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Archive for the ‘Catastrophe Response’ Category

Apr
22

Rainbow International® Helps Secure Homes of West, TX

April 22nd, 2013 by Rainbow International

Rainbow International, has purchased repair items, including tarps plywood, roofing materials and two-by-fours to aid in recovery efforts.

The supplies will be available to any resident of West, TX in need of home repairs. Rainbow International franchisees and technicians have volunteered their services to aid residents in the boarding and reparation of their homes.

“Our corporate office is based in Waco and many of our employees reside in West. We have accounted for our employees and are working hard to offer our assistance to our neighbors in West,” said Rainbow International President, Rob White. “One of our local Rainbow International franchisees, Ronnie Hurst, is heading efforts to aid in securing the homes of West.”

The supplies donated by Rainbow International are available by contacting Laura at Point West Bank.

Jennifer Wright, an employee of Rainbow International’s parent company, The Dwyer Group, was the recipient of this swift and charitable response.  “We were sitting in a chair by the window at the time of the explosion. My house is about 3,000 feet from the plant. However, my sister-in-law is just up the street from the apartment complex and her roof caved in – they have lost everything.”

“It has been a week of tragedies for our country. Although this disaster happened closer to home, our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the horrific events of the week,” states Dina Dwyer-Owens, owner and CEO of The Dwyer Group. “I’m amazed by the outpouring of care and humbled by the overwhelming desire to help from our employees, franchisees, families and friends.  This is a time for doing what we do best, and helping others when they need it the most. And our Code of Values® is leading the way.”

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Current News |
Mar
22

World Water Day

March 22nd, 2013 by Rainbow International

Today is World Water Day! World Water Day began in 1993 to promote the importance of fresh water to those who live without it around the world. The event’s purpose is to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Beginning in 2003, the UN-Water has been responsible for selecting a yearly theme for World Water Day. This year, in reflection of the International Year of Water Cooperation, this day is dedicated to the theme of cooperation around water.

Take a moment today to see how you can get involved in World Water Day! Many communities hold events but even if your town is not, you can work with charities such as Charitywater.org, Givewell.org and Waterforpeople.org.

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Current News, Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup and Restoration, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Seasonal, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Mar
20

Watertown, NY Area Insurance Agents Attend Cleaning and Restoration Continuing Education Clas

March 20th, 2013 by Rainbow International

 

Local insurance agents learned about fungal remediation practices and guidelines during continuing education (CE) training by Rainbow International of Watertown, owned by Betty Grandjean, Feb. 27. CE class credits are required every two years for agents to keep their licenses.

The class of 24 was taught by Ron Clawson, Rainbow International System Sales Manager, in conjunction with the Professional Institute of Real Estate Training (PIRT).

“Our presentation is designed to teach attendees about fungus and mold development, and how it affects the repair process and the health of the occupants,” Clawson said.

Clawson gave an overview on what fungus is and how to identify it, provided information on how to reduce the cost of a loss from fungi (mold) contamination that results from water damage, and discussed the latest in regulations and industry standards.

For more information about cleaning and restoration services, or to schedule an appointment, contact Rainbow International of Watertown at (315) 786-7269 or visit www.rainbowintl.com/watertown.

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Continuing Education, Current News, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Feb
19

Soot Stained Figurine Collection Saved by Dry Steam and Use of Ultrasonic Technology

February 19th, 2013 by Rainbow International

Microwave ovens are modern conveniences we take for granted, but unfortunately, they can be very dangerous as one homeowner from Western New York recently found out.

Rainbow International® of Monroe County was called in after a woman’s home was badly burned when her microwave burst into flames and caught her kitchen on fire. Smoke and soot had blanketed the interior of the 4,000 sq. foot home along with more than thousands of figurines and dolls that the homeowner had collected.

According to franchise owner Bob Cobb, the homeowner had been collecting these dolls for many years, and the fire damage caused her much distress.

“I was so happy to have been there for her during this very stressful time,” said Cobb.

The entire first floor of the home was gutted, and the second floor had ceilings that had to come down. The rest of the home was cleaned and painted, and the dolls and figurines were meticulously cleaned.

“Normally contents to be cleaned are packed out to a cleaning facility, but our four-man crew cleaned for four weeks inside the home,” added Cobb. “A no pack-out strategy was used in this situation because it reduced packing material costs and, more importantly, lessened the chance of damage to the figurines and dolls.”

A high pressure, low moisture dry steam cleaner was used to clean the collection. Commercial vapor steam cleaners use an internal boiler to heat water under pressure, which causes the steam produced to be extremely dry (5 percent moisture), hot (220 degrees at the point of contact) and very fine (down to a particulate size of .0006 microns). Commercial steam cleaners sanitize and deodorize surfaces without chemicals.

In conjunction with the steam cleaner, an ultrasonic cleaning system was used. An ultrasonic washer is a cleaning device that uses ultrasound and a cleaning solvent to clean delicate items. In an ultrasonic, the object to be cleaned is placed in a tank. Ultrasonic cleaning uses high frequency sound waves to agitate in a liquid. Cavitation bubbles induced by the agitation act on contaminants adhering to substrates like metals, glass, and in this case ceramics. The equipment effectively penetrates holes, cracks and recesses for the ultimate clean.

With an ultrasonic cleaner, five to 20 items can be cleaned in three to four minutes, versus cleaning by hand that can take three to five minutes per item. Ultrasonic cleaners are used to clean many different types of objects including jewelry, optical lenses, watches, dental instruments and electronic equipment.

“The heat had unfortunately cracked some of the figurines, but we were able to save 95 percent of them,” said Cobb. “The homeowner was very pleased with the results and with the successful cleaning and deodorization of her home.”

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup and Restoration, Tips and Hints |
Nov
2

Expert Tips for Hurricane Sandy Recovery, Future Emergency Preparation

November 2nd, 2012 by Rainbow International

With more than eight million Americans without power and 38 people reported dead in the U.S. from the super storm so far, Hurricane Sandy has homeowners in desperate need of service and repair.

“It’s important for those affected by the devastation to take action and begin clean-up efforts to keep from causing additional damage,” said Rainbow International® President Rob White.

If your home has experienced damage from Hurricane Sandy, consider the following tips from service experts Rainbow International, Mr. Electric® and Glass Doctor®:

  • Turn off the breaker in the damaged area before you unplug or remove any electrical devices located near wet carpet.
  • Place aluminum foil under the legs of any furniture in contact with wet carpet to prevent stains on the carpet.
  • Remove books, shoes, paper goods, fabrics, potted plants, and other items from the floor to prevent stains.
  • Don’t use a vacuum, since electrical shock may result.

Take a proactive stance and make sure your home or business is ready for the next storm. Hurricane Sandy serves as an example of the importance of storm preparation. Utilize the following to begin your emergency planning:

  • Contact a certified electrician to perform a generator consultation.
  • Store enough non-perishable food and water for two weeks.
  • Secure windows with plywood panels or call Glass Doctor to board up your windows prior to the storm.
  • Have an Emergency Storm Kit stocked with a first aid kit, flashlights, batteries and a radio.

By taking precautions today, your home and family will be protected from future storms. For more information, visit www.dwyergroup.com.

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Current News, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Safety, Tips and Hints, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Oct
26

Protecting Your Home Before and After Hurricane Sandy

October 26th, 2012 by Rainbow International

Did you know that Rainbow International® does more than just water, fire, and smoke restoration? We also offer services that are helpful in preparation for disasters like hurricanes. At Rainbow, we are not only there for our customers after a disaster has occurred, but we also try to be there in advance so we can help prevent any damage from occurring.

Some pre-disaster services we provide are as follows:

  • Boarding up windows
  • Preventing leaks by putting tarps over roofing
  • 24-hour emergency service
  • All work performed by certified, professional and courteous technicians

If your home has experienced water damage from Hurricane Sandy, it is important that you locate a water damage repair company that is well trained and has the equipment to completely dry your home as quickly as possible.

Water damage is progressive and items that could be restored within the first 48 hours of the water damage may not be restored if emergency response is delayed. Although you might be tempted to use a shop vacuum or call a company that only has equipment to dry carpet, you should consider that water will wick up walls and travel under base molding and sill plates. It will penetrate through floor coverings into sub-floors, even causing water damage in rooms below.

In the event of water damage, do the following:

  • Stay calm! Call Rainbow International.
  • Turn off the breaker in the damaged area before you unplug or remove any electrical devices located on the wet carpet.
  • Place aluminum foil under the legs of any furniture, which is in contact with wet carpet. This might help prevent furniture stains on your carpet.
  • Lift draperies away from wet carpet.
  • Pin up upholstered furniture skirts which may get wet.
  • Remove books, shoes, paper goods, fabrics, potted plants, and other items, which may stain wet carpet.

Do not attempt the following:

  • Don’t use your home vacuum, since electrical shock may result, as well as certain damage to the equipment itself.
  • Don’t place newspaper in traffic areas to walk on, since newspaper ink transfers easily to the wet carpet fibers and may result in permanent staining.
  • Don’t walk on carpet any more than necessary. This will keep the damage from spreading to unaffected areas.
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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Current News, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Safety, Seasonal, Tips and Hints, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Oct
8

Disaster Team President Deliberately Floods His Own House to Prove A Point and Settle a Bet

October 8th, 2012 by Rainbow International

The Rainbow Disaster Team of the Tri-State Area literally opened the flood gates unleashing several hundred gallons of water in a relatively quiet suburban neighborhood. Jason Brown, President of Rainbow International of Fairfield drew the shortest straw and it was that which determined his home would be the one flooded for a demonstration video the team is filming this month. Interestingly, he decided it would be best not to mention this small detail to his wife especially since they renovated their home earlier this year.

All within the same day, the Rainbow Disaster Team was on the scene hosing down and wreaking havoc on the recently finished basement only to then thoroughly clean up the mess with their Rapid Structural Drying techniques. The Rainbow Disaster Team is comprised of 12 separate Rainbow Restoration franchises in New Jersey and New York with some members of the group having upwards of 25 years of experience in providing home restoration from water and flood damage.

“There will be no staining, no lingering smells – in fact, no one will be able to tell the home was flooded after we perform the clean-up,” said franchise owner Steve August of Central Jersey. “Miraculously, our flood house training facility in Texas continuously is flooded several times each and every month and there is still no structural damage to the home, no mold growth and we have never had to replace the drywall, carpeting or even replace a coat of paint!”

With their advanced drying restoration program, the cleanup of the home will be done in just a few hours with the team focusing efforts on removing the excess water immediately so that mold never has a chance to populate. Using several high powered truck-mounted vacuums, the Rainbow Disaster Team will remove water from the walls, ceilings, steps, carpets, furniture, wood trim and subfloor. The team will then set up a variety of high velocity air movers to aid in the evaporation of existing moisture-laden air. To reduce the
humidity within the home, low grain refrigerant and desiccant dehumidifiers will be set up through the home. Once the relative humidity of the home is restored to normal conditions within two to three days, the home will be ready for the Browns to move back in. That is, if Jason’s wife Lisa is willing to forgive and forget.

“During Hurricane Irene, our franchise offices each fielded over 1,200 inbound calls from flood victims,” said franchise president Russ Regan of Long Island. “We routinely restore an average of 60 homes per week for several weeks after Irene passed through a year ago.

As a result of that particular storm, 12 Rainbow locations in the Tri-State area became a unified front and now work together to handle large loss projects that require significant manpower, equipment and vehicles.” The group has tractor trailers ready to deploy at a moment’s notice during disasters. The trailers are fully stocked with all the equipment needed to tackle a fire, water, smoke or mold disaster.

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Continuing Education, Current News, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Aug
30

Our Experts Can Help in the Event of Water Damage from Hurricane Isaac

August 30th, 2012 by Rainbow International

If your home has experienced water damage from Hurricane Isaac, it is important that you locate a water damage repair company that is well trained and has the equipment to completely dry your home as quickly as possible.

Water damage is progressive and items that could be restored within the first 48 hours of the water damage may not be restored if emergency response is delayed. Although you might be tempted to use a shop vacuum or call a company that only has equipment to dry carpet, you should consider that water will wick up walls and travel under base molding and sill plates. It will penetrate through floor coverings into sub-floors, even causing water damage in rooms below.

In addition, if humidity inside the structure is not controlled, items that were not damaged from the original water damage could be damaged as a result of absorbing moisture from the air. Structures that are not dried out quickly and properly can become a food source for mold growth, which may require professional mold removal.

Rainbow International® Water Restoration Service Professionals are trained on current procedures, such as Rapid Structural Drying, to dry your entire structure as quickly as possible, using state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Moisture meters are used to locate moisture that may not be visible or may be hidden behind walls or cabinets, so that our Water Restoration Service Professionals can ensure that all wet materials are dry. Because we understand how important it is to react quickly in the unfortunate event of water damage, you can rely on Rainbow International to provide emergency response and quick professional service 24-hours a day.

In the event of water damage, do the following:

  • Stay calm! Call Rainbow International.
  • Turn off the breaker in the damaged area before you unplug or remove any electrical devices located on the wet carpet.
  • Place aluminum foil under the legs of any furniture, which is in contact with wet carpet. This might help prevent furniture stains on your carpet.
  • Lift draperies away from wet carpet.
  • Pin up upholstered furniture skirts which may get wet.
  • Remove books, shoes, paper goods, fabrics, potted plants, and other items, which may stain wet carpet.

Do not attempt the following:

  • Don’t use your home vacuum, since electrical shock may result, as well as certain damage to the equipment itself.
  • Don’t place newspaper in traffic areas to walk on, since newspaper ink transfers easily to the wet carpet fibers and may result in permanent staining.
  • Don’t walk on carpet any more than necessary. This will keep the damage from spreading to unaffected areas.
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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Current News, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Safety, Seasonal, Tips and Hints, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Aug
27

Gulf Coast States Prepare as Hurricane Isaac Warnings Sound

August 27th, 2012 by Rainbow International

As Hurricane Isaac approaches landfall on the Gulf Coast, residents from Florida to Texas should prepare for a storm the likes of which haven’t been seen in the region for years. Hurricane Isaac poses a serious risk to life and property (dependent on his peak strength, landfall location and course thereafter). Home and business owners, as well as property managers, should use whatever time is left before landfall to ensure lives and safety are as protected as possible.

Hurricane Isaac approaches the United States as an extraordinary storm packing a variety of potential punches. He is a strong storm, in terms of both wind speed and size. High winds, heavy rains, isolated tornadoes and heavy waves are all possible. His track is also a factor, as it could impact many residents in densely-populated (and low-lying) areas.

Staying on top of the latest information about Hurricane Isaac and acting quickly should your home or business fall under an evacuation advisory/warning is critical. Homes and businesses can be rebuilt; wind and water damage can be cleaned-up and restored. Lost lives cannot.

In anticipation of the potential for damage and disruption to lives and businesses due to Hurricane Isaac, Rainbow International® offers the following links to media, state and federal government and non-profit disaster response and relief entities for your consideration. This is not an exhaustive list and all home and business owners in potential impact areas should closely monitor any and all available channels of information.

The thoughts and prayers of the team at Rainbow International are with everyone along the Gulf Coast. We’ll be here to help after the storm passes. For now, take care and be safe.

The Weather Channel: www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral

StormPulse: www.stormpulse.com

CNN Weather: http://topics.cnn.com/topics/weather

FOX News Weather: www.foxnews.com/weather/index.html

National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml

Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov

Federal Government Disaster Assistance: www.disasterassistance.gov

The American Red Cross: www.redcross.org

The Salvation Army: www.salvationarmyusa.org

Louisiana Emergency Management: http://www.gohsep.la.gov/

Mississippi Emergency Management: http://www.msema.org/

Texas Emergency Management: www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/

Florida Emergency Management: www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Current News, Safety, Seasonal, Tips and Hints, Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration |
Aug
2

Home Fire Survival Guide

August 2nd, 2012 by Rainbow International

Each year, more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires, many of which could be prevented. Following these safety precautions and preparing for a possible home fire can dramatically shorten the amount of time it takes to reach safety.

Most house fires happen between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. This means you are likely to be asleep, making it even more important that you know how to react in order to save yourself and your family since you won’t have much time to plan your escape.

If you notice smoke, drop to the floor and begin to crawl to the exit nearest you. The smoke and heat will rise to the ceiling. With luck, you’ll be able to stay where the air is cool and clear.

Install and Test Smoke Alarms

Some tools are needed beforehand in order to survive a fire. Homes should be outfitted with a smoke and fire alarm. These alarms will alert you to the presence of a fire, giving more time to escape. Homes should have fire extinguishers on hand, and those living in the home should know how to use them. Sleeping with doors closed will help because they can prevent a fire from spreading into the room.

Have a Family Escape Plan

If you have children, work out an escape plan. Chances are any fire will start while they’re sleeping and you may not have the opportunity to tell them what to do. They need to know what to do, and they’ll only know if they’ve practiced it. Plus, when children panic they look for places to hide, like a closet or under the bed. They need to know how to get out of the house, and how to do it, by crawling to the nearest exit.

Beware of Hot Doors

Hot doors mean that the fire is nearby and the door should not be opened. Check for heat before touching a door. The best way to do this is to feel the top of the door with the back of your hand, so you don’t burn the palm of your fingers.

If the door is hot, don’t open it. Doors can keep out smoke, even more so if you can put a blanket or clothing along the bottom. Head for the window. If you can’t get out, find a way to signal your presence, with nearby items such as a flashlight or white sheet.

Make Firefighters Aware of Pets

Placing stickers on windows to alert firefighters that pets are in a home will help save their lives. Firefighters have the obligation of protecting people and property first, but will save pets if possible. Since animals can become easily confused during an emergency, leashes should always be kept in the same place so they can quickly be located during the rush to evacuate a burning home.

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Posted in: Catastrophe Response, Continuing Education, Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup and Restoration, Safety, Tips and Hints |
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