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Posts Tagged ‘water damage’

May
7

Dwyer Group introduces the Women in the Trades Initiative and Scholarship

May 7th, 2013 by Rainbow International

The Dwyer Group introduces the Women in the Trades initiative, focused on providing financial assistance to women entering the service trade industry. This includes home service fields, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliance repair, home restoration, glass installation and landscaping.

“We have 1,600 franchisees representing our brands worldwide, but fewer than 7% are owned by female sole proprietors and fewer than 4% of our front-line service professionals are women,” said The Dwyer Group CEO and Chairwoman Dina Dwyer-Owens. “We are excited to open this opportunity for women interested in trade professions to further their curiosity, expertise and experience.”

The trade industry has historically been a male-dominated career path. Often, women are unaware of the potential for success and personal fulfillment, which can be achieved by working as a trade technician. Studies have shown that females in the home are often the lead decision-makers when it comes to home maintenance. This inherent familiarity with the target audience gives a female trades expert a unique industry advantage.

“Countless women have lost good jobs and we are now recruiting them as franchisees or as front-line plumbers, electricians, grounds care experts, restoration specialists and appliance, HVAC and glass installation and repair technicians within our seven home service brands,” said Dwyer-Owens. “It makes sense to offer women interested in either changing their career paths or further pursuing their career in these industries the opportunity to become the best of the best through thorough training and education.”

The Women in the Trades Scholarship is open to women 18 and older, interested in pursuing a career in the trades. Qualified candidates who are actively pursuing a degree or certification in a trade are encouraged to apply. Candidates will be evaluated based upon financial need, previous work experience and their passion for their chosen industry. For more information and to apply: http://www.dwyergroup.com/women-in-trades.asp or email WITT@dwyergroup.com.

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Posted in: Current News |
Apr
25

Spring Flooding Continues to Threaten Midwest, Rainbow International® Offers Survival Checklist

April 25th, 2013 by Rainbow International

As longtime residents of the Midwest can attest, flooding in the United States is one of the most common and hazardous natural disasters that can hit a community. While residents along the Mississippi River prepare for floodwaters to continue rising, Rainbow International offers a preparation and survival checklist to utilize when flooding occurs.

  • Pay close attention to local television and radio news stations for National Weather Service updates.
  • Have an evacuation plan and kit ready. Evacuation kits should contain such items as a flashlight, medications, first aid kit, emergency contact information, food and water, clothing and rain gear, a camera for taking pictures of damage, copies of important documents and paperwork, a battery-powered radio, and cell phone chargers.
  • If the need to evacuate arises, head for higher ground. If floodwaters are in the path, turn around and find another way.
  • Be very cautious when it’s dark outside.  This makes it harder to see floodwaters directly in the escape route.
  • Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding.  Contact your local insurance agent and request information on flood insurance.

“The most important thing is to keep yourself and your family safe,” states Rainbow International President Rob White.  “Have an emergency escape plan ready and don’t hesitate to act on it.”

For information on Rainbow International and tips on preparing for and dealing with a flood, contact your local Rainbow International. 

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Posted in: Uncategorized |
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
15

Rainbow International Celebrates Female Business Owners for Women’s History Month – Tammy Kimble Finds Success in a Male-Dominated Industry

March 15th, 2013 by Rainbow International

One hundred years ago, more than 5,000 women marched on Washington, D.C. to bring attention to the gross misrepresentation of women in our society. Today, women are heralded as the leaders of tomorrow in education, business and politics. Rainbow International celebrates March and Women’s History Month by recognizing Tammy Kimble, owner of Rainbow International of Alamance County.

Kimble has been the proud owner of Rainbow International for nearly five years, achieving both personal and professional goals. “I think every business you go into is about how you build it and the relationships you build in the process. Every business is about the communication with customers and how you represent the business. Once you start listening to your customer or client, you’ll connect with them.”

Kimble has worked in multiple areas of business, from owning a carpet cleaning business to owning a daycare center. Kimble is an entrepreneur.

“Tammy is a rising star,” Rainbow International President Rob White said. “No matter the situation, she has risen to the challenge. We are proud to have her on our team.”

Women, like Kimble, who have embraced the opportunities afforded them and overcome the obstacles, are paving the path for future generations of women to proudly walk.

“Something I would share with young ladies trying to find their way in this industry is to take on everything you can,” Kimble said. “Learn. Get in every open door you can. Take everything with you into your next experience.”

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Posted in: Current News, Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup and Restoration, Holidays, Rainbow International Franchise Locations in the News, Seasonal |
Feb
12

Rainbow International of Grande Prairie Honored for Outstanding Commitment to Community Service

February 12th, 2013 by Rainbow International

Grande Prairie’s business community packed the Pomeroy Conference Centre for the 94th annual Chamber Ball to honor members of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the community.

Mike O’Connor, owner of Rainbow International of Grande Prairie, was recognized with the Above and Beyond Award for his outstanding commitment to community service as chairman of the 2012 United Way campaign.

O’Connor showed amzing perseverance after he was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on Aug. 5, 2012, breaking most of his ribs, both collar bones, his ankle, the heel of his foot and suffering a collapsed lung.

Winning the award came as a huge surprise, he said, and it holds a very deep place is in heart.

“To get recognition for doing stuff for your community is a bonus,” he said.

“If you’re not a contributor, you’re not participating in your community and you’re not helping to make it a better place to be. Be involved, get in there, help someone else that is less fortunate and you will make this place a better place.”

To view the full story, go to: http://bit.ly/11GkyBp

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Posted in: Current News, Mold Damage Cleanup and Remediation, Rainbow International Franchise Locations in the News |
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 |
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