Recent Storm Damage Posts

How Your Home Can Be Affected by a Storm

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Storms come in all shapes and sizes. Hail can cause structural damage, flooding can affect the floors/walls of your home, rain can leak through ceilings, and wind can tear away shingles. It is important to know how a storm can affect your home so you can know how to prepare for one. Hail can cause more damage than you think. It can break windows, damage walls and ceilings, and overall ding up your home. Flooding can flow into your home and soak carpets or wood flooring. Flood water is also category 3 since it carries in all the dirtiness from outside into your home. That means all affected materials would have to be replaced. Floods don’t only affect floors but walls as well. Strong wings can tear away shingles from your roof and they would have to be replaced. This can also lead to leaks from rain since the roof won’t be properly protected. This isn’t meant to scare you but to inform you of the dangers a storm can cause so you can prepare.

Locally Owned With National Resources

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Each SERVPRO location is locally owned and operated. Each franchise covers certain territories but that doesn’t mean that we can’t do work outside of those territories. When it comes to large disasters like severe storms, more than one SERVPRO franchise can assist in disaster relief. A few months ago, Texas was experiencing severe freezing weather. Many areas of the state were experiencing this so this called for the help of many SERVPRO franchises including ours. That is what we mean when we say we have national resources. Many SERVPRO locations will come together to help restore many properties from many communities. The homes in Texas mainly experienced frozen pipes that would burst and cause water damage. Our location travelled to Texas to help with the restoration of these homes.

Winter is Coming

11/12/2021 (Permalink)

Winter is approaching which means cold temperatures and rain is upon us. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be. Many properties can experience water damage from storms or rain such as roof leaks or flooding. Here are some tips on how to avoid storm damage. It is important to make sure that gutters allow for proper drainage. This is an easy way to prevent flooding and mold growth. Another precaution to take is to inspect the shingles on your roof. Missing or damaged shingles will lead to leaks which will lead to water damage on the ceilings and walls of your property. It is important to follow these recommendations to ensure that your property is ready for storm conditions as we approach winter.

Tips to protect your home from storms

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

Although we don’t get many big storms in our area, it is still important to know how to protect your home from storm damage. Here are some tips to make sure your home is safe from storms. First you should make sure to replace any missing or damaged shingles to avoid further damage from wind and rain. Keeping your gutters clear is also important so that you avoid flooding and water can flow away from your home. Ensuring proper sealing of doors and windows will also help avoid damage. Proper sealing keeps water from seeping into your home and is a simple way to avoid damages. Lastly, walking around your property to check for any tools or debris that can damage your home in the event of a storm is another simple task to make sure you avoid storm damage.

SERVPRO Is ready for any storm

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

When it comes to storm damage, SERVPRO of Monrovia should be your go-to restoration service provider for various reasons. First of all, our technicians are highly trained storm damage specialists. SERVPRO of Monrovia has the specialized training and expertise to restore your home and it’s damages to pre-storm condition. The restoration process focuses on scientific drying techniques so that we are as efficient as possible. We also focus on progress monitoring and documentation to make sure that our work always goes according to plan. Although we are a locally owned company, we have national storm resources for any size disaster. We can access resources from our network of 1,700 franchises and Disaster Recovery Teams that lets us be prepared for any storm disaster of any size.

San Antonio

5/5/2021 (Permalink)

We recently got called away to help out with the frozen pipes that were affecting Texas. We got the call to help out San Antonio. What ended up happening was, Texas have a severe storm of very cold weather resulting in pipes being frozen. After a certain amount of time, these frozen pipes will shatter causing the pipe to burst and all of this water to come out. While we were there, we helped both commercial and residential properties that were affected by this storm. We helped over 50 properties in under 3 weeks. It was a very extensive project, but we felt very satisfied we were able to make such a difference. Every year, we get called away to help out these large storms that affect the nation. We also feel so much pride to be a part of something so big. 

Storms

12/23/2020 (Permalink)

Here in Southern California, we really don't have what is typically called a storm. However, we do have very quick changing weather. We don't really have a winter, instead it rains quite often during this time. Whereas the summer will get very hot and dry. Here as SERVPRO we are aware of the different climate changes and adjust accordingly. For example, if it is in the middle of the summer and we need to work on a roof we might want to start the job really early or coordinate to start later on in the day once it has cooled down. We also basis this off of the winter when it rains and if there is open damages, we try to build things up to prevent any future damages. 

Handle Anything

12/23/2020 (Permalink)

We have been through some major changes here at SERVPRO of Monrovia! We are happy to welcome our new production manager and our new marketing manager. We are driven by production and success out on the field, and because of that we wanted to add two more people to help. Our marketing manager is determined to build new relationships with the community of Monrovia. We want our name to be the first thing people say whenever there's water or fire damage. Our marketing manager will be responsible for all of our social media content, and that's exciting because we are so new to the world of social media. We hope you'll keep following us on this great journey. We are also excited about our new production manager, he will help the team stay on track with all the steps required to execute a job. Production and marketing are two important roles in working as a team. Our team has grown just a bit bigger and we couldn't be happier!

Heavy Rain

11/12/2020 (Permalink)

Any rain is heavy rain here in sunny California. We experienced a lot of rain fall during Thanksgiving week. Rainfall will let people know when it's time to get a new roof. There will be an abundance of leaks and floods caused by word down roof tops. We can count on two hands the amount of roof tarps we had to put up that week. A storm doesn't have to be devastating, but it will tell you a lot about your home. That was also the week that we had to buy extra equipment, we didn't know that we would need so much plastic. We put in a large order of materials in anticipation of January. The rainy season has arrived and we believe we'll be on roofs more than ever. 

Mother Nature

9/4/2020 (Permalink)

When it comes to storm damage you never know what to expect. How can you prepare for everything when you don't know what to prepare for. We are approaching a new year and we'll experience a lot of new things. The weather seems to change every year too. Have you noticed any changes in the weather lately? This year we did a lot more roof tarps than last year alone. We experienced heavier rain fall in a short span. There were less wild fires this year than last and less homes were affected. It's really important to know what kind of damage your area is exposed to. Here in southern California we are affected by rain, fires and earthquakes. We will experience flooding, leaks, smoke damage and damage from trees. 

Foul Smell

8/21/2020 (Permalink)

Is there a foul smell surrounding your home? If there is, don't wait to long to call your local SERVPRO. There is a mystery behind any smell, and you don't want to be surprised by the amount of sewage caused by a broken pipe. We responded to a call not too long ago and we were able to smell the sewage from across the way. We took one look under a house and saw a lake worth of sewage just sitting there. The home owners didn't know where the smell was coming from, to their surprise it was right underneath them! Luckily they called us, we were able to remove it immediately. Now the plumbers can get in there and replace the broken pipe.

We can handle any and all storms

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Monrovia 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 Monrovia, 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 http://www.SERVPROmonrovia.com/disaster-recovery that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (626)358-9200

Winter Strom Prep

12/20/2019 (Permalink)

As we dive deeper into the winter season, the temperatures are starting to drop to freezing and unbearable for anyone. Take these extra steps to ensure your home is ready for the winter temperatures.

  • Consider storing heating fuel. Regular heating sources may get cut off, but be cautious when storing the fuel for fire hazards
  • If you have a fire place, keep a strong supply of firewood or coal and make sure it is properly vented and kept clean
  • Plug a heater directly into a wall socket and make sure the area is properly vented and refuel unit outside when it is cool

Create a checklist during this winter season to avoid any costly damages as the storms get stronger. It is better to be safe than sorry during the this time of the year.

Frozen over Pipes 12/18/19

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

Over 250,000 homes in the U.S. experience frozen over pipes during the cold season. Even in areas where it does not reach freezing point, can still suffer pipe damage.

  • pipes freeze in conditions 20 degrees or lower
  • letting faucets drip can help keep pipes from freezing over
  • when the water is turned on and pipes are frozen the build up of pressure causes it to burst
  • burst pipes can than take away from the warm water you receive and cause even more issues
  • you suspect your pipes are frozen, it is important to turn off water

Be on the lookout for frozen pipes as the temperature drops deeper into the winter months. If not taken care of in the correct way, it can cause an assortment of issues not only to the pipes but to the property itself. 

Be your own advocate.

11/20/2019 (Permalink)

You have to be your own advocate after experiencing sever storm damage. Your home will require a lot of reconstruction to restore.  Storm damage is not a simple leak, or a minor fire. Don't wait until your insurance agent comes out to take a look, have everything ready for them. Take pictures of all the damage. From the inside to the outside, the furniture, the windows, walls and floors. They will have a better idea of what really happened if they see a first hand account. Pictures also help us assess the kind of reconstruction that will be needed. It's better if we don't miss anything, and having pictures ready really helps us out. You have to be your own advocate when it comes to your home. Prepare your insurance company and SERVPRO with everything you can. 

Hurricane Dorian

9/6/2019 (Permalink)

Servpro trailer parked in front of mountains. Driving out of Arizona and into New Mexico

We always gear up for storm season. We enjoy taking the trailer out and packing it equipment and materials. This time we were called out to the east coast to meet with Hurricane Dorian. Luckily, the storm didn't make much of an impact as it did in the Bahamas. We didn't know what to expect knowing that it was a Cat 5 hurricane. That seemed like a monster of a storm. We packed up our trailer and hit the road. We made it to Texas and decided to stop and hear the news after the hurricane hit. The Carolina's are still expecting water to damage most of the coastline. This is the start of storm season. This is the time you see what SERVPRO is all about. 

Team SERVPRO On The Go

8/20/2019 (Permalink)

Flooded house caused by over flow of near by river

The SERVPRO Team is well known for our emergency response services. When a disaster occurs many SERVPRO branches come in to help with the damage caused to properties in its area. We’ve been all over the country, to OVER 20 STATES. We’ve even been as far as up to Maine, and considering we are in sunny California that was quite a ways for us to travel. Since we do many different types of work we’ve responded to varied occurrences all over America. SERVPRO has been in areas below freezing, hot humid weather, and after big wildfires. For the Malibu fires that had happened in 2018 we had removed fire debris, taken care of fire caused damage and cleaned homes of smoke damage. In New York we had worked on buildings that were in water as deep as seven feet. With other SERVPRO's along side with us we spent about 2 months in the area till our services were finished. About 4 times a year we head out on storm. and even as many times as 6 times. We start our trek to the affected location as soon as its safe to respond.

Storm Disaster Information

5/4/2018 (Permalink)

Storm facts from the United States Environmental Protection Agency:

California’s most destructive wildfire in history. Puerto Rico’s devastating hurricane. Oklahoma’s terrifying tornadoes. According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 2017 the U.S. experienced 16 weather disasters each with losses totaling $306 billion, a new U.S. record shattering the previous 2005 record of $215 billion.

Based on the EPA’s information the cumulative damage of these 16 events in 2017 is $306.2 billion shattering the previous U.S. annual record cost of $214.8 billion (CPI-adjusted) in 2005 due to the impacts of Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma

The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that mold growth may be a problem after flooding. Excess moisture in the home is cause for concern about indoor air quality primarily because it provides breeding conditions for pests, molds and other microorganisms.

During a flood cleanup, the indoor air quality in your home or office may appear to be the least of your problems. However, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. 

If you are repairing your home or building after flood or hurricane, to prevent mold growth you should be sure your foundation is dry before you replace the flooring.

Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

If you find mold in your home always be sure to avoid breathing in mold or mold spores by wearing protective gear such as masks, gloves, and goggles when cleaning it yourself.

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 Los Angeles, 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 (626) 358-9200

When Storms or Floods hit Monrovia, SERVPRO is ready!

5/3/2017 (Permalink)

Our highly trained crews are ready to respond 24/7 to storm or flood damage in Los Angeles County

SERVPRO of Monrovia 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 Monrovia, 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 http://www.SERVPROmonrovia.com/disaster-recovery that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (626)358-9200