What are emergency restoration services?

ERS or Emergency Restoration Services are clean up and restorative services for your home, business, and personal property that are provided by experts and after such catastrophes as flooding, storm or fire, mold, crime or bio-hazard damage has occurred.

Emergency restoration experts are on call 24/7 and are experienced in working with insurance companies or public adjusters. Many ERS providers include the transporting of your personal property to their temperature controlled, secure storage facility as well as restoration of that property and your home or business building. Some Emergency Restoration Services even possess the expertise to restore fine works of art.

Here are some emergency restorative actions that you can take yourself immediately after a disaster or accident has occurred and as long as it is safe to do so. These fast actions can actually help minimize damage and insure your safety. Don’t forget to phone your insurance company as soon as possible.

Flood - Water Damage

First move people and pets to a dry, clean environment. Never use food items that have been exposed to water. Don’t use electronic or electrical devices that have been exposed to water until they are been checked. Wipe water from all wood surfaces but do not attempt to wash surfaces. If it is summer and safe to do so turn on air conditioning to assist the drying process and if it’s winter, alternate between opening the windows and turning on the heat to promote drying.

Even if the water spill is small, leave it to the professionals to check out and do the actual structural drying as they possess the technology to do so, so that mold and mildew do not occur and add to the damage.

High Wind and Storm Damage

Make sure that people and pets are removed to a dry, clean environment. If the roof has been damaged, cover it with plastic or tarps as long as you are certain it is safe to do so. If possible, board up any broken windows. If you have any doubts as to the safety of the structure or roof, wait for the professionals to get there.

Fire and Smoke Damage

Move all people and pets to a safe, dry, clean air environment. Close doors where the fire was to prevent other rooms from spillover smoke damage. Open windows to ventilate if it is safe to do so. Never use electrical devices of any kind until they have been checked out and declared safe.

If it is winter and the electricity is down, empty any refrigerators and freezers and move food stuffs to a safe location. If heat is down, pour anti- freeze in sinks, toilet bowls and tubs to insure pipes don’t freeze. Never ingest food that have been exposed to smoke or fire damage. And don’t attempt to wash smoke or fire damaged surfaces.

If you have any doubt that taking any of the above actions is absolutely safe, it is always best to wait for an emergency restoration service provider.