DRIRITE Disaster Restoration Blog

Since forecasters predict ‘above average’ 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, and because the Tampa Bay area is already known as lightning alley, professional restoration services of Tampa Bay are already preparing. This is because more storms mean more Tampa FL water damage.

Whether you are new to the Tampa Bay area or have lived here all your life, you shouldn’t let storm season catch you off guard. While we can’t always predict when disaster will strike, we can prepare for spring storms and hurricane season. By taking the steps today to protect your family and your home, you can prevent even more damage than those who remain unprepared.

Build an Emergency Kit

Even if storms do not cause catastrophic damage, they can still make things difficult. For example, storms can cause you to lose electricity, and flooding can make it unsafe for you to use water from public water systems. That’s why it is critical to have an emergency kit with necessary supplies. Experts recommend having water and nonperishable food for at least three days stored. In addition, you should have items like a first aid kit, a flashlight, a weather radio, a manual can opener, and copies of your important documents.

Make an Emergency Plan

You should also prepare an emergency plan for your home or business. This plan should identify the safe places on the property where you can shelter during a dangerous storm, as well as the exits. Your plan should also include names and phone numbers for emergency contacts.

Sign Up for Alerts

Don’t put your head in the sand. Sign up for emergency alerts through the American Red Cross, FEMA, or local news stations. Emergency alerts will give you time to make plans and get to a safe location. It is just as important to stay informed after the storm has passed. This is where your weather radio will come in handy. Just because the storm seems to have ended, there may be other dangers in the area, such as flooding, which will make it unsafe to leave home.

Do Repairs Now

If you are aware of issues in your home, it is wise to do repairs now instead of waiting for them to worsen. For example, flood damage Tampa homes have experienced needs to be fully restored before they face another flood. Water damage can weaken the home’s structure, which will make it more vulnerable to this year’s storms.

Check Your Home’s Exterior for Potential Problems

You should also take time to evaluate your home’s exterior for potential problems, such as old tree branches that can break and fall on your home. Take note of anything that could be lifted or moved by strong winds, such as patio furniture, and consider anchoring it or moving it indoors. And don’t forget to clear your gutters! Water damage restoration in Tampa residents need can often be a result of clogged drains.

Make Sure You Have Insurance Coverage

Many homeowners mistakenly believe their insurance covers flood damage. Whereas home insurance typically covers water damage, it does not cover flood damage – especially if you live in a flood zone. If you live in a flood zone, it is wise to purchase additional flood insurance.

Be Aware of Tampa’s Emergency Response Plans

It is also important for those who call the Tampa Bay area home to be aware of Tampa’s emergency plans. The City of Tampa has a Natural Hazards Map that identifies flood zones and hurricane evacuation routes. You can also find area shelter locations on the website.

Know the Difference Between a Watch and a Warning

If you are confused when you hear your area is under a severe thunderstorm watch or warning, you are not the only one. Many people don’t know the difference between a watch and a warning. While you should pay attention to both, a warning means the threat is imminent. A weather watch means there is a potential for dangerous weather in your larger geographical area. A weather warning means a storm system will hit your specific area.

Invest in Lightning Protection

With the large amount of lightning in our area, homeowners should consider investing lightning protection. Ready recommends “buying surge protectors, lightning rods, or a lightning protection system to protect your home, appliances, and electronic devices.”

Pay Attention to Additional COVID-19 Concerns

The Tampa Bay Times reports, “The pandemic interruption could endure into hurricane season, which starts June 1, forcing unprecedented changes in the way Florida evacuates and shelters residents.” Shelters may look different this different this year, so it is important to find up-to-date information from local officials.

Know Who to Call When Disaster Strikes

Dririte is the restoration service provider for flood damage cleanup Tampa residents can trust. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our structural drying and water extraction services can help Tampa area residents get their properties back to livable conditions sooner rather than later.

As Americans rushed to the stores and hoarding all the toilet paper in sight, a new problem arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. More people are home using their toilets – and those toilets are backing up. Why is this the case? Well, people are flushing more items down their pipes than usual. In particular, they are flushing things they should not be flushing causing their toilet to become clogged, or even worse, causing whole sewer pipe systems to become clogged.

Sadly, water damage can occur at any time, and it is costly. Insurance Business America claims, “In 2017, the total amount of insurance payouts for water damage was $13 billion. The average claim cost about $10,000.”

When you are dealing with water damage from a leak, flood, plumbing backup, or pipe break, you need to know which water damage restoration in Tampa residents use. Here’s a hint – they don’t try to repair the damage on their own. As much as we would all like to save money and have the ability to address the issue ourselves, the truth is, water damage restoration requires professionals.

According to Water Damage Defense, “14,000 people in the US experience a water damage emergency at home or work each day, and 98% of basements in the US will suffer from some type of water damage during their lifetime.”

When you have a pipe burst, washing machine overflow, a rook leak, or a home flood, you will need to hire the Sarasota water damage restoration professionals. This is because water damage is not to be taken lightly. The truth is water damage is costly and will result in even more damage if not handled correctly from the beginning.

With the amount of time, money, and love you have poured into your small business, you don’t want to a disaster to ruin everything you’ve built. Whether you are dealing with a flood or a pipe break, small business owners have to work harder than others to make sure they don’t have to close their doors permanently.

What happens to your AC after Water Damage

Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems, when directly contacted by Category 1 water, can cease to operate, or they can function inefficiently or spread excess humidity throughout both affected and unaffected areas of a structure. If contacted directly by Category 2 or 3 water, they can spread contamination to unaffected areas. Even if an HVAC system is not directly contacted by water, when operating, it can spread humidity or contamination from affected to unaffected areas. Further, microbial growth from other causes can be carried to the interior of HVAC system components where it can accumulate and degrade HVAC component operation. Read More »

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can be contaminated directly by water damage. Air conditioning systems can also be contaminated prior to contact with water. If the heating and air conditioning system was running while the property was contaminated with Category 2 or 3 water, it can spread many other contaminants to other areas of the property that were not directly affected by the water damage. Read More »

Water damage is classified to designate water-damaged environments by their relative degree of saturation, which is then used to determine the approximate initial amount of equipment necessary for an efficient drying of a property.  Read More »

Remediation Plan

Dririte of Tampa always puts in place a remediation plan with you prior to starting a project. If you are attempting a project on your own, you should always do the same. Keep in mind, water damage remediation is a very complicated task to ensure it is done properly, you should always contact a professional prior to starting a project on your own. Read More »

Water Damage Safety in your Home

It can happen in the blink of an eye, a pipe bursts, the washing machine breaks, the toilet or sink tubes crack, a falling branch shatters a window during a downpour etc. The list goes on and on. Read More »