Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sandbags in San Diego County!!

New information for ya... the county is now providing sand bags at local beaches.  If you think you might need sandbags to protect yourself from water damage, please read below:

 
Sandbags

If you want to protect your home from possible flooding or debris flows, you can pick up sandbags for free at lifeguard and fire stations in the city of San Diego but you will have to fill them yourself. People with access to the beach areas will be allowed to use beach sand.

•Fire Station 15 - 4711 Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach
•Fire Station 21 - 750 Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach
•Fire Station 28 - 3880 Kearny Villa Road in the Kearny Mesa/Montgomery Field area
•Fire Station 29 - 198 West San Ysidro Blvd in San Ysidro
•Fire Station 33 - 16966 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo
•Fire Station 37 - 11640 Spring Canyon Road in Scripps Ranch
•Lifeguard Stations in Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach

There is a limit of 10 sandbags per household or business for San Diego city residents.

Around the county, sandbags are also available at these locations:

•28205 North Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center
•16971 Highway 76, Valley Center
•1587 Highway 78, Julian
•1364 Tavern Road, Alpine
•Cal Fire, Mount Woodson Station, 16310 Highway 67, Ramona
•North County Fire Protection, Station Four, 4375 Pala Mesa Drive, Fallbrook
•Dulzura Fire Station, 17304 Highway 94, Dulzura

For additional storm information and road closure notices, visit the County Department of Public Works emergency web site, or get updates at http://www.twitter.com/sdcountydpw

http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/San-Diego-weather-forecast-storms-rain-flooding/XyhwWh_ihU6KnO50GgtPjw.cspx

*** Servpro of Point Loma is a Ready San Diego Business Alliance Member. Feel free to contact us anytime for safety tips! ***

Monday, January 18, 2010

Emergency Service - What To Do In The Event of a Flood

What would you do if you were standing in a foot of water right now?  Would you know what to do... who to call... what to tell them when help is on the line?  Storm emergencies can be very scary.... but being prepared and versed on what to do can make a world of difference!  Servpro of Point Loma can help!

Here's a list of information you'll want to provide when you're on the phone requesting help:
  • What is the date and time that the emergency took place?
  • What is the source of water (leaking roof, pipe break, sewage overflow, etc.)?  If the water is sewer water, the emergency crews will need to bring personal protection equipment with them... if it's a pipe break, they may not need it.  It's always better to give them a heads up.
  • Is there structural damage?  Is electricity on?
  • Is there standing water?  Is so, how deep?  1 foot of standing water requires different equipment than 2 inches...
  • What areas are affected?
  • Have you stopped the source of the water?
  • Provide 2 phone numbers (business, home, cell, etc).  You never know when your cell phone will lose reception or when phone lines will go down due to a storm!
If you want to help out, you can start working on the following list of items until help arrives.  If you do, there's a big chance that you'll lessen the severity of the damage:
  • Shut off the water source if possible
  • Remove excess water by mopping and blotting water.  Do not use a regular vacuum to suck up the water!
  • Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying
  • Place aluminum foil or wood blocks under furniture legs
  • Hang furs and leather goods separately at room temperature
  • *** DO NOT TURN ON CEILING FIXTURES (LIGHTS, CEILING FANS, ETC) IF THE CEILING IS WET!!! *** 
  • Stay away from ceilings that are sagging or bulging... they're likely retaining water
  • Do not leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpeting.  The dyes in the magazine may stain the carpet.
Remember, fast responses from your mitigation professionals can really keep the costs down!!  If you need help, please call us.  We're here to help 24/7 - even if it's just to answer questions on what to do.  You can reach us via phone at 619-275-2802 or via email at servpro9729@gmail.com.

*** Servpro of Point Loma is a Ready San Diego Business Alliance Member. Feel free to contact us anytime for safety tips! ***

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

15 to 20 Foot Waves Expected!!! Emergency Storm Response Team is Available (24 Hours)

**** COASTAL FLOOD WARNING ****
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010



As you may have heard, 15-20 foot waves are expected along the beaches south of Del Mar today. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning through 4 PM tomorrow, which means that flooding is likely. Local news stations are reporting:

“Residents of areas prone to flooding should watch for rising water and be ready to protect themselves and their homes. The entrances to harbors and bays are likely to be compromised by large, breaking waves...”

Free sandbags are available through San Diego County’s Department of Public Works (see attached news release from the DPW). However, if you or your clients were unable to prepare and experience flooding or water related damage from this storm, we have mobilized a Storm Response Team that is available for immediate response throughout San Diego County, 24 hours a day.

To request emergency service, please contact us in one of the following ways:

Servpro of Point Loma
Phone: 619-275-2802
Email: servpro9729@gmail.comWebsite: http://%20www.servproofpointloma.com/contact-us


For emergency water damage tips until we arrive, please go to http://www.servproofpointloma.blogspot.com/ for more information.

*** Servpro of Point Loma is a Ready San Diego Business Alliance Member. Feel free to contact us anytime for safety tips! ***

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Check Out Our Latest Press Release!!

Ut Oh! We Have Mold! What Do We Do Now???

When mold is allowed to grow in wet or damp environments, it can lead to serious health issues if you don't take care of it! Servpro of Point Loma shares insight on mold growth, health concerns, and what to do when you spot mold.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 12, 2010 – San Diego, CA

When mold is allowed to grow in wet or damp environments, there’s a chance that it can develop into enough volume to cause health issues. It’s hard to say how much mold needs to be present before it can affect health… that’s like asking how much sun it takes to cause sunburn. It varies from person to person. By the time your house smells musty though, it’s likely that you have already inhaled millions of tiny mold spores. Can that be harmful to your health? Yes!

Allergy is the most common symptom associated with indoor molds. Mold allergy symptoms include:

• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Itching
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Wheezing
• Scratchy throat
• Red or itchy skin

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mold can also be responsible for more serious illnesses. Mold can cause infection, cysts, and potentially fatal systemic diseases such as histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidiomycosis. If mold is dealt with in a timely manner, the severity of mold allergies or illness can be greatly diminished or even prevented. But how do you prevent mold growth?

Mold cannot grow unless there is moisture present. Whether the moisture is caused by a flood, a broken pipe, a roof leak, or a leaking dishwasher, removing moisture requires quick action. The longer you wait to remove the moisture, the greater chance you’ll have of causing damage to your home. San Diego based SERVPRO of Point Loma, a professional cleanup and restoration company, knows just what to do to remove moisture and prevent potential mold problems.

“Moisture and mold are tricky to deal with,” says Mike Sprague, a SERVPRO professional specializing in mold and water damage cleanup and restoration. “Your natural response is to grab a mop, a bucket, and a box fan to try to dry out the moisture yourself. But water has a tendency to migrate very quickly to hard to reach spaces. You might not notice that the floor below your carpet is wet… and it won’t be long before mold begins to grow!”

Once moisture is present in a structure, mold growth can begin in as little as 4 hours. All mold needs is moisture and a suitable food source. “A food source is always available in an indoor environment” says Mike Sprague. “Your home is like a grocery store for mold. It will feed on drywall, paint, some carpets, adhesives, wood, fabrics, paper products, and even the starch in wallpaper paste. If you don’t catch mold early on, it can be very overwhelming and costly to deal with… and that mold will likely make you sick!”

If you have concerns about mold or would like advice on how to handle the mold removal process, SERVPRO® of Point Loma can help. They provide free mold inspections 7 days a week, even on major holidays. “We know that time is a critical factor when dealing with moisture and mold concerns. If our San Diego County customers need us today, we’ll be there! Their health is our number one concern.”

Visit http://servproofpointloma.blogspot.com/ for helpful tips and more information on dealing with mold. Or call 619-275-2802 to speak with a mold specialist.

# # #

SERVPRO® of Point Loma offers a full line of cleanup and restoration services to residential and commercial properties. Those services include water removal, water damage repair, fire and smoke cleanup, emergency services, mold remediation, and crime scene cleanup.

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To view it live, go to: http://www.prlog.org/10486271-ut-oh-we-have-mold-what-do-we-do-now.html

*** Servpro of Point Loma is a Ready San Diego Business Alliance Member. Feel free to contact us anytime for safety tips! ***