Thursday, January 28, 2021
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Thursday, September 24, 2020
How to Stay Safe When There Is a Threat of Severe Flooding
Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW Oklahoma City points out that recent flooding highlights the need to know how to stay safe when there is a threat of severe weather. When severe weather does strike and causes property damage, the team of professionals at Paul Davis Emergency Services is ready to step in and serve in a moment’s notice.
Recent flooding in Oklahoma City
A July 28, 2020 headline reads, “Flooding wreaks havoc on Oklahoma City metro.” According to the story, “Heavy rain wreaked havoc across the Oklahoma City metro, leaving some residents’ homes flooded and cars stranded in water. Crews around the metro have responded to multiple water rescues and reports of flooding most of early Tuesday morning. So far, 11 people had to be rescued after driving into high water, officials say. According to KFOR meteorologist Emily Sutton, some parts of the metro saw about eight inches of rain overnight.”
Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries. However, two people had to be rescued from their vehicles when they drove around the barriers that the first responders had set up to stop traffic while they were saving eleven people stranded in their cars due to floodwaters. The news article cited above included these words of wisdom: “You should never drive into high water. Turn around, don’t drown.”
No stranger to severe weather
A government document entitled, “Tornadoes in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Area Since 1890,” notes that “Oklahoma City (OKC), by virtue of its large area and location near the heart of “tornado alley,” has earned a reputation over the years as one of the more tornado-prone cities in the United States.”
Since 1893, at least 171 tornadoes have hit the metro Oklahoma City area, forty-three since 2000. Three times (1974, 1981, 1986), Oklahoma City has experienced five tornadoes in one day. The longest stretch without a tornado was five years (October 1992 to June 1998). Then, from Jun 13, 1998, until May 4, 1999, Oklahoma City experienced 12 tornadoes in 11 months. The greater metro Oklahoma City area, including Norman, is no stranger to severe weather.
Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW Oklahoma City offers these severe weather survival tips for residents of Norman and metro Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Tip #1: Stay informed and know the key definitions.
Tornado watch: Be prepared. Tornadoes are possible in and near the area. Review plans, check supplies. Inspect the safe room. Acting early saves lives.
Tornado warning: Take action. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, and people should relocate to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Stay away from windows. Mobile homes and vehicles afford little protection. Move to the closest substantial shelter and find protection from flying debris.
Flood watch: Watch out because the conditions are right for flooding to occur in the area.
Flood warning: Flooding is either in progress or will start immediately.
Tip #2: Follow these flash flood action steps.
- Before the flooding or severe weather, put together a Survival Supply Kit with food, water, and basic medical supplies. Include a communication plan and a reconnection plan in case family members are separated.
- Get informed and remain alert by turning on the radio, TV, or weather alert app.
- Plan an escape route to higher ground by both vehicle and by foot.
- Prepare the home for the possibility of flooding: Move important indoor items to the highest point in the home or building. Unplug electronics and appliances. Avoid touching electrical equipment when wet or standing in water.
- Turn off the gas and electricity at the main switch or valve to prevent fires and explosions if directed by emergency personnel.
Tip #3: Know the flood history of the surrounding area.
Know the risk of flooding for the nearby area. What areas and roads will be the most dangerous? Know local emergency plans and evacuation routes. When the flooding starts, relocate to higher ground if needed and if possible. Evacuate if directed by emergency workers. Do not walk or drive through floodwaters.
Tip #4: Turn around, don’t drown!
Follow vehicle safety rules during severe weather. Six inches of moving water can sweep a person off their feet, and one foot of water can sweep a vehicle away.
Tip # 5: Return home only when travel is safe.
Wait until safety personnel give the go-ahead to enter damaged areas.
Tip #6: Begin the property damage restoration process.
Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash flooding can wreak havoc on a home, business, or other structure, such as a church, school, workshop, or warehouse. These administrative tips can facilitate flash flood and other property damage recovery. Call a water and flood damage restoration company as soon as possible should a home or business sustain flood damage. Waiting could lead to advanced secondary water damage that could add thousands to the cost of the water and flood damage restoration. Delay could affect the acceptance of the claim by the insurance company. Photograph property damage for insurance purposes.
In the present but for the future
Contact a fire, water, flood, and mold damage restoration specialist about creating a home or business continuity plan in the case of a flash flood, tornado, fire, water, or other property damage event. Think about buying flood insurance if available for the area.
Conclusion
Having served the people of the Norman and OKC Metro with restoration and reconstruction services for over ten years, Paul Davis Emergency Services understands how stressful a flood, fire, leak, or other accident is. The team promises to provide a free estimate within four hours of the customer’s call requesting emergency services. Available 24/7 to handle home and commercial restoration and reconstruction needs, they have a team of experts that provide a comprehensive menu of services.
For more information about property damage restoration, visit the Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW OKC website at southwest-oklahoma-city.pauldavis.com.Contact the office by phone at (405) 802-5405 or email brent.orr@pauldavis.com.
Friday, August 21, 2020
What to Do When a Sprinkler System Goes off in a Commercial Building
When a sprinkler system is activated in a commercial setting, the water damage can be extensive. The system exists to extinguish a fire, contain it, or slow its spread until emergency fire responders arrive on the scene.
Fire Sprinkler Facts
- Unintentional sprinkler activations in 2014 numbered 33,600. Overheating from heating units, skylights, or commercial cooking equipment can cause an unintentional activation of a fire sprinkler head. Freezing temperatures, manufacturing defects and mechanical damage, corrosion, or deliberate sabotage are also common causes of unintended activation of fire sprinklers.
- A sprinkler head can disperse from 8 to 24 gallons of water per minute, easily causing more damage than the fire that was extinguished.
- Every minute a sprinkler head issues water it costs $1,000 to clean up the damage.
- A fire sprinkler system can extinguish a small fire before people realize a fire has occurred.
- Often only one or two sprinkler heads can extinguish a fire.
What steps should be taken to deal with water damage after the fire sprinklers have activated and extinguished the fire?
Fire sprinklers are capable of extinguishing a fire in its infancy. Dealing with fire and smoke damage may be minimal when compared to the water damage.
Fire and smoke damage cleanup should never be a DIY project in a commercial or residential setting. Safety and health hazards can be very serious. Putting employees at risk to clean an environment that is toxic to skin, eyes, and lungs could affect insurance coverage and lead to litigation.
In the case of a small commercial operation, such as a storefront, small production unit, or an office, the process is much the same as dealing with a residential water damage incident. A damage readiness plan or a business continuation strategy with guidelines and procedures to walk management through the process as quickly and as seamlessly as possible is highly advisable. The goal is to be up and running as soon and as safely as possible with no lost-time accidents or injury lawsuits.
Often in a well-ordered commercial environment, the activation of a fire protection system will signal a response from the fire department. Once the fire is extinguished and the sprinklers are turned off, it is time for the water, fire, and smoke damage restoration team to leap into action. These steps walk business owners through the process.
Step #1: Contact a property damage restoration team. The benefit of having a commercial readiness plan will be realized when the crew rolls into the parking lot, possibly within thirty minutes of the call. Once management realizes restoration professionals are needed, the call should be made. Delays are costly.
Step #2: A technician from the emergency services company will inspect the site, assess the damage, and provide an estimate of costs. Upon approval, the work will begin immediately, if it is not already in process. Cultivating a professional relationship with a company that can provide a full menu of restoration, cleaning, and maintenance services makes sense, especially during emergencies and disasters.
Step #3: Removal of water and moisture from the environment.begins.High-powered pumps and wet vacuums will be deployed to remove standing water. A sprinkler can spray up to 24 gallons per minute and hundreds of gallons in just twenty minutes. Next, water is extracted from carpets, rugs, pillows, upholstery, and other absorbent materials. The environment must be dried with industrial fans explicitly designed for the task. Simply removing water and moisture is not enough. Commercial dehumidifiers dry the air and remaining moisture to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, which can start to grow in only a few hours.
Step #4: Surfaces must be cleaned, sanitized, and deodorized, especially if dense smoke and soot are involved. This part of the process requires meticulous attention to detail.
Step #5: Restoration and repair where needed come next. Since the fire sprinkler system almost immediately extinguishes most fires, water damage restoration is the greatest challenge facing the highly-trained and certified experts.
Why Choose Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW Oklahoma City?
As a provider of complete property damage emergency services and restoration for fifty years, Paul Davis Emergency Services is uniquely qualified to provide the best service to residential and commercial customers.
For more information about water damage restoration in Norman, OK, visit the Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW Oklahoma City website at southwest-oklahoma-city.pauldavis.com. Contact the office by phone at (405) 802-5405.
Friday, July 31, 2020
Oklahoma Damage Restoration Company Shares Tips to Spot Water Damage
The average homeowner is not prepared to deal with water damage in the home. Homeowners lack the advanced water extraction and drying equipment needed to remove water and moisture from the premises. The damage is often more extensive than what meets the eye, requiring technical knowledge about how water damage occurs and about how it affects a structure.
The damage is often messy and dangerous, presenting many health hazards. Homeowners do not have the necessary clothing, breathing apparatus, gloves, goggles, cleaning solutions, and construction expertise to repair damaged walls and sagging or collapsed ceilings. Removing carpets and flooring requires much physical strength as the materials become very heavy due to the water content. Back injuries from working with waterlogged carpet are not uncommon.
Removing, repairing, and replacing baseboards and trim require a higher level of carpentry skills. Sheetrock repair calls for finesse so that the finished product is seamless. Replacing damaged flooring to its original pre-damaged condition demands time, a keen eye, and specialized tools. Water damage restoration is best left to the professionals who have the expertise, equipment, state-of-the-art technology, and honed techniques to address the problem.
Finding water damage in the walls of the home can be discouraging to the homeowner. What is the source of the water? Is there still a leak? How long has the water been in the walls? Are there mold issues to identify and resolve? How extensive is the damage? How much will it cost to fix the damage? Will insurance pay for it? Will the family have to leave home while the house is being repaired? Having a bonded, insured, and certified team of highly trained technicians on the job brings hope and confidence to homeowners whose lives have been disrupted by a water damage incident.
Water damage behind walls is challenging because the sources of water are many, and finding the cause of the problem can be costly. In many instances, signs of water damage can go unnoticed or ignored for extended periods of time, compounding the water damage and increasing the likelihood of mold growth. Most homeowners often do not know and do not recognize the clues that indicate damage until the problem is extremely obvious. Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW OKC highlights common clues that can help homeowners preemptively detect a potentially serious problem.
Clue: Water Stains
At first, water stains start imperceptibly small and are easily overlooked or missed. By the time the stain catches the homeowner’s attention, the situation has grown in scope, along with the size of the stain.
Carefully inspect for water stains on walls, baseboards, and around nearby door or window frames. If the water does not appear to be leaking in from poor or degraded caulking, separated framing, or a similar issue, a leaky pipe inside the walls could be the culprit.
Clue: Musty Smell
Mold and mildew can often result from the prolonged presence of water damage. In this case, the smell may raise the alarm rather than visible water stains. Examine both sides of the wall in question for any water stains that may have formed. If the wall has an exterior face exposed to the elements, look carefully to ensure that the water source for the leak or smell in question is not coming from outside.
Clue: Discoloration
A water leak of any kind can cause discoloration. Initially, the discoloration may look like a water stain. When the water evaporates, the wall is often left with lingering signs of damage. Brown, yellow, and copper are the most common discolorations associated with wall water damage. Rust on appliances and pipes are a tell-tale sign of an issue that needs attention.
Clue: Changes in Texture
Changes in the seams of flooring could help locate a leak in the walls. Sagging, warping, expanding, or buckling may be signaling the homeowner of a potential leak.
Conclusion
Water damage occurs in many different forms. Because disaster can strike even the most prepared business or homeowner, the property owner must be aware of the clues that point to a problem. When water damage is discovered, the professionals at Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW OKC are prepared for the job, whether large or small. In a water damage situation, “this is no time for second best™.”
For more information about water, fire, storm, and other damage restoration services, visit Paul Davis Emergency Services of Norman and SW OKC on the web at southwest-oklahoma-city.pauldavis.com. Contact the office by phone at (405) 802-5405.
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