It's National Preparedness Month

9/4/2015 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Press Release

SERVPRO® Wants People to Be Prepared

It's National Preparedness Month and a restoration service company is offering tips for expecting the unexpected

Morris Plains NJ (August 26, 2009) -- SERVPRO is proud to be participating in the sixth annual National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September. Sponsored by the Ready Campaign, NPM is a nationwide effort designed to increase awareness as well as encourage individuals, families businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies. 

With that in mind, SERVPRO wants to help people be ready in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The restoration service is joining with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to recognize National Preparedness Month. 

"Natural disasters take many forms, and while they may be inevitable, they don't always have to be devastating," said Rick Isaacson, executive vice president of SERVPRO Industries, Inc. "By taking action now, people can potentially lessen the impact they experience from catastrophes. Being prepared is the best defense one can have." 

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there were 75 declared disasters in 2008, which was a 19 percent increase from those reported in 2007. So far, in 2009, the Agency has recorded 42, and the number is expected to rise as hurricane season approaches the southeast. 

"Whether it's with a tornado, torrential rains or heavy snow, Mother Nature can wreak havoc at all times of the year, and oftentimes, the events can come without warning," said Isaacson. "That is why we are urging people to designate National Preparedness Month as a time to sit down with their families and make a plan." 

Isaacson says that the following three action steps can help families prepare for the worse:

1. Create an Emergency Supply Kit – Start by thinking about the basics for survival – fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. In addition, be sure to include a battery-powered radio (with extra batteries), flashlight, first aid kit, a can opener to open canned food, and a cell phone with chargers.
2. Make a Family Emergency Plan – Your family may not all be together when a disaster strikes, so it is critical to establish an out-of-town contact to facilitate communication. Also, when using cell phones, know that text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
3. Be Informed – Visit your state and local government Web sites to learn about the particular emergency plans that have been established in your area. You can also download tools to better prepare your family for a disaster at www.ready.gov.

"National Preparedness Month serves as a good reminder that we all have a responsibility in protecting ourselves, our employees, our families and our communities," said Isaacson. "Emergencies will happen, but taking action now can help us minimize the impact they will have on our lives." 

Isaacson goes on to add that even if a family has an emergency preparedness plan in place, this month is an ideal time to update it and make sure that all members of the family are familiar with its contents. In addition, individuals would be wise to make sure that a similar plan is in place at work. 

In the event of fire or water damage caused by a natural disaster, SERVPRO offers an assortment of services to help people quickly recover and restore any damaged property. Within four hours of the initial notification, a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will be on-site to start the mitigation process. Exceptions may apply under certain conditions, such as a catastrophic event or a storm situation. 

For more information on SERVPRO, please visit www.SERVPRO.com or call SERVPRO of East Central Morris County at 973-887-9100.   You can also visit http://www.SERVPROeastcentralmorriscounty.com/ to learn about your local franchise.

About SERVPRO 
Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO franchise system is a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO's professional services network of more than 1,400 individually owned and operated franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss situations. Providing coverage in 48 states, the SERVPRO System has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners. All SERVPRO franchises are independently owned and operated.