Home Restoration Is Achievable with SERVPRO | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

8/14/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of North Kenosha County is your local restoration expert. We are the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration.

As a SERVPRO franchise, we have the advantage of learning from the best in our industry. While it is great to have the national brand behind us, we are also your neighbor down the street.

When tragedy strikes, you may not know where to begin, but SERVPRO can help. Our team gets to work right away, assessing the damage and determining what we need to do.

SERVPRO of North Kenosha County can help your home or business recover from damage in any of the following areas:

Water Damage in Your North Kenosha Home | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

8/13/2022 (Permalink)

No matter the damage sustained, SERVPRO of North Kenosha County has the tools and team to help your home return to a normal state quickly.

A defective fixture, like a leaky faucet, might appear irrelevant right now. However, you don’t want to ignore any issues in your home that have to do with water. The average household leak can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year.

Water damage advances quickly, saturating floors and delicate surfaces. It’s vital to resolve the issue immediately to get the best outcome.

Here is a timetable of how water damage progresses:

How Different Types of Flooding Could Affect You | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

4/9/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO of North Kenosha County has the team to help you recover from any disastrous event.

In the United States, flooding is the most common natural disaster, killing more people every year than hurricanes, tornadoes, or lightning. Depending on how much excess water accumulates in an area, it can affect everything from individual homes to entire communities.

Each state and every U.S. territory are affected by flooding, but their types and causes are similar. There are three common types of flooding, and a variety of reasons can cause them.

<h4types-of-natural-flooding">3 Types of Natural Flooding

Flash floods are common, and they happen when heavy rain passes or sits over an area and overwhelms the ability of the ground to contain the moisture. Excess water runs off and takes garbage cans, cars and more with it.

River floods are exactly what they sound like. When there’s too much water for a river’s banks to hold, the water spills over the sides and causes destruction. In the span of just 10 years, FEMA issued five emergency declaration for the Fox River Floodplain in Kenosha County. The Fox River Flood Mitigation Program removed 56 structures with the help of grants from several organizations to temper flooding from Fox River. FEMA estimates the program helped avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in flood damage.

Coastal floods happen in areas next to large bodies of water, when storm surges or cyclonic activity causes ocean or gulf levels to rise to flood levels.

<h4most-common-causes-of-natural-flooding">The Most Common Causes of Natural Flooding

Heavy rainfall. Thunderstorms with excessive rainfall or storms that sit and rest over an area for an extended period of time can cause flash floods or river flooding. Rain floods in urban areas are more likely, as there is a lack of soil to soak up all that water due to the higher percentage of concrete and asphalt.

Oceanic activity. Storm surges, hurricanes and rising tides can cause waves to rise, which can wreak havoc on coastal towns.

Dams and levees failing. The most notable example of this in recent history would be the disastrous levee breaks during 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Whenever cracks develop or excess pressure exceeds the dam’s ability to contain a flood, levees and dams fail.

Snowmelts and ice dams. In areas of the United States where snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures are common, snow and ice can build up over a winter’s time, causing rivers of water to flow through communities. Ice dams or ice jams happen when rivers become blocked by built-up ice being carried downstream, causing the banks to overflow.

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover from its disastrous effects. Contact us anytime when flooding or water damage makes a mess in your life.

The Business Partner You Didn’t Realize You Needed | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

3/19/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of North Kenosha County are your local commercial restoration experts. Contact us today should you experience any damage.

When it comes to keeping a business viable, you can use all the assistance you can get. As a property manager or owner, you are well aware of how challenging it is to just keep things running. For enterprises like yours, significant disruptions or losses might mean permanently shutting your doors.

However, your organization already has a built-in silent partner for all of its cleaning and recovery needs, and it’s right here in Kenosha County. SERVPRO can handle various business needs to the extent that it’s as if you have a committed ally in charge of an entire part of your corporation’s operation.

Consider what we mean:

Large loss recovery. Fires, storms and flooding are among the most common causes of financial loss for businesses around the nation, and they may cause much more harm if action is not taken quickly. When you call SERVPRO, you are contacting a top-tier expert team that is accessible 24 hours a day to provide proven emergency services and assist you in rapidly regaining your footing.

Emergency Ready Plan. If your business is prepared, rehabilitation starts prior to the occurrence of a disaster. We can help you in developing the most effective approach for implementation of an Emergency Ready Plan when the time comes. During a crisis, you may need an emergency chain of command, alternate meeting or work locations, temporary suppliers, or other services—and we’ll get you set up with a single button push that launches all of those plans into action.

Cleaning of All Kinds. We have a solution for every situation, from trauma site cleanup and safe biohazard removal to routine cleaning and restoration in high-traffic areas. We’ve been doing this for a long period of time and have seen and cleaned everything that can be cleaned.

Restoration Services. Flash flooding may occur as a result of storms. Interns may inadvertently spark a fire. A ruptured water line could cause flooding. All of these situations require cleanup and restoration, which SERVPRO is an expert at. You can rely on us to restore the sparkle to your company after a property damage incident, from water removal through restoration.

Industry Specialization. We are capable of assisting any company, having spent decades learning the ins and outs of each industry. We can handle any cleaning or restoration needs your business may have, regardless of how specific or uncommon they are.

Whatever your recovery need may be, and whatever your commercial property may require, trust SERVPRO to get the job done. Contact us today to get started on an Emergency Ready Plan or find out how we can serve your business.

SERVPRO’s Emergency Preparedness Plan for Businesses | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

3/12/2022 (Permalink)

If the day comes where your business is hit with disaster or emergency, you can rest assured SERVPRO of North Kenosha County will be there to help.

Managing a company requires a full-time commitment. Actually, running a business is often an overtime job. You manage personnel, handle payroll and stay current with an ever-changing environment, all while competing in the marketplace, attempting to innovate and present a professional image on social media. It’s a lot, and walking this tightrope is quite difficult.

That is why it often only takes one setback to permanently derail a business for good. According to FEMA, 40% of small businesses do not reopen after a natural disaster hits, and a quarter of those that do end up shutting down again within a year.

And with the fresh memory of pandemic shutdowns and anxieties uncertainties about the future, it is more critical than ever for organizations to have a strong emergency plan in place. Around 75% of small businesses do not have a strategy in place, and this must change.

SERVPRO is delighted to assist companies in our area in becoming and being prepared for emergencies by developing an Emergency Ready Plan. We’ll assist you by doing an assessment of your location’s and industry’s unique demands and concerns.

We’ll cover everything from extreme weather events to data recovery, so that if your organization ever faces a crisis, you essentially just press “go” and the plan immediately begins working to minimize downtime and effect. You and your teams will understand the line of command, what to do and when to do it, as well as alternate suppliers and working locations.

Don’t allow inadequate preparedness to make your business journey even more difficult than it currently is. Allow the SERVPRO specialists in our area to get you back on track with an Emergency Ready Plan. It may be the difference between your firm making a comeback from a disruption and closing down for good.

When your business is ready to prioritize planning and safety to prevent extended downtime, contact SERVPRO to get the Emergency Ready Plan underway from the folks who know all there is to know about disaster and recovery.

Weather Hazard Diversity in the United States | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

3/12/2022 (Permalink)

Extreme temperature changes can lead to the possibility of severe weather. SERVPRO of North Kenosha County is a click away if you experience any damag

Due to the size of the United States, the weather trends are extremely diverse from region to region. Because of varying seasonal weather patterns from region to region, there are many distinct kinds of weather threats.

We’re going to explore what each of the nation’s major areas, including here in Wisconsin, may expect as spring approaches and warm and cold air masses collide throughout the country.

In the spring, flooding and water damage are common in the Pacific Northwest due to heavy rains. In higher elevation areas, it may also be difficult to deal with melting and runoff from spring snowfall.

In the Upper Midwest, including here in Wisconsin, and Northeast, winters are the longest and coldest in the country (as you are surely well aware of). It can be very cold all the way into late spring and early summer for the entire region, from Maine to the Dakotas. There will be a lot of snow during the winters and as the snow melts and warm air moves through, this area can anticipate flooding, severe storms and tornadoes all through the spring. Although tornadoes are not as common in Wisconsin as in other midwestern states, they do occur occasionally, particularly during the spring and summer months.

People and property in the Southwest and southern West Coast may be at risk during this season due to extreme heat waves that often approach triple digits. Tsunamis might potentially be caused by tectonic activity in the South Pacific, including Hawaii.

Wildfires are also a concern throughout the central United States, from Iowa to Texas, where they may spread quickly when conditions are dry and windy. Tornado Alley is also located in this region, which is particularly subject to severe spring storms.

Thunderstorms and tornadoes are prevalent in the Southeast, especially inland. Additionally, the region may encounter early-season storms and hurricanes along the coast.

It’s important to be prepared for severe weather regardless of where you live, even if your risk is different than that of a friend or family in another state. Each area of the United States has its own set of extreme weather threats that pose dangers to everyone.

If extreme weather leaves you with damage from water, fire or other elements, help is a click away. Contact SERVPRO for fast, expert recovery.

The Broad Range of SERVPRO Services | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

2/5/2022 (Permalink)

When you need cleanup and recovery of any kind, you can trust SERVPRO of North Kenosha County to get the job done.

The big green truck is rolling through town—perhaps you have an understanding of what’s going on. Maybe someone had a flood at home, and the truck is on its way to clean the mess.

SERVPRO is well-known as a restoration company. While that’s true, it is a portion of what we really do. We provide full-service cleaning, restoration and reconstruction. We’re your insurance company’s favorite restoration service, at that!

The following is a broader look at SERVPRO’s services:

Water damage recovery. We are there to dry up leak or flood water damage, no matter how bad it is. We’ve got what it takes.

Fire damage recovery. In the United States, fires occur every 23 seconds and that’s a 40-year downward trend. Fires can cause substantial damage, but we’ve got great experts to help.

Mold removal. Mold crops up soon after a leak, flood or other water damage, and could even threaten the structure of your home if left untreated. Because it isn’t safe for you to remove mold without proper training and expertise, you could endanger yourself and likely spread it further. Let us handle it for you.

Storm recovery. Tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and more can cause massive damage and destruction, but we take care of your recovery needs from the day of the disaster to the day you move back in.

Commercial needs. Did you know that businesses and commercial spaces of all kinds have access to all the services we provide homeowners? There are also a few more business-specific services, including specialized cleaning that is sure to instill confidence and pride in you and your customers.

General cleaning. Homes and commercial spaces need some help with cleaning here and there, especially with the big stuff. Carpets, upholstery and pretty much everything between need some extra attention, but you’ve got better things to focus on. We’ll provide the heavy clean you need so you can focus on your real life.

Specialty cleaning. Some of the specialized services we provide include document restoration, duct cleaning and biohazard cleanup. Skeptical that we can clean it? We’d love to prove you wrong!

Construction. Every now and then the worst happens and areas of your space unfortunately can’t be restored. You can trust SERVPRO to rebuild your space to preloss condition. 

Add 24-hour service and an easy insurance process to all this, and the picture becomes clear—when you need cleanup and recovery of any kind, you can trust SERVPRO to get the job done.

The Components a Fire Needs In Order to Survive | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

1/30/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business has any damage, SERVPRO of North Kenosha County is ready around the clock to help you recover.

Imagine a three-dimensional triangle. If it has a square base, you’ve got yourself a pyramid. But if it has a triangular base, you’re thinking of a tetrahedron. Forgive the geometry lesson, but we’re going somewhere.

Fire agencies and scientists use the fire tetrahedron to visually depict the four essential elements of every fire.

These are the things that must be present in order for a fire to begin—and all four must continue in order for a fire to grow and continue. Let’s look at the sides and see what we can learn about fire safety from them.

<h34-things-a-fire-needs-to-live">The 4 Things a Fire Needs to Live

Fuel. If a fire happens in the forest, but there’s nothing for it to burn, well then it can’t happen—it won’t happen. A fire can’t start without a combustible material to devour.

Heat. If the combustible material doesn’t reach a certain temperature threshold, it won’t ignite. This is why a sudden burst of flame from, say, a gas grill, may not necessarily ignite other things around it.

Oxygen. In the same way a fire can’t start with no fuel source, it couldn’t start in a vacuum. Oxygen feeds the hungry flames and allows the fire to continue.

Chemical Chain Reaction. All three of the previous elements have to keep happening, and the oxygen in particular is necessary for the chain reaction, which perpetuates the churning and expansion of the fire.

<h34-ways-to-stop-a-fire">The 4 Ways to Stop a Fire

Cool it. We say fire, you say water—it’s that engrained in us. The most common way to fight a fire is by dousing it with water, but it’s more about temperature than substance. Water is the quickest accessible way to cool the burning material and restore a thermal balance—that is, a temperature at which the rate of cooling is greater than the rate of rising heat.

Smother it. Most fire extinguishers accomplish the task of smothering a fire by depriving it of access to the oxygen in the atmosphere. This is also how “stop, drop and roll” works—it’s not just a thing to make you look silly while you’re also on fire.

Starve it. This happens when there’s nothing left for a fire to consume, either because it’s totally obliterated whatever it was feasting on, or because surrounding fuel sources get removed before they can combust.

Interrupt the chain reaction. This one’s a little more intensely scientific, but certain chemical agents, such as halon, can be introduced into the atmosphere surrounding a fire, and they can actually interact with the oxygen and break up the chan reaction that keeps a fire going. Halon is actually great at this, but its production has been halted because it has a negative impact on the ozone layer.

If the fire tetrahedron makes a wreck of your home or business, we’re ready around the clock to help you recover. Contact SERVPRO anytime for fast, thorough cleanup and recovery after a fire.

How SERVPRO Gets Your Home Dry After a Water Incident | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

1/22/2022 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes, make the call to SERVPRO of North Kenosha County for A-to-Z cleanup and restoration.

Here’s a quick math problem for all the numbers folks: If 14,000 Americans on average deal with a water issue every day, how many does that make a year? Let’s see…carry the one…and…well, it’s a lot.

In fact, it’s estimated one in every 50 homeowners will be on the wrong end of a water insurance claim this year.

We always hope the odds will fall in your favor. But if the unfortunate occurs and you need some serious work to get dried back out, you can call your local SERVPRO team. And when you do, here’s what you can expect.

Emergency Contact. We’re going to want to quickly understand what’s going on, so we’ll get right into some questions to help guide us to that understanding. Then we’ll determine a time that’s right for us to meet with you on site to get our hands dirty.

Inspection and Water Damage Assessment. Once we get to your home, we’ll survey the damage, stopping any water that’s still flowing, and solidify the plan for cleanup and recovery. We’ll let you know if we see any items or areas that appear to be beyond restoration, and we’ll make sure you know about any lingering hazards that have resulted from the water damage.

Water Removal. Bring in the pumps! Our teams will let the machinery do the heavy lifting, so you can put that bucket away and rest your back. You’ll be amazed at the amount of water that comes out of your basement or home after a water incident—it could easily be thousands of gallons.

Damaged Material Removal. As we’ve discussed previously, it’s likely that there will be some items that sustain such damage as to make them impractical or impossible to restore. We’ll haul these items away and clear the way for the drying process to begin.

Cleaning, Sanitizing and Deodorization. Water leaves stains and makes a mess of everything, and depending on your particular situation, it could also introduce or spread contaminants and chemicals into your home. We’ll see to it that everything is restored to its safe, clean state.

Drying. The water may be gone, but there’s still moisture in the air and in your stuff. Mold will find any available organic surface and set up shop, leading the way to potential dangers like respiratory issues. So we’ll go through with a fine tooth comb (actually a HEPA vac) and remove the moisture hiding on surfaces and in the atmosphere.

Monitoring. The eyes of SERVPRO will be on your property for the duration, and we’ll make any necessary adjustments to the approach or equipment.

Repairs and Construction. Once all is dry again, reconstruction can begin. We’ll take those areas that sustained permanent damage and rebuild, until your home is back to its preloss condition.

When water damage strikes, make the call to SERVPRO for A-to-Z cleanup and restoration. We’ll make your damaged property look "Like it never even happened."

Fires at Home Start in These 5 Ways | SERVPRO® of North Kenosha County

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of West Milwaukee are here for you if your home is affected by fire.

Well over a million fires are reported to local agencies each year, and while most of them occur in natural or industrial settings, more than 25% of all reported fires happen at home, and so do over 75% of all home fire fatalities.

Statistically speaking, it’s interesting to know what the causes of these home fires are, and it can help you know where to focus your energy regarding fire safety. So let’s take a look.

Cooking. Add any two whole numbers together, and the chances that your result will be either even or odd are a statistical tie. The same goes for predicting whether a home fire will start in the kitchen: It’s the kitchen vs. the rest of the field. Half of all fires start here, and the main culprit is unattended cooking.

Heating equipment. When the weather cools down, the heaters come out. While your HVAC or natural gas can malfunction and cause fires, a main cause of fall and winter fires is the plucky little appliance called the space heater. Known to overheat, tip over or overload power supply lines, these little devices create a surprising number of issues. Make sure to upgrade to a newer model with safety feathers, and always heat safely away from flammable materials, regardless of the source.

Electrical fires. It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and with all the wiring running through your home, there’s plenty of opportunities for sparks to ignite. Never plug appliances into loose or troublesome outlets, be careful not to overload lighting fixtures with high-watt bulbs, and routinely let a pro examine your system for needed maintenance or upgrades.

Intentional fires. A reported 28,000 intentional home fires are set each year by someone purposely using ignition sources to set a piece of property ablaze. It’s almost as sad as…

Smoking materials. The leading cause of home fire deaths is the least common cause of home fires. Though only 5% of house fires begin this way, the circumstances often surrounding the fires, plus the added effect of carbon monoxide poisoning, create a deadly combination. If you smoke, always do it with utmost caution, and never smoke in bed or while you’re impaired or groggy.

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO is here for you if your home is affected by fire. Contact your local team today to see how we can help.