Paul Davis Restoration of PORTLAND/SW WASHINGTON
Water, Fire & Mold Damage, Cleanup & Repair

Are you “fingertipready” for Pacific Northwest's next major storm?  Paul DavisRestoration of Portland/SW Washington is here to help you determine whoyou should call first in the event of wildfires and mudslides. Plus, we sharesome tips for your out-of-state loved ones.

 Wildfireand Mudslide Preparedness: The First 5 Calls to Make After This and OtherMajor Disasters

Who should you call when adisaster strikes your home? In some cases, this depends on the nature of thecatastrophe. If a major flood, wildfire, or mudslide has hit [city or region],you may be in the middle of a natural disaster that is affecting hundreds orthousands of families. In this case, landlines and cell towers could beaffected, limiting who you can contact immediately.

Ingeneral, here are the most important calls to make:

1. First Responders – Emergency services are likely to be overwhelmed in the event of a wildfire or mudslide. Call 911 only if there is an immediate danger to your life and health or that of your family. Otherwise, contact neighbors or friends to help you out (or so you can help each other).
2. Utilities – A broken gas line or a downed overhead power line can be a serious hazard after a wildfire or mudslide. Call the utility company right away to address the issue. Move to a safer area until a crew arrives and corrects the problem.
3. Loved Ones – You’ll want to contact family and friends to let them know you are OK and to check on their well-being. In the event of a major disaster, use text messaging when possible to minimize the overload on the voice network. Get in touch with at least one person who lives outside your local area. This individual may serve as an important contact point in getting you the help and information you need (such as the distribution locations for the American Red Cross or local relief agencies).
4. Shelter – If your home is unsafe or completely destroyed in a major disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may be able to provide temporary housing. The number is (800) 621-3362 to register for assistance. FEMA may also have vital information about where to find necessities like food and clothing after a disaster.
5. Restoration – Once you’ve ensured your family is safe, it’s time to start the process of rescuing your home. This involves contacting your insurance company, submitting a claim and working with a company that specializes in property damage clean up and repair. Most policies require you as the homeowner to make immediate reasonable repairs to your home following a disaster to prevent additional damage and will reimburse you for these repairs. Don’t wait for a contractor to knock on your door (there will be all kinds of fly-by-night repair companies coming through your town after a wildfire or mudslide). Be proactive in calling a licensed restoration company that specializes in repairing the specific type of damage your home sustained in the disaster (we suggest Paul Davis Restoration of Portland/SW Washington.

AdditionalTips:

The amount of warning youhave before an event can also affectyour communication strategy. Wildfires may come with a different warning timethan a mudslide. You might be able to make some of your calls ahead of timerather than after the fact. For example, notify your employer that you probablywon’t show up for work tomorrow because a major weather event headed your wayis likely to cause damage.

And if you know someone whois experiencing a disaster in their own city, be in contact with them and letthem know you’re there to help. You may be able to serve as a resource to themeven from thousands of miles away.

On the Pacific coast, weexperience a wide range of weather year-round. Winter can bring some of themost extreme differences. Los Angeles may be sunny and 75 while Portland couldbe 25 and snowy. Whether (no pun intended!) you never get snow or it fallsevery winter, Paul Davis Restoration of Portland/SW Washington encourages you to make sure your family and friends remain safeduring the winter months.

1.       Prolongedpower outages can be dangerous for families that are snowed in after a sub-zeroblizzard. If you can’t pick up loved ones and bring them to you, call toprovide them some helpful tips for preventing hypothermia. For example, theycan wall off a small room with thick blankets to create an insulated space thatis easier to keep warm.

2.       Ifyou have older or mobility challenged relatives, they could be snowed in byeven a minor snowstorm. Be in touch with nearby relatives or neighbors andarrange for them to check on your relatives and dig them out.

3.       Have you recently moved from the northern USto an area that rarely has ice or snow? It only takes half an inch of ice totrap people in their homes down South. Your years of experience with drivingsafely on ice and snow-covered roads could save lives. Offer to run anyemergency errands for your loved ones to keep them off the road.

4.       Do you have an older relative on a fixedincome who is struggling to pay their heating bill? They could be in danger ofhypothermia from having their heat cut off while they are snowed in. Manymunicipalities offer emergency fuel assistance programs that can help keep theheat turned on during severe winter weather. Get online and start making phonecalls to ensure that your loved one doesn’t go without.

5.       Manycities in warm regions have few snow plows and sand trucks available to treatmajor bridges and roadways after a snowstorm (look what happened in Atlanta).They probably won’t get around to de-icing many residential streets at all. Ifyou have a pickup truck with four wheel drive, you could organize some salt andgravel to treat the driveway and street in front of a loved one’s house.

6.       Maybeyou are enjoying a balmy weekend in southern California when you find out onFacebook that relatives up north are snowed in. Spend some time online chattingand suggesting ways for them to stay entertained (and how to keep the kidsbusy). Just don’t talk about how nice the weather is in your neck of the woods.They may un-friend you forever.

Follow These Home Safety Tips Before You Deck the Halls

The season of good cheer is an exciting time of year. The day afterThanksgiving, lights are already going up all over Vancouver. However, the hustle and bustle ofthe holiday season can lead to all kinds of unfortunate accidents. You alreadyknow about the hazards of deep frying a turkey or climbing on a slick roof toput up Christmas lights. So instead, we here at Paul Davis Vancouver have gone the lessobvious route. Here are eight NEW holiday safety tips to protect your lovedones and your property from dangers.

1. FIRE IN THE FLUE: Those nights and early mornings can get chilly, so if you have a working wood fireplace, you’re going to want to use it! But you have more to worry about than just soot or creosote residue causing a fire in your flue. There’s also the risk of barbecuing a raccoon, squirrel, or bird that’s gotten wedged in your chimney. That’s a good reason to have your chimney swept and cleaned before you light up that Yule log. Just have the chimney sweep check to make sure it’s not Santa stuck up there.
2. UNWANTED CHRISTMAS SIZZLE: You know you’re supposed to water your live Christmas tree to keep it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Just remember to unplug the lights first. Otherwise, you could end up as one of the dozens of people who have been electrocuted by their Christmas tree in the last 15 years.
3. OUTDOOR STRINGS AND THINGS: Wet conditions greatly increase the danger of electrical accidents from Christmas lights. Using UL listed outdoor lights and extension cords plugged into GFCI outlets are standard precautions. A newer safety option is to buy solar powered Christmas lights that eliminate the need for cords and outlets altogether.
4. VOODOO CHRISTMAS: Straight pins left in garments such as dress shirts cause many injuries every year. How many? Well, statistics are hazy because most guys won’t seek medical help for a straight pin injury, no matter how deep. But note this: Puncture wounds are particularly prone to infection (and not everyone has a current tetanus shot). Remove all pins and refold garments neatly before wrapping them so you don’t make the recipient feel like a life sized voodoo doll.
5. CONTROLLED GIFT GIVING CHAOS: In the mad rush for everyone to open presents, it’s easy for toddlers to get their hands on small toy pieces or tiny wrapping decorations like jingle bells. Making your toddler wear mittens during gift opening time would be kind of cruel. So, designate an adult to watch each young child to prevent them from swallowing anything they shouldn’t.
6. CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SURPRISE: Antique ornaments are whimsical and are often passed down from generation to generation. Don’t let those happy memories fool you. Old electrical bulb lights can cause shocks and fires. The ancient candleholders that preceded electricity are even more of a fire hazard. Many antique decorations contain high quantities of lead. When you learn the history of your heirloom Christmas decorations, be sure to find out about any dangerous materials used.
7. LEAD TO SAFETY: Did you know that even modern Christmas lights often have lead in their cords – but that only California requires these products to have a warning label? Remember to wash your hands after handling lights this year (or wear gloves).
8. HOLIDAY CRUNCH: You can almost hear the Grinch laughing sadistically whenever someone steps on a blown glass tree ornament. These beautiful baubles are like land mines waiting to explode. Replace yours with plastic ornaments that have a metallic finish. This is especially important if you have kids in the house.

Family gatherings, entertaining and festive decorations are among the highlights of theholiday season. According to the United States FireAdministration, during theThanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s season,  there is an elevated risk for home fires dueto extensive cooking, decorations, home heating and open flames.

Paul Davis Restoration of SW Washington/Portland, a leading provider of fire damage and water damage cleanup and restoration services for residential and commercial propertiesoffers the following tips to make the holidays safe for you and your family.

Holiday Decorations:Decorate with non-combustible or flame-resistant materials. Never use lightedcandles on a tree, evergreens or other flammable materials. Don’t place candlesnear children, pets or gift wrapping.

 Lights: Make sure there are no frayed wires, broken socketsor loose connections. Check labels to be sure about the proper use of indoorand outdoor lights. Don’t overload electrical outlets. 

 Trees: Cut a few inches off the trunk of a live tree andfill the stand with water to keep it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.An artificial tree should be labeled "Fire Resistant." Place treesaway from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters.

Fire Escape Plan: Make sure everyone understands the escape routes andwhere to meet once outside.

 Smoke Alarms:  Make sure yoursmoke alarms are in proper working order and change the batteries at leasttwice a year.

Fire Extinguishers:  Make surethere is a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen, laundry room, and garage.Learn how to use the fire extinguisher.

Fireplace/Chimney: Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleanedby a professional chimney sweep. Never burn greens, boughs, papers, or otherdecorations in the fireplace.  Check to see that the flue is open beforestarting a fire.

 Keep a list with importantemergency phone numbers: Includepolice and fire departments, doctors and the national poison help line.

In case of emergency propertydamage, contact a licensed, professional fire damage clean up andrestoration company.