Disaster Experts Share Tips for Responding to Water, Wind Damage

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - October 03, 2015) - Even without making landfall, Hurricane Joaquin is expected to bring widespread rainfall, strong wind and potentially historic flooding in the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic region over the next few days. Yet, despite pleas and warnings from state and local officials, the media and others, experts from ServiceMaster Restore, one of the largest disaster restoration companies in the United States and business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), say that most business and homeowners fail to take necessary steps to prepare for such storms, leaving them vulnerable to more costly repairs even months or years later.

The company recently released its 2015 ServiceMaster Restore Franchise Hurricane Preparedness Survey, which revealed important insights from its franchise owners who offer hurricane restoration services:

• 90 percent agree that storm preparation is often overlooked by home and business owners
• 73 percent agree that most property damage can be prevented if the right measures are taken.
• 90 percent agree that property owners can spend up to twice as much on repairs if they do not take simple steps in advance, such as unplugging electronics, elevating furniture, safely storing valuables, documenting important items and having a post-hurricane cleanup plan.

When it comes to cleaning up afterwards, property owners fare even worse, according to survey respondents.

• 95 percent say that when it comes to dealing with hurricane-related damages, most property owners don't have the tools and/or expertise needed to effectively deal with the problems at hand.

Even many years after water damage, disaster restoration experts still come across severe mold damage in homes that weren't properly restored, according to Kim Brooks, president and CEO of ServiceMaster DSI. Brooks' team was one of many from ServiceMaster Restore that provided extensive restoration support to commercial businesses, hospitals and homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"We can't stress enough the importance of having a plan," said Brooks. "Unfortunately, people often don't take weather warnings seriously, and once they do, panic sets in and they run out of time to take care of simple precautions to secure their property. Knowing what to do before and after a major storm, and knowing when to call in the professionals for assistance, including who to call, can help home and business owners avoid costly damage to their properties in the long run."