Preparing makes Sense

9/6/2023 (Permalink)

The likelihood that you, your business, and your family will survive a house fire depends as much on having a working smoke detector and an exit strategy as it does calling on a well-trained fire department. The same is true for surviving a terrorist attack or any other emergency disaster situation. We must have the tools and plans in place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no matter where we are when a disaster strikes. Just like having a working smoke detector, preparing for the unexpected makes sense. Prepare now!
Organize a kit of emergency supplies. Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, or maybe even longer. While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about planning to have fresh water, food, and clean air. Plan for a gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Also include a three-day supply of non-perishable foods that are easy to store and prepare, such as protein bars, dried fruit, or canned foods. If you live in a cold weather climate, consider including warm clothes and a sleeping bag in your emergency kit as well. Some potential terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic particles into the air. Many of these materials can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about creating a barrier between yourself and any contamination. It’s smart to pack something to cover your mouth and nose, such as two to three layers of a cotton t-shirt, handkerchief or towel, or a filtered mask. It is also recommended you include duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags in your emergency kit that can be used to seal windows and doors to create a barrier between yourself and any contamination on the other side.
Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency situation. Plan in advance what you will do, and be prepared to assess the situation when the time comes. Whether a disaster strikes in your home or place of business, consider developing a communications plan so you have a way to contact family members or co-workers. Be sure each person knows the plan and review it ahead of time. Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the disaster, the first important decision you will need to determine is whether you should stay put or evacuate. It is recommended you have a plan in place for both possibilities.
Be informed about what might happen. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. By beginning the process of learning about specific threats relative to where you work or live, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency. Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances, and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. With simple preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected.

Extreme Heat Safety Tips

5/31/2023 (Permalink)

Did You Know? It is NEVER safe to leave a baby, toddler, disabled person, or pet locked in a car. On average, 37 children die from heat related deaths from being trapped inside vehicles.

Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.) Keep storm windows up all year.

Source: ready.gov

New Year, Be READY

12/30/2022 (Permalink)

With each new year, many people resolve to better themselves or some part of their life. This year, make a resolution to be READY. No one ever plans on a disaster, but you can prepare for it. The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you are "Ready for whatever happens" in 2023.

In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility, The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contacts, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP also establishes SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider, giving you access to over 45 years experience and a system more than 1,700 Franchises strong. The ERP is a no cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save you time and money in the future. By downloading the free SERVPRO READY App, this information is stored electronically and can be accessed using your mobile device putting help at your fingertips. https://ready.SERVPRO.com/

Preparation is the key to making it through any \ size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster. Don't wait until disaster strikes—resolve to be READY. Call SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas to establish your Emergency READY Profile, and be "Ready for whatever happens" in 2023.

Advantages of the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile

A no-cost assessment of your facility.
A concise profile document containing only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.
A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.
Establishes your local SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information.

Preparing makes Sense

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

The likelihood that you, your business, and your family will survive a house fire depends as much on having a working smoke detector and an exit strategy as it does calling on a well-trained fire department. The same is true for surviving a terrorist attack or any other emergency disaster situation. We must have the tools and plans in place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no matter where we are when a disaster strikes. Just like having a working smoke detector, preparing for the unexpected makes sense. Prepare now!
Organize a kit of emergency supplies. Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, or maybe even longer. While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about planning to have fresh water, food, and clean air. Plan for a gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Also include a three-day supply of non-perishable foods that are easy to store and prepare, such as protein bars, dried fruit, or canned foods. If you live in a cold weather climate, consider including warm clothes and a sleeping bag in your emergency kit as well. Some potential terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic particles into the air. Many of these materials can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about creating a barrier between yourself and any contamination. It’s smart to pack something to cover your mouth and nose, such as two to three layers of a cotton t-shirt, handkerchief or towel, or a filtered mask. It is also recommended you include duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags in your emergency kit that can be used to seal windows and doors to create a barrier between yourself and any contamination on the other side.
Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency situation. Plan in advance what you will do, and be prepared to assess the situation when the time comes. Whether a disaster strikes in your home or place of business, consider developing a communications plan so you have a way to contact family members or co-workers. Be sure each person knows the plan and review it ahead of time. Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the disaster, the first important decision you will need to determine is whether you should stay put or evacuate. It is recommended you have a plan in place for both possibilities.
Be informed about what might happen. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. By beginning the process of learning about specific threats relative to where you work or live, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency. Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances, and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. With simple preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected.

Be alert with a Weather Radio

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

One of the best precautions you can take is to purchase a good quality weather radio. A weather radio is designed to alert you to dangerous weather situations, such as an approaching tornado. It allows you to be warned ahead of approaching storms providing you time to seek shelter. A weather radio is the most reliable source for weather alerts. Weather radios have made many advancements over the years and are very affordable. Most basic weather radios average around $30 and can be programmed to only alert you for the weather alerts you choose.

When shopping for a weather radio, look for the following key features.
• Reviewable alerts (you can scroll through alerts and turn off the siren for alerts you do not wish to hear).
• Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) alert programming (alerts when specific counties are threatened, ensuring you only receive alerts for your county).
• Ease of programming.

If you need help programming your weather radio, you can always contact your local National Weather Service Office or for additional information, including county codes for your state, visit the NOAA Weather Radio website at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government-alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service. Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, alerts can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm's way, without need to download an app or subscribe to a service. WEA may be used to share:
• Extreme weather warnings.
• Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action.
• AMBER Alerts.
• Presidential Alerts during a national emergency.
A WEA will look like a text message (example shown here). The WEA message will typically show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 90 characters. Visit https://www.ctia.org/consumer-resources/wireless-emergency-alerts to learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts, including how to determine if your mobile device is WEA-capable.

When They Call You, Call SERVPRO

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Mitigation requires quick action. The faster a SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas arrives on-site to perform fire, smoke, and soot cleanup and restoration, the better the results— including lower claim costs. Within four hours of loss notification, we can be on-site to help ensure a fire damage is handled by utilizing the following services.

Structural Cleaning
After a smoke or fire damage, ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors will often need a thorough cleaning. We can pretest to determine the extent of damage, then use the specific equipment and cleaning products required to clean and protect the different types of surfaces found in your structure.

Contents Cleaning
All of the restorable contents in affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. This includes area rugs, furniture, and upholstery. SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can provide wet or dry cleaning services. Additionally, all the other restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition. This includes electronics, art, wood furniture, kitchen items, clothing, bedding, and much more. Finally, we can provide an inventory list of all “to be claimed” items for your insured.

Deodorization
SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas provide specialized services that rid your insured’s home or place of business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. We do not merely cover up lingering odors with a fragrance; they seek out the sources of the odor and remove them.

June is Pet Preparedness Month

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Interesting Facts about Hurricanes Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family's emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind:

1. Make a plan.

2. Build an emergency kit.

3. Stay informed.

If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured, or worse. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside, which is why it is so important to have a plan in place ahead of time. Consider having your pet microchipped too! If you get separated, this will help you identify them.

Weather Safety

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Severe weather can happen any time, anywhere. Each year, Americans cope with an average of the following intense storms*:
◊ 10,000 severe thunderstorms
◊ 5,000 floods or flash floods
◊ 1,300 tornadoes
◊ 2 land falling deadly hurricanes
Approximately 98% of all presidentially declared disasters are weather-related, leading to around 650 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage.* Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action, and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.
Know your risk. The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather can impact you, your business, and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly, obtain a NOAA Weather Radio, and learn about Wireless Emergency Alerts in your area. Severe weather comes in many forms, and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazard scenarios.
Take action. Take the next step in severe weather preparedness by creating a communications plan for your home and business. Put together or purchase an emergency kit. Keep important papers and valuables in a safe place.
Be an example. Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, share your story with family members, co-workers, and friends on social media. Your preparedness efforts may inspire others to do the same.
Contact SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas for more readiness tips and tools, including SERVPRO’s Emergency READY Profile(ERP). Having an ERP in place for your facility can help minimize business interruption in the event of a disaster. SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas can help you be “Ready for whatever happens!”

Extreme Heat Safety Tips

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

Did You Know? It is NEVER safe to leave a baby, toddler, disabled person, or pet locked in a car. On average, 37 children die from heat related deaths from being trapped inside vehicles.

Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.) Keep storm windows up all year.

Source: ready.gov

Extreme Heat

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

As summer approaches, it is time to consider safety precautions for extreme heat in the coming months. Heat affects all people, but especially the young, elderly, sick, and overweight. Urban area residents also have a greater chance of being affected than those who live in rural areas due to the heat island effect.
According to the EPA, “the sun can heat dry, exposed urban surfaces, such as roofs and pavement, to temperatures 50–90°F hotter than the air, while shaded or moist surfaces—often in more rural surroundings—remain close to air temperatures.” These surface heat islands are strongest during the day when the sun is shining, while the atmospheric heat islands are more likely after sunset “due to the slow release of heat from urban infrastructure.” Whether you are in an urban or rural area, there are several things you can do to prepare for and prevent extreme heat from affecting you. If possible, stay indoors in air conditioning. Be sure to check on your pets who may be outdoors or bring them inside. Stay hydrated and limit alcohol and caffeine intake. If you must go outside, wear loose fitting, light colored clothing, and be sure to apply sunscreen often. Pay attention to signs of heat exhaustion,
which are heavy sweating; weakness; cold, pale, and clammy skin; nausea or vomiting; and fainting, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is life threatening. Signs of heat stroke are a high body temperature (103°+), rapid and strong pulse, and possible unconsciousness. If you think someone has heat stroke, call 911 immediately and move the person somewhere cool. Reduce body temperature with cool, wet cloths or a bath. Do not give a person with heat stroke fluids, and treat the situation as a serious medical emergency (CDC). If you live in a humid climate, be aware of the heat index. The heat index factors in the humidity, which can make the temperature feel 15° hotter. Extreme heat is a serious danger. For more information on preparation and prevention, visit ready.gov or cdc.gov.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Being open for business is just the beginning of our new journey moving forward. Employees may be hesitant to return to work and customers may wonder whether the businesses they patron are safe. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean. Are you ready to communicate to your customers and employees that you've chosen a higher standard of clean? Are you ready to be Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned? Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive program that SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas offers to commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 global pandemic. This is a level of clean that goes far beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. This is proactive viral pathogen cleaning. When you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you have selected a higher cleaning standard-you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.
As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration, we stand on over 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned. Beyond fire and water, SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills-always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the CDC and other local authorities. From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will help ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

New Year, Be READY

12/28/2021 (Permalink)

With each new year, many people resolve to better themselves or some part of their life. This year, make a resolution to be READY. No one ever plans on a disaster, but you can prepare for it. The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you are "Ready for whatever happens" in 2022.

In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility, The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contacts, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP also establishes SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider, giving you access to over 45 years experience and a system more than 1,700 Franchises strong. The ERP is a no cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save you time and money in the future. By downloading the free SERVPRO READY App, this information is stored electronically and can be accessed using your mobile device putting help at your fingertips. https://ready.SERVPRO.com/

Preparation is the key to making it through any \ size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster. Don't wait until disaster strikes—resolve to be READY. Call SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas to establish your Emergency READY Profile, and be "Ready for whatever happens" in 2022.

Advantages of the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile

A no-cost assessment of your facility.
A concise profile document containing only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.
A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.
Establishes your local SERVPRO of Northern Las Vegas as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information.

Do you have a plan?

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

As a member of the Ready Campaign’s National Preparedness Coalition, SERVPRO is proud to present the following information.

How quickly your company can get back to business after a tornado, fire, or flood often depends on the emergency planning done today. The regular occurrence of natural disasters demonstrates the importance of being prepared for any emergency. While each situation is unique, your organization can be better prepared if you plan carefully, put emergency procedures in place, and practice for all kinds of emergencies. The following are basic measures business owners and managers can take to begin preparing. A commitment to begin planning today will help support your employees, customers, the community, local economy, and even the country. It also protects your business investment and gives your company a better chance for survival.

Develop a Business Continuity Plan.
Your organization’s risk needs will vary depending on the specific industry, size, scope and location. Begin by reviewing your business process flow chart, if one exists, to identify operations critical to survival and recovery. Carefully assess your internal and external functions to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating. You should also establish procedures for succession of management.

Review Insurance Coverage.
Inadequate insurance coverage can lead to major financial loss if your business is damaged, destroyed or simply interrupted for a period of time. Insurance policies vary; check with your agent or provider about things such as physical losses, flood coverage and business interruption. Understand what your policy does and does not cover.

Prepare your Emergency Plan.
Your employees and co-workers are your business’ most valuable asset. Communication is central before, during and after a disaster. Include emergency information in newsletters, on your company intranet, in periodic employee e-mails and/or other communication tools.

Practice the Emergency Plan.
Some disasters will require employees to leave the workplace quickly. The ability to evacuate workers, customers and visitors effectively can save lives. If your business operates out of more than one location, establish evacuation procedures for each individual building. If your company is in a high-rise building, an industrial park, or even a small strip mall, it is important to coordinate and practice with other tenants or businesses to avoid confusion and potential gridlock.

Secure Your Facility and Equipment.
Install fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and detectors in appropriate places. Secure all entry and exit points and plan for mail safety. Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not usable. Secure valuable equipment.

Improve Cyber Security.
Protecting your data and information systems may require specialized expertise, but even the smallest business can be better prepared. Use anti-virus software and keep it up to-date. Don’t open e-mails from unknown sources. Use hard-to-guess passwords. Protect your computer from intruders by using firewalls. Back up your computer data and download security protection updates known as patches regularly.

Information provided by https://www.ready.gov/

Do you have a plan?

8/18/2021 (Permalink)