dangerous to your family and your New Bern, NC home.

It's not always easy to predict how severe the storm season in New Bern, NC, is going to be from year to year. No one can control the weather, and impending disasters don't always give area meteorologists a lot of warning. No matter how much flooding the next storm brings, though, there are a few steps you can take to ensure your home and your family are better prepared for it.

Storm Damage Prevention Checklist

You probably already have a solid maintenance schedule to keep your house in good shape. As storm season approaches, however, there are a few things to add to the checklist if they're not there already:

• Inspect the roof for weak spots or broken shingles
• Check for water damage or stains in the attic
• Clean gutters and clear downspouts
• Repair damaged siding and trim
• Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed
• Get professional foundation inspection
• Test basement for leaks and install a sump pump
  

Storm damage restoration specialists recommend that you observe how water flows around your house when it rains. If you notice a lot of pooling in certain areas after a relatively small shower, take steps to address the problem so that it doesn't become a huge issue when a heavier storm hits your area.

Flood Insurance Upgrade

Every homeowner should have a property policy and liability insurance. These plans don't often cover damage caused by storms, though. If you live in an area that is prone to frequent flooding, you need a separate flood policy to pay for the repairs to your home if it sustains damage during a natural disaster.

If you live in a flood plain, you are probably required by law to have a separate flood policy. This coverage is a good idea even if you don't live in an area where frequent floods are expected. For example, if your house is at the bottom of the hill or if the street in front of your home doesn't drain well, a flood policy gives you an extra level of protection if these issues result in water damage.

Emergency Evacuation Plan

During hurricanes or other disastrous storms, the flood damage to your home can become so severe that it's no longer safe for you and your family to stay there. While having an emergency evacuation plan is a good idea for every homeowner, it is especially important if you live in a flood plain.

Pay attention to emergency alerts and don't hesitate to follow evacuation directives. Plan several routes that you can use to get out of town so that if your preferred path is blocked, you have another way out. Pack an emergency kit for each member of your household, including pets, that is ready to go at a moment's notice. In case your family members get separated, have a solid communication plan or meetup location so that you can check-in and confirm that everyone has made it to safety.

Flooding can pose a significant risk to the structural integrity of your home. By taking the right prevention measures and having a good plan in place for extreme circumstances, you are better able to protect your home and family.

Remediation Tips for Floodwater Damage

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

Floodwater damage in your New Bern, NC home can lead to other further damages if it is not remediated as it should.

It is not uncommon for a heavy storm to flood homes in New Bern, NC. If this happens to your house, water damage from the excess moisture is only part of the problem you must resolve. Your home must be dried and disinfected before the structure can be repaired and rebuilt. Floodwater from storms is contaminated, so extra precautions must be taken to ensure that everything it brings into your home is dealt with appropriately. Here are some tips on how to handle it.

What Is Black Water?

Water that results from a storm is very different from the substance that flows out of your faucets. Black water is contaminated, potentially containing several substances you don't want in your home:

• Sewage
• Grease
• Bacteria
• Debris

Even if you remove all the water and get every surface completely dry, you may still notice an unpleasant odor in your home. That is the result of the contaminants that the floodwater left behind. The smell will not go away on its own, and it may even lead to bigger problems as the bacteria multiply and other remaining contaminants degrade surfaces. In order to get rid of the smell and the risk, you have to remove the substances that cause them.

What Measures Must be Taken?

After flood damage mitigation specialists assess the mess the storm made of your home, they tackle the problem. They start with removal. All standing water must be pumped out as quickly as possible to avoid further damage. Then the initial drying process starts to prevent mold growth. Meanwhile, any drywall, carpet, flooring, or other porous materials that have water damage from the floodwater must be torn out. Contaminated materials are typically unable to be salvaged; technicians must replace them later in the process.

Once all the water and ruined materials are gone, the entire affected area must be cleaned. Technicians use industrial cleaners and specialized equipment to ensure not only that the surfaces are free of toxins but also that any bacteria left in cracks and crevices are gone as well. If you want to salvage any of your belongings affected by the flood, they, too, must be thoroughly cleaned and dried before you bring them back into your home. Rely on the expertise of the mitigation specialists to determine whether something can be cleaned or needs to be replaced altogether.

Even though your home is clean and dry, the restoration process is not complete until it looks like it did before the storm. The remediation team rebuilds the structure, replacing walls, flooring, and ceiling tiles. Then the technicians match the look of the new materials to the remaining structure so that no one can tell where the damage was.

Taking care of water damage from a flood may be more complicated than you expect, but every step of the process is necessary. When contaminated water comes into your home, you want to make sure that every surface is disinfected and dried before you and your family move back in. With thorough mitigation, your home will be back to normal in no time.

Reach Out to These Four Entities if You Don't Have Flood Insurance

7/17/2021 (Permalink)

Floods are the root of many serious problems if it's not treated on time.

Unless you are located on a specific flood plane where having flood insurance is a requirement, you likely do not have coverage for any damage caused by a storm surge or flood. While that might not be the news you were hoping to hear, you might still have options. Before you dial your local storm restoration service in New Bern, NC, contact your insurance company to discuss the specifics of your policy. If you are not covered for external flooding, then reach out to four organizations for help.

1. FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Association might offer some relief if your area is deemed a site of natural disaster. However, without a formal declaration from the president, FEMA cannot provide access to grants. If a major disaster is declared, you can apply for a grant only for your primary home; as it is a grant, you will not need to pay the money back.

2. State or Local Government

Those without flood insurance can also reach out to state and local governments for assistance. While local municipalities might not offer grants, your local emergency management department might be able to give information on other resources.

3. Nonprofit Organizations

You can also reach out to the different nonprofit organizations in the area. Many nonprofits step up after natural disasters. Some might offer food and water, and others might provide temporary shelter to those in need. You might even find organizations like United Way, which can assist with home repairs and cleanup.

4. SBA

Finally, if you cannot find help from the above resources, try the Small Business Administration. During times of crisis, the SBA often opens up low-cost loans to those in need. SBA disaster loans typically have low-interest rates, between 4% and 8%, with loan caps of $200,000, depending on your needs.

While flood insurance is not a requirement in every area, it is something worth considering. However, even with coverage, there are ways to find assistance.

Hurricane season is heating up!

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

Flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 caused serious damage in Eastern North Carolina.

Hurricane season is heating up! August and September are the prime months for Tropical Storm and Hurricane development. Keep a close eye on tropical weather forecasts and potential impacts to your area. Forecasts give ample warnings to allow storm preparations to be completed. Please listen to the experts and take all needed preparations before storm arrival. If evacuation is ordered, you should follow that advice.

While it is important to protect your home and property, don’t forget to prepare for you and your family’s needs both during and after a storm’s impact. Below is a list of items that are good to have on hand in the event of a storm.

Don’t forget to plan for your pets as well. Extra pet food and a pet carrier or indoor kennel may be needed as outdoor pets will need to be brought inside during the storm or taken with you if evacuation is ordered.

SERVPRO of Craven/Pamlico 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 also have equipment and teams ready to go at SERVPRO of Craven/Pamlico Counties in case you have an emergency.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Craven and Pamlico counties, 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.

Be Prepared

Before the storm hits make sure you have a basic disaster kit ready. Having these supplies ahead of time will save you the frustration of going to the store right before the storm hits. Below are some recommended supplies for your kit:

• Water
• Battery-operated lanterns
• Battery-operated radio
• Extra batteries
• Flashlight
• Matches
• Can Opener (non-electric)
• Duct Tape
• Extra blankets
• Clean Clothes
• First Aid Kit
• Food (3 day supply)
• Garbage bags
• Dust Mask

Every homeowner can do things around your home now to save you time when you need it.

• Move furniture away from windows
• Remove outdoor items
• Anchor / secure non-moveable outdoor items (tables, swing sets, trampolines, etc.)
• Fill gas tanks of vehicles
• Fill propane tanks (may need for cooking if power is out)
• Board up windows
• Get extra cash
• Trim dead branches from trees
• Store important documents in waterproof containers 

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today at (252) 329-7205 or (252) 637-7274