SERVPRO® of Chattanooga

Newsline

Like it never even happened. ®

May 2013

Managing

MoldDo you hear the word mold and cringe? In this issue, learn the difference between good and bad mold, and how to manage it! page 4

READY for Whatever Happens:

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage

As many as 50% of busi-nesses close down fol-lowing a disaster, accord-ing to the latest research. Of the businesses that

survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. And knowing you are “Ready for whatever happens” speaks trust to your clients and employ-ees that in the event your business is affected by a disaster, they don’t necessarily have to be.

You can plan ahead for your business by calling SERVPRO of Chattanooga to perform an Emer-gency READY Profile for your building. By devel-oping a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in the event of an emer-gency such as fire, water, or tornado damage. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help mini-mize how a disaster can affect your business.

What is a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile you ask? Good question. It’s

• a no cost assessment of your facility (building only) that describes how to specifically handle emergency situations within the structure such as fire, flood, tornado, etc. This is a great value at no cost to you! • a concise Profile Document that contains only the

Message from the Owner

Jeff CuthbertsonOwner, SERVPRO® of Chattanooga

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critical information needed in the event of an emer-gency, like where the power shut offs are, where entrances and exits are located in your building, easiest access points, and who to contact. Essen-tially, one of our Emergency Ready Profile techni-cians will go onsite to your facility, fill out a profile specific to your business, compile that information into a folder, and present it back to you. It will be accessible through an app on your smartphone, too, so if there is ever a disaster, you or your staff can pull it up and immediately know who to call to help, and we will know where to begin work! • a guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster and get your business up and running again. This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an im-mediate plan of action. The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile estab-lishes SERVPRO of Chattanooga as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. You have a LOCAL provider that is recognized as an industry leader to get your business back on its feet fol-lowing a disaster. It identifies the line of command for authorizing work to begin so we can begin mitigating the damage quickly which can save you time and money. It provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. And did we mention, it’s free?

Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance of an emergency so that during the emergency you are “Ready for whatever happens.”

So think about it - what do YOU have to lose?

Contact us today at 423-326-1406 to schedule the completion of a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business.

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself dur-ing severe weather is to have a weather radio in your home or office. Did you know having a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-tion (NOAA) weather radio is just as important as having a fire alarm?

A weather radio is designed to alert you to dan-gerous weather situations such as an approach-ing tornado. It allows you to be warned ahead of approaching storms providing you time to seek shelter. A weather radio is the most reli-able source for weather alerts. There are many different weather radios available for purchase, but there are a few key features to consider be-fore selecting one. The following are the most important features to look for in a weather radio.

• Reviewable alerts (you can scroll throughalerts and turn off the siren for alerts you donot wish to hear).

• Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME)alert programming (alerts when specificcounties are threatened, ensuring you onlyreceive alerts for your county).

• Ease of programming.

Most major retailers and online stores offerweather radios with these features for around$30. If you need help programming your weath-er radio, you can always contact your local Na-tional Weather Service Office or for additionalinformation, including county codes for yourstate, visit the NOAA Weather Radio website atwww.nws.noaa.gov/nwr.

To find out how to receive emergency alerts on your smartphone, please see the article high-lighted in the orange box.

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Tools to help you be

for severe weatherPrepared

If you live in an area that has seen severe weather recently, you may have noticed text message and audio/vibra-

tion alerts for severe weather warn-ings. These alerts are generated by the

new nationwide text emergency alertsystem, Wireless Emergency Alerts

(WEA). The system, launched in 2012, includes an app pre-installed on most smartphones. The app is designed to

alert you of extreme weather warnings, local emergencies requiring evacuation

or immediate action, AMBER alerts, and presidential alerts during a na-

tional emergency. WEA are broadcast from area cell towers to mobile devices in the area. For more information, visit

www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherready-nation/wea.html.

If your phone is not equipped with this feature, there is another option. The American Red Cross has designed several emergency mobile applica-tions, including a Tornado App and

Hurricane App. The apps use GPS to determine your location, then alert youto any warnings in the area. Once the

warning is cancelled or expires,the app will issue an “all clear” alert. The apps are available through the

Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for

American Red Cross, oronline at www.redcross.org/mobile-

apps.

Wireless Emergency Alerts

Managing

MOLD.Mold– It is a four letter word that makes most people cringe. But contrary to popular belief, not all mold is danger-ous; some mold is even quite useful. Fungi and mold naturally occur in our environment. More than 100,000 different types of fungi have been identified. Fungi is pres-ent in our everyday lives in bread and baked prod-ucts; the unique flavor of blue cheese is the result of mold. Though some types of mold can be use-ful, many other forms can be harmful. Excessive amounts of mold and mold exposure may pres-ent health concerns for some people.

The intrusion of water into your home or busi-ness may result in mold growth. Water intru-

sions can be caused by storm damage, plumb-ing or equipment fail-ures, long standing leaks and poor humidity control. When these wa-ter intrusions are not ad-dressed right away, the resulting damage can be an increased risk ofharmful mold growth. Mold spores are normal-ly present in most envi-ronments. If the humidity and moisture levels in a water damaged environ-

ment are not controlled, mold spores can grow and multiply. Organic materials found inside a

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Various types of household mold.

“More than 100,000 different types of fungi have been

identified...Though some types of mold can be useful, many other forms can be

harmful.”

building, like wood, drywall, paper and insula-tion, provide a food source for mold, allowing growth to flourish. This can lead to indoor envi-ronmental conditions that pose a health threat.

SERVPRO® of Chattanooga handles water damages everyday and knows prompt action is required to prevent mold growth. Mold is more likely to spread when an environment has been subject to moisture for an extended period of time. If your property has sustained a recent water damage, it is vital to remove excesswater and dry the structure promptly. Once theenvironment is dry, it is important the structureis properly cleaned.

When determining if you have a mold problem,be alert for: the presence of visible mold, strongmusty odors, evidence of past moisture prob-lems and excessive humidity.

If you fear you have a mold problem, call SERVPRO® of Chattanooga immediately at 423-326-1406. A technician trained in mold re-mediation will examine the structure and deter-mine the steps needed to contain and clean the affected areas.

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“When...water intrusions are not

addressed right away, the resulting damage can be an increased risk of harmful mold

growth...If the humidity and moisture

levels...are not controlled, mold

spores can grow and multiply.”

Mold is all around us.A: FACT. Mold is found throughout all parts of our environ-

ment. To thrive, it simply requires moisture, an organic food source, and oxygen. If these elements are abundant,

mold can amplify and colonize.

You must remove every mold spore in an indoor environment for safe human habitation.

A: FICTION. Because mold naturally occurs in our everyday environments, it is not necessary to remove every spore from our presence. Spores must simply be removed to

reduce them back to normal levels usually found indoors.

Mold is always harmful to people.A: FICTION. We breath it in our air, we eat it in our foods, and we drink it in our water every day with no ill effects. Some people do develop allergy-like symptoms when

exposed to certain molds. And there are a few molds that have been associated with serious health problems, but they are rare. Because without testing in a lab nobody

knows for certain which kind of mold may be present, and because most people don’t know how a given mold will

affect them, it is wise to remove all colonizing molds from indoor environments.

Bleach kills mold.A: FICTION. Bleach does to mold what bleach does to

most things; it bleaches it. Most mold contins mycotoxins which are used to fend off other molds from encroach-ing upon their foodsource; drywall, insulation materials,

glues, etc. These mycotoxins are what humns respond to which can cause problematic symptoms. Even if bleach is applied to mold, the mycotoxins remain, and if breathed or ingested, can still cause problems for some people. There-fore, the way to remedy a mold situation is to “remove it.”

Anyone can perform mold remediation.A: FICTION. Removing mold spores to every day levels

is known as mold remediation. Though most states do not require a business to have employees certified in mold re-mediation, trying to remediate mold without proper training is a formula for failure. Organizations such as the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, the

American Council for Accredited Certification, or the Indoor Air Quality Association have stringent training and testing procedures that SERVPRO of Chattanooga’s technicians complete before performing mold remediation. Call us at

423-326-1406 if you need help with a mold problem.

MOLD:Fact or Fiction?

Upcoming Events

We would love to have you participate at any one of our upcoming events! For more information or how to join us,

please call Meghan at 423-326-1406, or E-mail

meghan.w@servprochat.com.

May 4, 2013Firefighter

Appreciation Day

May 18, 2013Bowl for Kids’ Sake

Big Brother, Big SisterCharitable Event

June 13, 2013FREE C.E. Course

in Restorative Drying for

Water Damage

Check back every issue for added or updated events!

Like us on Facebook!www.facebook.com/servprochattanooga

Bowl for Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga’s largest fundraiser of the year and will be held on

Saturday, May 18th, 2013 at Holiday Bowl Brainerd.

This event has been held locally since 1987 and had 320 bowlers in

2012 representing numerous companies throughout Chattanooga. All the money raised stays here in our

community to help provide more children with caring mentors.

We have some companies who like to challenge their competitors, their other company locations, or internally for the highest score, best outfits, most teams, etc. This event is a great way to build

company relationships and overall morale. To sign up, visit

ChattanoogaBFKS.kintera.org or call 698-8016.