
 
		18 JUNE 14, 2018 RIDGEWOOD  TIMES WWW.QNS.COM 
 How homeowners can prepare for summer storm season 
 It's  that  time  of  year  again when  
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 718.544.2634   Fax: 718.263.2032 
 unwanted weather  patterns  like  
 severe thunderstorms, rainstorms  
 and  tornadoes  can wreak  havoc  on  
 homes and businesses. 
 While certain areas of the country  
 are more  apt  to  face  tornadoes,  virtually  
 everyone  is at risk  for heavy  
 rain, winds and hail, which can cause  
 fl ooding, power outages and structural  
 damage. Whether you're in the Midwest, 
  the Southwest, the Great Plains  
 or any other part of the country, it's  
 important to be prepared for the upcoming  
 storm season. 
 These  expert  tips  will  help  you  
 prepare for and recover from a storm: 
 1. Have a plan. Assign everyone in  
 your house a defi ned role. Let someone  
 be responsible for gathering your  
 pets;  someone  else,  medication  and  
 important, irreplaceable documents.  
 Identify areas of your home that are  
 most secure so you can take cover. And  
 while having a plan is a great fi rst step,  
 practicing it is even more important. 
 2. Make electronic copies of all important  
 documents. Take pictures of  
 your home and its contents to use with  
 insurance providers aft  er damage has  
 occurred. 
 3.  Update  your  contact  list.  Make  
 sure it includes critical phone numbers  
 such  as  insurance  providers,  
 emergency  response  agencies  and  
 professional restoration companies  
 that can immediately assist with damage. 
  Also, be sure to have multiple ways  
 to contact your friends and family to  
 tell them where you are and what you  
 need. Have back-up chargers available  
 in the event you lose power. 
 4. Know how to turn off   your utilities.  
 In some cases, you need to be prepared  
 to turn off   water, gas and electric service  
 if asked to evacuate or if fl  ooding  
 is imminent. 
 5. Take steps to keep your home  
 protected. If water enters your home,  
 you can help limit water damage to  
 your contents by lift  ing drapes off   the  
 carpet, looping them through a coat  
 hanger and placing the hanger on the  
 drapery rod. Outside your home, keep  
 mulch away from the foundation to  
 minimize the risk of water collecting  
 near the building and possibly leaking  
 into the basement. 
 Aft  er  the  storm  has  passed,  wait  
 for authorities to declare it's safe to  
 go home. When it is, keep these steps  
 in mind: 
 1.  Safety  first.  Floodwater  may  
 be  electrically  charged  by  downed  
 power  lines.  If  you  see  any  fallen  
 power lines, call your utility company  
 immediately. Do not assume someone  
 else has already contacted them. Once  
 authorities give you the greenlight to  
 reenter your neighborhood and home,  
 make sure you have the proper gear to  
 do so. Use waterproof boots and gloves  
 to protect your skin from unpleasant  
 or dangerous pollutants in the water. 
 2.  Check  the  structure.  If  your  
 home's  structure  or  foundation  appears  
 unstable, do not attempt to go  
 inside. Immediately call for professional  
 help and get a thorough assessment  
 of  the  damage.  Water  damage  aft er  
 heavy rains can cause walls, ceilings  
 and fl oors to swell, decay or collapse. 
 3. Take inventory and contact your  
 insurance  agent.  Photograph  and  
 document all damages to your home  
 and belongings to support any future  
 insurance claims. As soon as possible  
 aft  er a storm, contact your insurance  
 company or representative to check  
 your  coverage  and  start  the  claims  
 process. 
 4.  Limit  damage.  Rainwater  and  
 fl oodwater can damage your home's  
 contents and structure, and create ideal  
 conditions for mold growth within  
 a matter of hours. However, because  
 fl oodwater is oft  en contaminated, extra  
 care should be used when entering  
 the property and removing damaged  
 items. Work with a qualifi ed professional  
 to prevent additional damage. 
 5. Partner with a professional restoration  
 company. A few things to look  
 for in a professional company include: 
 a. Make  sure  they  have  industry  
 experience and expertise. 
 b. Make  sure  they  offer  24-hour  
 emergency assistance. 
 c. Make sure your insurance company  
 works with them or they are on  
 an approved list. Don't take Joe off   the  
 street. 
 d. Make sure they have the proper  
 permits and licenses to do the needed  
 work. 
 e. Make sure they are insured. 
 ServiceMaster  Restore  brings  
 more  than  60  years  of  experience  
 helping homeowners and commercial  
 properties recover from all types of  
 disasters, from wind and rain damage  
 to catastrophic tornadoes and hurricanes, 
  and more. 
 Courtesy BPT