Disasters call for swift response & efficient service!

3/7/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Team Gutierrez members go over the day's jobs.

It was this time in 2021 when Texas and surrounding southern states experienced an unprecedented disaster when the Polar Vortex brought freezing weather and historic damage such as pipe bursts and other water-related disasters to the local homes & businesses there.

But unprecedented disasters call for unprecedented response. Which is exactly what SERVPRO® of Laurel & Greenbelt NE-Beltsville E, and our parent franchises SERVPRO of Rockville-Olney did! Our crews from the Maryland franchises swiftly prepared, packed up and departed for Dallas, Texas to lend a hand to the massive cleanup and restoration efforts in the wake of the historic snow storms that devastated hundreds of lives and damaged thousands and thousands of homes and businesses throughout numerous southern U.S. states. Our local teams left for Plano, a suburb of Dallas, on in mid-February morning and arrived well over the estimated 24-hour trip due to treacherous road conditions in many stretches of highways.

Extreme cold weather, especially in states that aren't usually prepared for such conditions, commonly cause frozen pipes that result in water damage. In Texas, for example, the temperatures in many cities dipped below 20 degrees F the weekend of Feb. 13, 2021 when many celebrated Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day. Both indoor & outdoor pipes in thousands of homes froze due to improper insulation. The water damage can be extensive, as most homes in the south have attics and not basements, causing water to trickle down from the top and wreak havoc to ceilings and walls in addition to floorings, furniture and other household items.

Other areas in the homes where pipes are unheated or partially heated that are also at risk of freezing include crawl spaces and garages. State of emergency has been declared in the affected southern states, making it easier for residents to apply for federal aid to help pay for losses, repairs and other areas including salary loss due to inability to get to work. Insurance companies also are making it easier for policy holders to file claims, and restoration companies like SERVPRO also are doing what they can to make it easier for customers to file insurance claims, by making electronic claim forms easily available as part of their response process. 

Another potential hazard to consider as the snow/ice begins to melt is damage to your roof and ice dams. An ice dam is formed when snow melts unevenly on a roof and refreezes into a dam at the edge of the roof, near the eaves. This dam prevents any further snowmelt from draining off of the roof. This standing water can back up under shingles, leak into a home, and cause significant water damage to ceilings, walls, and other areas. Ice dams can also tear off gutters and loosen shingles.

Snow and ice can cause significant damage to your gutters and roof. The additional weight of snow and ice can even cause a roof to collapse. When there’s a cold snap, water can get into cracks and small spaces and expand when it freezes, causing larger cracks and more damage. The repetition of freezing and thawing cycles can cause small cracks to get larger.

Natural disasters can strike at any time. Best to be prepared, and be sure to keep our SERVPRO Team Gutierrez's number handy for quick response. 301-323-8862.