How to Reduce Flooding Damages from Hurricanes
When a hurricane strikes a particular area, people aren’t only concerned about the wind speed but they are also worried about the storm surges and flooding. Many have died because of the rise in water levels due to the heavy rainfall, and the past 4 decades have seen how thousands of people have died in the number of powerful hurricanes that hit the country, such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Andrew, and Hurricane Charley.
Flooding damages from hurricanes are to be expected because intense rains trigger the rise in water levels in nearby coasts, rivers, dams, and creeks. Residential and commercial areas with poor drainage systems also have to contend with clogging, often worsening the flooding condition, which causes homes and buildings to be drenched in water at least several inches high.
Flooding brought about by hurricanes has been attributed to the high number of deaths due to drowning. People who were stuck in their vehicles and even those who were in their homes died because their cars and homes were submerged in water.
What You Can Do• First of all, you need to find out if you are living in an area considered to be a potential flood zone. If at all possible, stay away from such areas just to give yourself and your loved ones better protection against the dangers of flooding. However, if relocation is not possible, you can also elevate your home and check with the local floodplain regulations for building requirements.
• Secondly, install safety measures in your home or building property. You can set up shutters, keep gutters and downspouts clean and free from debris that cause clogging, and you can also build interior and exterior floodwalls. These structures will help prevent water from entering homes and buildings.
• Thirdly, you should be updated with local weather conditions. Reading the news, watching news update on TV, and listening to the radio can keep you abreast of any turbulent weather coming. If advised to evacuate, heed the advice to avoid putting yourself in harm’s way. Moving to a safe area must be done immediately.
• Lastly, to protect you from the aftermath of flooding damages from hurricanes, it is always wise to have flood insurance. Hazard insurance like these would cushion property owners from the headaches of having to cover the cost of property repairs and replacements. The insurance company will also pay for flooding cleanups. You could save thousands of dollars in damages if you have the appropriate cover.
Jarvis in Nashville to assist with flood cleanup
A leading national disaster response company is now in the Nashville Tennessee area to assist with flooding cleanup. Jarvis Property Restoration of Harrison Township Michigan is a company that specializes in responding to large catastrophes caused by storm damage. First responders from Jarvis Disaster Recovery team were dispatched on Sunday, May 2nd to Nashville following a weekend of severe weather that caused unprecedented flooding to many communities in Southern Tennessee.
Jarvis Property Restoration first responders played a pivotal role in helping to assist with flood cleanup in the New England area following devastating flooding to Rhode Island and Boston in early March of this year. Jarvis presently has fourteen work crews and several semi-trucks of equipment in the Nashville area and has additional work crew’s en-route to assist with cleanup efforts. Jarvis water damage technicians are certified through the IICRC and utilize state of the art restoration equipment to extract flood waters and begin the process of drying out a property.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen called for a state of emergency over the weekend in order to pull in resources from the National Guard. The severe rain caused flash flooding, forcing hundreds of people to need emergency evacuation from homes and vehicles. Rain storms pounded the state with as much as fourteen inches of rain in certain areas washing away numerous roads throughout Tennessee. The governor has closed all government offices and schools on Monday, and has urged for businesses and municipalities to close to help ensure public safety. Many rivers were not expected to crest until late on Monday and the potential for rain later in the week will make cleanup efforts more challenging.
Jarvis Property Restoration has worked extensively in disaster relief, specifically in FEMA declared emergency zones. In the summer of 2008, Jarvis managed 1600 workers to clean and repair over thirty government buildings in Cedar Rapids, Iowa following a devastating flood from the Cedar River. Jarvis Property Restoration was founded in 1979 by Sheryl and Bill Jarvis in Detroit, Michigan. Jarvis presently has offices in Michigan, Iowa and Florida and maintains numerous response hubs across the United States to respond to unexpected disasters. Jarvis has set up a local relief number (615) 301-1077 for Tennessee area homeowners, businesses and government agencies that are in need of water damage restoration services.
Recovery in Rhode Island Flood Likely to Take Months
The flood weary people of the state of Rhode Island are surveying the damage as the latest heavy rainstorm has finally moved out of the area. Local officials are warning the state that recovery is going to be long and slow due to the widespread damage. Residents are rather shell shocked, gathering in makeshift shelters and unaffected coffee shops and eateries to share their rather sad stories of what they have been through and what they have lost.
The Northeast has been battling flooded roadways in areas such as Warwick and Cranston have been hit especially hard from the storm damages. Rhode Island was particularly hard-hit as the mighty Pawtuxet River overflowed its banks, sending fast flowing water into neighborhoods and business areas in numerous cities and towns. Front lawns were turned into lakes and many residents had to flee their homes by boat. A good number of school districts in the region are closed and not expected to open until the middle of next week, at the earliest. The water levels are too high now to determine exactly what type of damage has been done as bridges, overpasses, railroad tracks and roadways must be inspected to assess the damage and see if they are safe for use once again.
The heavy rainstorm dumped 8.75 inches of water in East Providence, 7.6 inches in the downtown area and 5 inches in Cranston – exacerbating the effects of a previous major storm that rolled through the region two weeks ago. Rhode Island was the most affected state in the Northeast and the 1 million inhabitants are hoping that this is the end of the rash of heavy rainfall.
The utilities in the state were heavily impacted as countless homes and businesses have basements full of water, gas and electrical shutoffs and destroyed furnaces and appliances. The residents of the Rhode Island who are fortunate to have power are being asked to conserve and are also being told not to flush their toilets or use the water because sewage backups have contaminated the fresh water supply.
The governor of Rhode Island has been quoted as saying that this is the worst flooding to hit the state in 200 years as the swollen Pawtuxet River crested at 20.79 inches which is 12 feet above its normal level. Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary, is planning a trip to the soaked state this week to see the damage for herself. President Obama issued an emergency declaration for Rhode Island and ordered federal relief which may make some feel better knowing that perhaps they can get financial assistance for repairing the extensive damage done to their homes, businesses and possessions.
Rhode Island Governor requests help from residents due to flooding
Governor Carcieri Requests Non-Essential
Employees Remain Home and Off Roads
Governor Donald L. Carcieri, operating under the current declaration of emergency, is requesting that all non-essential state employees stay home. State office will be closed for Wednesday, March 31, 2010. The Governor further requests all businesses, municipalities, and school districts seriously consider the same policy.
Due to the historic flooding of the state’s rivers and streams, 95 South at Exit 14 and 95 North at Exit 11 are closed. Interstate 295 North remains open, but with limited travel. RIDOT, RI State Police, RING and local law enforcement have been working through the night to hold off the water. Throughout the state, dozens of local roads are flooded and impassable.
Due to the closing of Interstate 95, typical volume of traffic in and out of the City of Providence and other urban areas will be forced to secondary roads, many of which are also flooded. The potential for gridlock is significant, and it is critical to safety of the public and first responders that the roadways remain clear and travel is restricted until the water has receded.
The Governor, RI National Guard, RI-EMA and other critical state agencies will hold a press briefing at the Schofield Armory at 7:30 a.m. This is in addition to the media conference call already scheduled.
Source – Media Advisory, State of Rhode Island
Tips for dealing with flooding damage to a basement
Discovering that your basement is full of water can really ruin your day. Many people don’t visit this part of the house too often and so discovering something untoward can occur after a lot of damage has already been done. Some homeowners use this part of the building for keeping freezers or washing machines while others just use it for storage. Going down the stairs to be greeted by floating wine bottles can come as a shock, but your first priority has to be your own safety. Do not go near the water if there is any chance that it could be unsafe; for example that possibility of electrical shock. It won’t be long though before your thoughts will need to turn to the cause of this flooding and the amount of damage that has been done.
So Why is Your Basement Full of Water?
If there has been a lot of rain then the reason might appear obvious, but you will still need to do a bit of investigation. Blocked drains or burst pipes are common explanations and so is water coming from elsewhere in the house. If you live in an area with a high water table then this can rise so high that it seeps right through the bottom of your basement; even concrete will not stop this from occurring if there is enough water. Water coming in through cracks in the walls can also lead to a large accumulation of the wet stuff given enough time.
The amount of water in your basement can often be a good indication of the cause; especially if you visit this part of the house on a reasonably regular basis. The sudden appearance of water damage suggests something like a burst pipe or if it has been raining heavily then you should consider the possibility of a blocked drain that is causing water to overflow into your basement. It is often wisest to call out the professionals and get them to assess and remedy the situation.
Unfortunately most basements have at least some risk of becoming flooded due to their location. Most will not have walls that are waterproofed and if you live in an area that is prone to flooding then you will have to work hard to prevent this type of occurrence. For many people though, the cause will be something that can be remedied and need never trouble them again.
