Tag Archive for: disaster restoration

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What to do if your home is flooded

Unfortunately, summer is already a distant memory, and we’re facing the wettest months of the year. As we move into autumn and winter, many of our homes may be at risk of flooding. If you find yourself having to deal with this catastrophic event, it’s essential to act quickly to minimise the impact.

Here’s a step-by-step guide from ServiceMaster Restore Devon on what to do if your home is flooded.

Stay Safe

  • Evacuate if necessary and check with the emergency services before returning to your property.
  • Turn off the electricity and gas.
  • Avoid contact with the flood water, which may be contaminated. Wash your hands thoroughly if you touch the water.
  • Wear gloves, a face mask and sturdy footwear when cleaning your home.
  • Keep young children, pets, and vulnerable people away from flooded areas.

Report

  • Contact your insurance company immediately to notify them and begin a claim.
  • Document any damage and take photos and videos to provide evidence.
  • Make an inventory of damaged items.

Clean up

  • Remove standing water with pumps or buckets.
  • Clean and disinfect all areas that have come into contact with the water.
  • Open doors and windows to help ventilate and dry out the area.
  • Remove and dispose of saturated carpets, rugs, upholstery and soft furnishings.
  • Relocate undamaged furniture to a dry area.
  • Use dehumidifiers and fans to help dry out the area.

What next?

Your insurance company will arrange for someone to visit your property to assess the damage. They should then appoint property-drying professionals to help dry your home.

Our cleaning and disaster restoration team is BDMA-trained and accredited to handle flood damage restoration, building drying and dehumidification. We also offer residential and commercial carpet, rug, upholstery and hard floor cleaning by ServiceMaster Clean.

If you would like further advice or help to deal with the aftermath of a flood, please contact ServiceMaster Restore Devon on 01803 200 278 or email office@smcdevon.co.uk

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Flood Drying in Devon

Autumn is now here, so we can expect more rainfall over the coming months and the potential for leaks and flooding. Unfortunately, floodwater can cause extensive property damage, so quick action is essential to minimise the impact. We offer specialised flood and water drying services (as well as residential and commercial carpet, upholstery, rug and hard floor cleaning services) to reduce possible damage and help restore your property swiftly. Here’s a summary of how we can help.

Why ServiceMaster Restore?

ServiceMaster is one of the longest-established disaster restoration companies in the UK and a founding member of the British Damage Management Association (BDMA). We know how to deal with water damage, and our experienced technicians use specialist equipment to restore flooded properties with minimal disruption and delay. We can handle any level of water damage, from minor leaks to severe flooding.

Our Flood drying & restoration process

We begin by assessing the extent of water damage. This process includes identifying the affected areas, determining the type of water (clean, grey, or black), and evaluating the severity of the damage. We use moisture detection tools to map out the areas with elevated moisture levels, even those not immediately visible. This helps us effectively target the drying process.

If standing water remains, we remove it using powerful pumps and industrial-grade wet vacuums. This step is crucial as it prevents further water saturation. If necessary, we’ll remove and dispose of fixtures and fittings if their presence will hinder the drying process. Depending on the type of water, we’ll then sanitise the area to make it safe.

With all standing water removed and the area sanitised, we can begin the drying process.

The process we follow and the equipment we use will depend on the nature of the site and the flood situation. We use industrial-grade dehumidifiers to extract moisture from the air and reduce humidity levels. For trapped moisture in walls and floors, we use injection and tented drying.

Throughout the drying process, we monitor the moisture levels to ensure the drying process is effective and adjust the equipment and techniques as necessary.

Once complete, we issue a dry certificate and a final report with all the key information for the property owner and insurer’s records.

Need our help?

Using ServiceMaster Restore for flood restoration and drying will minimise the damage to your property and mean you can begin reinstating it as soon as possible.

For swift restoration following a flood or water leak, contact the ServiceMaster Restore Devon team on 01803 200 278 or email office@smcdevon.co.uk

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What Restoration Services does ServiceMaster Restore Offer?

ServiceMaster Restore has been delivering premium disaster restoration services to commercial and residential clients across the UK for over 60 years.

But when we say ‘restoration services’, what do we mean?

In this blog post, we dive into the services offered at ServiceMaster Restore, including:

  • Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
  • Flood and Water Damage Restoration
  • Leak Detection
  • Graffiti and Vandalism Restoration
  • Trauma Restoration
  • Mould Removal and Inspection
  • Sanitisation, Deep Cleaning and Disinfection Services
  • ServiceMaster Restore Plus

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

After a fire, your property will be damaged from the flames themselves, as well as the smoke.

Our expert fire and smoke damage restoration services help you return to your home or business as quickly as possible.

All our technicians are fully trained in fire mitigation, restoration and corrosion control, giving you the reassurance and results you need in a difficult situation.

Furthermore, acidic residue may continue to cause damage, even after the fire has been put out.

Even a small fire can cause dangerous smoke damage and create soot that needs expert removal to be dealt with.

Our professionals can evaluate what damaged items are salvageable and act quickly to save them.

Flood and Water Damage Restoration

Following a flood or when dealing with water damage in your home from a burst pipe, your property quickly becomes at risk from both the water and the mould and bacteria it can leave behind.

All of our technicians are fully equipped to carry out professional extraction and drying processes to protect your assets and restore your property as close as possible to its prior condition.

Our top-notch equipment is also non-invasive and can be run quietly so you don’t lose sleep while your home dries.

Leak Detection

At ServiceMaster Restore, we also carry out sophisticated leak detection services to identify water damage before it happens and stop it in its tracks – sparing you the cost and stress of dealing with damage from water in your property.

Our top-of-the-range and non-invasive equipment uses infrared cameras, acoustic sensors and moisture metres to identify a leak and check for moisture to mitigate potential damage and give you peace of mind.

Graffiti and Vandalism Restoration

The façade of your property is as vital to safeguard as its interiors.

Graffiti and vandalism can have a huge impact on your corporate image.

First impressions count and an unsightly building could lead to a loss of business, a reduction in staff morale and a negative public perception

Our specialist products can remove unwanted graffiti from walls to signage, with a rapid response and effective restoration to get your property back to normal in no time.

Trauma Restoration

Nobody wants to deal with the aftermath of an unexpected trauma.

Our experts at ServiceMaster Restore are trained to help you navigate trauma cleanup cleanly and compassionately.

Whether you need to clean up blood, bodily fluids, drug paraphernalia and other biohazards, we’re here to help.

Once at a scene, we’ll evaluate the extent of the damage and when authority is given, we will immediately begin trauma scene cleanup and restoration procedures.

We sanitise, clean, and deodorise all affected areas for infectious pathogens including HIV, Hepatitis A, B and C and Tuberculosis.

Once the infectious pathogens have been eradicated, we take all steps to return the residence or business to its original state before the incident.

Mould removal and inspection

Mould can be a nasty and dangerous presence on your property.

Responsible for damage to your home or business and likely causing ill-health for its inhabitants, mould must be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

At ServiceMaster Restore, we’re here to protect you and your property from mould damage by using advanced tools to detect and effectively remove it.

If you have even the smallest suspicion that there may be mould in your property, call the experts and we’ll be here to help put you at ease.

Commercial-specific Services

Sanitisation, Deep Cleaning and Disinfection Services

Serious damage to your business, education or healthcare facility can also come from viruses.

Prevent flu or cold viruses from stopping your operation with ServiceMaster Restore’s comprehensive sanitisation, deep cleaning and disinfection services and products.

We carry out room and building contamination, fogging and surface sanitisation services using BDMA-qualified technicians and specialist products that meet the Emerging Pathogen Standard to be effective against many virus strains.

This includes SaniMaster, our effective sanitising and decontamination product widely used within hospitals, food preparation areas and schools to kill 99% of viruses like Cdiff, HIV and enveloped viruses

ServiceMaster Restore Plus

ServiceMaster Restore Plus caters to professionals navigating the intricacies of property claims.

Say goodbye to lengthy claims processes and say hello to being the local hero for your customers through this hassle-free add-on to your existing cover.

Our network of restoration specialists streamlines the claims process, preventing bottlenecks so that we can all be there for the people who need our support, when they need it most, with a guaranteed same-day callout for any disaster restoration work.

This offering also ensures cost efficiency through a tangible decrease in claims costs due to our proactive approach to damage mitigation.

Don’t know what to do next? We do.

Whatever damages your residential or commercial property is facing, ServiceMaster Restore is here to help.

Backed by over 60 years of experience delivering professional and comprehensive disaster restoration, prevention and mitigation services across the UK with the latest tools and expertise to help you recover from whatever life throws at you.

Disasters don’t work just 9-5 and neither do we. Our teams are on hand through our hotline 24/7, 365 days a year.

We’ll be there on 0800 021 3970 if you need us in an emergency.

Or, nationwide, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today for support with a range of premium disaster restoration services from your local heroes.

Who is ServiceMaster Restore?

ServiceMaster Restore is a UK-wide disaster recovery and specialist cleaning company.

With over 60 years of experience as part of the global ServiceMaster brand, we have the resources to take care of any disaster restoration job, no matter how tough.

Delivering disaster restoration services across the UK, from small accidents to large-scale disasters, no job is too big or small for ServiceMaster Restore.

About ServiceMaster

Our History

Founded in 1929 by Marion E. Wade, a former minor league baseball player, ServiceMaster have long stood by its customers and revolutionised how we serve them.

Beginning as an innovator in carpet cleaning by introducing cleaning carpets onsite rather than at a carpet cleaning plant, we have remained ceaseless in our drive to transform what we do.

Franchising in the UK since 1959, we were the first businesses to offer both carpet and upholstery cleaning services.

Later adding disaster restoration amongst other services through other brands, we now have over 700 franchise licenses established throughout Great Britain across seven brands in various sectors.

Our Present

Today, ServiceMaster Restore is committed to helping our communities rebuild after a disaster, helping businesses get back to work, and helping our neighbours restore their homes to pre-loss conditions.

Whether dealing with a burst pipe that impacts one home or a flood that affects the entire community, we’re by your side to restore your property and peace of mind.

We have 24/7/365 UK call centres and over 100 service centres across the UK.

So, when disaster strikes, we can be there…fast.

Nationally trusted, locally owned

When disaster strikes, it hits close to home.

Our nationwide company has locally owned franchises employing team members who live in the very communities we serve.

These teams have the experience to know difficult situations call for understanding and compassion, as well as a quick response.

That’s why our service is tailored around you and what your business needs.

Our technicians are trained to use the correct technique for every situation to ensure an efficient and effective result.

Better connected

At ServiceMaster Restore, our professionals also work with insurance-approved providers to streamline the claims process and avoid the red tape that often stops the help getting to those in need when it matters most.

Through our exclusive ServiceMaster Restore Plus offering, we’ve sculpted a service that understands the diverse needs across sectors, ensuring guaranteed same-day callouts, excpetional service and cheaper claims costs.

With Restore Plus, lengthy, expensive claims processes are history.

When disaster strikes, we’ve got you covered!

Learn more

Don’t know what to do next after a disaster? We do.

To learn more about ServiceMaster Restore and how we can help you, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today.

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Case study: Flood Remediation in Devon

How the ServiceMaster Clean Devon team restores flooding damage in a flash.

At this time of year, winter storms bring sudden heavy rainfall that can flood homes and properties.

Floodwater can cause extensive property damage and create a possible health hazard from contaminated water, so clearing up after a flood requires expert and prompt remedial care.

With 60 years of expertise, ServiceMaster Restore is one of the longest-established disaster restoration companies in the UK and a founding member of the BDMA, which sets the industry standards for fire and flood restoration.

They use experienced technicians and specialist equipment to restore properties to their pre-loss condition with minimal disruption and delay.

This recent case study from ServiceMaster Clean Devon‘s Restore Team provides insight into the process and the benefits of using their services.

What was the problem?

The team were called to assist after a 1902 mid-terraced property was flooded during a heavy downpour.

Black water had entered the house via the front entrance and, due to its volume, passed throughout the ground floor, affecting the kitchen to the rear, the front living room (including a timber-clad understairs cupboard that houses a washing machine and an upright fridge freezer), and the lower section of the carpeted staircase.

The water levels reached approximately 0.6 metres.

Upon our arrival, the homeowner was removing contents from the affected areas.

There was extensive saturation and deposited sediment, particularly beneath the kitchen units.

Solution

First, the team undertook a moisture assessment, which showed high levels as expected.

However, the readings were lower than anticipated in the living room, at skirting levels and to the decorated lower walls, meaning remediation needn’t require major strip-out works to this room.

They then completed a visual inspection of the property:

  • The original historic tiled floor showed no obvious structural defects and has reportedly withstood several similar occurrences. Therefore, we left this structure intact and monitored it throughout the cleanup.
  • They found signs of damage to the understairs cupboard, which had timber tongue and grooved cladding and would need removal.
  • Within the kitchen, the base kitchen units were damaged and would need removal to allow a complete sanitising treatment and facilitate the operation of our drying system.

With the assessment complete, the team began the remedial works, which included:

  • Removal of the kitchen base units and range oven.
  • Removal of all the understairs timber cladding.
  • Thorough rinse, extraction and sanitisation of all affected materials.
  • Injection and tented drying to the affected walls and floors to dry all the trapped moisture.

Outcome

Our input prevented further damage to the property, made it safe and ensured it dried out swiftly.

The homeowner was able to begin reinstating their home in the quickest possible time.

Upon completion, the team issued a dry certificate and a final report with all the essential information for the homeowner and insurer records.

In a pinch?

For expert disaster restoration services, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business or contact the ServiceMaster Clean Devon team on 01803 200 278 or email office@smcdevon.co.uk.

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New disaster restoration franchise opens in Bath and Bristol

Meet the new owner of the brand-new ServiceMaster Restore franchise business in Bath and Bristol.

ServiceMaster Restore is a nationwide disaster restoration franchise which has operated in the UK since 1959.

The brand’s latest franchisee, Edgar Thoemmes, comes from a small business background, having set up three businesses over the last 15 years and built them to a high standard.

His latest venture, a ServiceMaster Restore franchise covering Bath and Bristol, uses his wealth of experience to oversee a less typical operation: disaster restoration.

The work of disaster restoration professionals can take many shapes.

But it’s safe to say it’s not your average day job, as it can involve cleaning and restoring properties after disasters like fire and flooding, biohazards and trauma scenes.

It is also safe to say that sometimes, we can all be guilty of harbouring some morbid curiosity around this line of work.

So much so that it has even inspired ‘The Cleaner’, a recent BBC TV show starring Greg Davies.

But what makes someone start work as a disaster restoration professional? And what does their work mean for the general public?

We sat down with Edgar and his new General Manager, Adrian Matusik, to discuss their new business and the value of their services to the local community.

Their roles

As General Manager, Adrian will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of ServiceMaster Restore Bath and Bristol, with Edgar driving the business and its expansion from a strategic point of view.

“Altogether, we bring more than 75 years of experience across different fields, which we all specialise in,” says Adrian.

Background

Adrian has been led to ServiceMaster Restore through his interest in construction.

“I’m fascinated by construction,” he says.

“How things were built 1000 years ago, a hundred years ago, and how we are going about it today.”

Naturally, Adrian’s background includes 15 years in construction management.

He began as an on-site labourer before progressing through management to become a Senior Site Manager and won multiple awards for his attention to detail and site management skills.

He says this gave him plenty of valuable expertise, which he can use in his new role.

“Construction management is all about problem-solving and being efficient and honest. My construction background will give me a wealth of knowledge to restore the product to the highest standards and ensure the customer is happy.”

“[I’m] looking to build out a team that can scale quickly, so it’s vital that we get that team in place from day one,” Edgar adds.

Therefore, he began hiring early, with Adrian being the perfect first recruit.

“[Adrian has] got so much experience [and] expertise in his area and the right attitude and hands-on approach [to] the work [and] supporting customers,” says Edgar.

What can you expect from ServiceMaster Restore?

ServiceMaster Restore is a disaster recovery and specialist cleaning company with the experience and latest equipment to handle difficult and potentially grizzly situations quickly and with understanding and compassion.

Whether it’s:

  • Leak Detection
  • Trauma cleaning
  • Fire and smoke
  • Flood and water
  • Leak detection
  • Graffiti and Vandalism
  • Mould removal and inspection

ServiceMaster Restore will help restore property damage or trauma in the first 24 hours.

“Our goal is to offer a complete end-to-end disaster recovery solution for property managers, brokers, [and] facilities managers,” Edgar says.

Because of his background, Adrian is well prepared to serve clients in the Bath and Bristol region thanks to his keen eye for detail and excellent customer skills.

“The customer is there to be helped, and we are there to help. I would like us to be associated with a positive approach,” he says.

“From the day we meet the customer, they can always count on us to ensure that they are fully taken care of and that the property is restored to the highest finish possible.”

He says he is excited to begin supporting people in the local area and delivering satisfaction to them in their time of need.

“Seeing other people in the franchise that are delivering excellent quality and seeing happy faces on customers is really exciting,” he says.

“I think it’s priceless. You’re helping people with something terrible that happened to them, and it’s like Christmas has come early for them. It’s something that has no price tag.”

Contact Us

If you need professional, compassionate and fast-acting disaster restoration services in the Bristol and Bath region and would benefit from the services and support from local experts backed by over 60 years of industry experience, contact the team at ServiceMaster Restore today on 0117 205 3507 or find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business to learn more about our coverage nationwide.

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Types of Flooding

Different types of flooding and how to combat them.

When you think of flooding, it probably seems straightforward: rain, rain, rain, with nowhere to go… flooding.

However, it isn’t quite so simple.

There are various types of floods, and the damage each can do to your home can be different.

Knowing which types of floods could affect your home is essential to better prepare for the disaster.

Different Types of Floods:

  • Coastal flood
  • River flood
  • Flash flood
  • Groundwater flood
  • Sewage flood

Coastal Flooding

A coastal flood is an accumulation of water on land caused by waves, tides, storm surge, or heavy rainfall.

Coastal areas are prone to flooding because they are near the ocean.

Due to climate change, the risk is expected to continue to grow.

According to the Office for National Statistics, over 5.3 million residents live in coastal towns in England and Wales, of which 3.5 million live in seaside towns and 1.9 million in other coastal towns.

Coastal flooding can have dire consequences, from drownings and injuries to contaminated water-caused sicknesses to mental health problems.

Some of these include mental health issues caused by stress during the flooding, injuries while attempting to escape from the water or falling debris, respiratory illness due to damp environments that can lead to mould damage, and coming into contact with contaminated flood water.

There are three levels of coastal flooding:

  • Minor: Low likelihood of property damage and not directly life-threatening
  • Moderate: Elevated likelihood of property damage and possibly life-threatening
  • Major: Significant likelihood of property damage and seriously life-threatening

River Flooding

A river flood occurs when water rises over the top of riverbanks.

Any size of river and stream has the potential to flood, with rivers having an increased potential to overflow once every two years.

Typically, river flooding is caused by extreme rainfall, long-lasting thunderstorms, combined rainfall and snowmelt, and ice jams.

These pulses of melting snow or rain cause water to rise above the riverbanks and flood surrounding areas.

Though river floods can usually be predicted, there is potential for unexpected property damage if a dam or dike breaks.

However, most of the causes of river floods often stem from storms that allow enough warning for those in surrounding areas to evacuate safely.

Flash Flooding

Flash flooding begins within 6 hours of heavy rainfall and is often caused by severe thunderstorms and other weather patterns.

Flash floods can also be the result of a dam or levee breaking.

Several factors contribute to the severity of a flash flood, including:

  • The intensity of the rainfall
  • Location of the rainfall
  • Landscape
  • Soil type and condition

Urban areas are more prone to flash floods than suburban or rural areas, and the damage is likely to be greater with less soil to soak up the water.

However, the lack of soil is not the only reason for this increased risk of flash floods.

Areas that have soil but haven’t seen rain in some time are in similar danger since the water cannot be absorbed by the soil fast enough, leading to water quickly running off to lower areas.

The greatest danger with flash flooding is that it can occur quickly and leave little time to prepare.

Those in areas of heavy rainfall are urged to know the difference between flood watches and warnings to identify if an evacuation is needed.

Most flood-related deaths are the result of flash foods.

They can also lead to significant structural damage to homes, including foundation damage, damage to appliances, and long-term harm resulting from mould.

Groundwater Flooding

Groundwater floods are usually the result of inundated drainage systems by significant rain that causes water to overflow into streets and nearby properties.

They are equally likely to occur in urban and rural areas.

Fortunately, groundwater flooding happens gradually when the water levels are shallow, so homeowners often have time to remove their possessions.

However, this groundwater flooding can be troublesome because it may persist for weeks or months until the soil can absorb the standing water.

As a result, they can lead to significant danger to homes, with an increased likelihood of structural damage to properties and more risk to long-term risks such as mould.

Sewage Flooding

Sewage flooding is caused when unexpected heavy rainfall overwhelms sewage systems or treatment plants, causing them to break down and release untreated sewage into water bodies.

Sewage floods are arguably the most unpleasant, with sewage leaking through pipes or drains or coming up through toilets, sinks, or showers.

These floods are the most hazardous because the water is contaminated with harmful bacteria and chemicals that can cause infections, diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, and other diseases.

Fast response and a thorough and detailed clean-up by experts familiar with sewage cleanup services are vital in these situations.

Recover from Flooding Damage to Your Home

No matter the type of flood, the damage to your home can be severe.

Each home flooding situation is different and requires an expert to know the correct steps that need to be taken and how to best recover from the damage.

ServiceMaster Restore has qualified flood and water damage restoration experts who are highly skilled and can get your home back to normal as quickly as possible after a flood occurs.

See how your local experts can help you by finding your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today.

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Case Study: How to optimise business continuity after disaster with ServiceMaster Restore Plus

How we ensured optimal business continuity in 24 hours after substantial fire damage with ServiceMaster Restore+.  

ServiceMaster Restore in Rotherham and Barnsley recently supported a company headquarters after a severe arson attack on the property resulted in significant fire damage to the ground floor.

The property, a substantial, stone-built, double-fronted detached two-storey office building, had to halt, disrupting and hurting their operation.

This is a major issue for businesses after significant damage, as they cannot get running again in much time (if at all!)

According to the London Fire Brigade, nearly 60% of businesses never recover after a fire.

Thanks to ServiceMaster Restore Plus, which streamlines the claims processes through our network of approved and accredited professionals, we restored the business to a safe working environment in twenty-four hours!

Here’s how…

What was the damage?

Fire Damage

The arson attack heavily damaged the left side of the building, necessitating an evaluation of Beyond Economic Repair (BER) contents.

Widespread Debris and Water Damage

The front and ground floor were covered in debris, with approximately 1 inch of water mixed with fire-damaged debris.

Electrical Safety Concerns

Power was cut off by the fire brigade when assisting with the fire.

How ServiceMaster Restore Responded with a same-day callout

  1. Following the emergency callout facilitated by ServiceMaster Restore Plus, the team conducted an immediate assessment.
  2. They then efficiently removed excess water from the right-hand side of the ground floor office area and deployed drying equipment, ensuring optimal levels were maintained.
  3. They then conducted a comprehensive electrical safety test and established a temporary power supply to support drying.
  4. Following this, they cleared extensive debris inside and outside the building and performed a BER assessment of the damaged contents.
  5. To restore the floor and interior, they removed water-damaged commercial vinyl flooring.
  6. Plans were made to overboard the subfloor for restoration and to conduct decor works on skirting boards and walls.
  7. Finally, they implemented ozone generation for deodorisation and thoroughly cleaned the entire property.

The result

When the business was in danger of significant disruption and permanent damage, our swift and effective response mitigated further damage, and the business could continue trading with minimal downtime.

The interventions allowed the client to plan for a return to their offices with minimal impact on their business operations.

Want to optimise business continuity after a disaster?

Through our network of trained and accredited professionals and our swift response through Restore Plus, ServiceMaster Restore’s capability to manage complex commercial property restoration efficiently ensures the continuity of business operations following catastrophic events.

If you require professional restoration services and want to minimise disruption to your business while ensuring unparalleled restoration results, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today to see how we can help you in a crisis.

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How to prepare your property for Storm Agnes: Top Safety Tips

Storm Agnes is coming.

With the area of low-pressure officially dubbed Storm Agnes by the Met Office set to hit much of the UK this week, here’s everything you need to know and how to prepare to prevent potential damages.

What can we expect from Storm Agnes?

The Met Office warns that:

“Storm Agnes will move into western areas of the UK and Ireland on Wednesday, with the strongest winds most likely on Irish Sea coasts, though it will be a widely windy day across the UK.”

Rain

To be more precise, we can expect around 60mm of rain in some areas of Scotland and heavy rain across the UK.

As Agnes moves north towards the end of the week, rain will move south in heavy bursts on Thursday and Friday across England and Wales.

Wind

A yellow weather warning for wind has also been issued across the UK on Wednesday and Thursday, with only the southeast of England currently except.

Inland areas can expect a high likelihood of wind gusts around 50 to 60mph, while exposed areas like coastland may see gusts ranging from 65-80mph.

This may cause transport disruption, with some roads and bridges closing.

Preventing Potential Property Damage

The wind warning may pose a risk to buildings, as well as the possibility of power cuts for some.

Wind is the most common form of damage and disruption in the UK, with 184 recorded deaths from wind-related building failures between 1962 and 1995.

Here are our top tips for storm preparation:

  1. Secure Loose Objects

Secure all loose objects such as ladders, outdoor furniture, or anything that could be blown into windows and cause damage.

  1. Fasten Doors and Windows

Close and securely fasten all doors and windows, like those for a garage.

  1. Gas, Electric and Water Supply

Remind yourself how to turn off your gas, electric and water supplies. You may need to do this in a pinch, and it’s best to be prepared.

  1. Check all Gutters are Clear

Check all of your gutters and drain pipes are clear to avoid blockages.

  1. Unplug Electronics

Unplug all non-essential electrical appliances.

  1. Have an Evacuation Plan

Have an evacuation plan ready in case of an emergency.

What if Storm Agnes damages your property?

If your property is the victim of damage during Storm Agnes, ServiceMaster Restore will be there to aid in the aftermath and restoration.

To learn more about our services, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today or call 0845 762 6828 in an emergency.