Emergency Response After Storms

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

FEMA and private insurers exist to alleviate the burden and get homeowners the professional cleanup services they require.

Emergency Response Following Storms

Many homeowners in Golden Beach, FL, are inadequately prepared for a life-threatening storm situation. Understand the role of FEMA and other agencies in responding to a natural disaster and assessing the damage.

1. The Aftermath

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will typically send an inspector or other government official directly to the site of a flood or other disaster in order to ascertain the amount of damage and the needs of the populace. At this stage, it is helpful to be present to expedite the process. If the home is safe to enter, you can assist the FEMA official in getting a rough tally of what belongings and parts of your home structure are inundated, wind-damaged, or contaminated. Some homeowners may choose to have a complete inventory of the home as a matter of course.

2. Proof of Ownership

In a disaster situation, the federal government needs to determine the owner of the damaged property. Ensure that during a disaster or evacuation you have access to the various deeds and titles that can prove legal ownership of your home, land, and vehicles. This will greatly expedite the process of disbursing federal aid and getting your life back on track.

3. Adjusters

After the danger of flooding is over, your insurance agency will send an adjuster to ascertain the validity of your damage claims and take a general inventory. This process is different from the type of inspection that FEMA performs to determine the severity of the disaster for the purposes of federal aid. Homeowners should be aware that public adjusters independent of any particular insurance agency also exist, and can be hired to assist with disputes over liability or coverage.

While severe storms and other natural disasters can cause significant damage and disruption, FEMA and private insurers exist to alleviate the burden and get homeowners the professional cleanup services they require.

How FEMA Helps Victims of Storm Damage

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

A huge disaster requires the assistance of a large number of individuals. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in charge of coordinating

How FEMA Assists Storm Damage Victims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA takes on several roles after a storm strikes a community. Most people understand the agency's role in helping displaced persons and families find shelter and assistance if they can no longer live in their homes. This role was seen prominently after Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans in 2005. The agency also coordinates many other aspects of recovery including contracting with companies that help restore homes to livable condition.

A storm recovery company can provide many services that minimize the damage from a flood in Hollywood, FL. Highly-trained workers remove standing water, dry out saturated materials and increase the safety of a property.

FEMA Adjusters
For many people, a weather disaster involves working with insurance adjusters, who look at storm damage and assign monetary values for lost items and repairs. The federal government also employs adjusters and inspectors to look over the damage. This is all part of the recovery process, which can take a long time, even running into several months.
Because flooding takes such a large toll on properties, it is sometimes necessary for people to get outside help. In cases where a homeowner is underinsured or uninsured, the costs could run into many thousands of dollars. In a federal disaster area, the government helps connect individuals to grant programs and lenders to procure money to rebuild.

Emergency Medical Personnel
Extreme weather also has the power to result in serious injuries. EMTs and other responders are another important piece of the recovery puzzle. These trained and certified individuals are some of the first people to come in after a disaster, and they treat victims suffering from a wide range of injuries and illnesses. They also transport patients to the nearest definitive care hospitals.

A large disaster requires the help of many people. FEMA plays a central role in coordinating all of these activities and resources.

Essential Information About Home Water Damage

8/11/2020 (Permalink)

Understanding water contamination levels may help you choose the best strategy for restoring your home and your peace of mind.

Essential Information About Home Water Damage

When water damages your Hallandale FL home, suddenly you have many tasks to take care of. Cleaning up and restoring your property can be both time consuming and expensive. This brief guide may help you identify your first steps and understand whether your insurance will help you. Home water damage generally originates from one of three sources.

Interior Water

Water-related damage often comes from sources inside your home. Here are some examples of interior, non-storm-related damage.

An appliance, such as a dishwasher or ice maker, leaks clean water.
A supply water line breaks.
A toilet or sewer overflows, introducing toxic sewage to your structure.
A washing machine leaks water contaminated by soil or grease.

If your offending water originated from a toilet or sewer, it is considered highly toxic, and a professional water remediation service should perform the cleanup. It is a good idea to inform your homeowner’s insurance agent about your water damage early on. They can tell you what level of coverage and reimbursement your policy carries.

Stormwater

When water enters your home before it reaches the ground, generally due to a weather event, it is considered stormwater. Hail, snow or rain entering through a broken window or roof leak describes this type of damage. Your conventional insurance will likely cover stormwater cleanup.

Floodwater

If water enters your home because of external, rising floodwater, it is considered to be highly toxic. Floodwater is called black water or Category 3 water, which is the highest level of toxicity. Water damage from Category 3 water can contain substances such as sewage, toxic chemicals or hazardous objects. For this reason, it requires professional crews to perform the cleanup. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover this type of damage; a special government-issued insurance policy would be needed for you to receive help.
Whatever the source, water can cause significant damage and inconvenient interruptions to the lives of you and your family. Flood damage will require professional help for safe restoration. 

When the Waters Recede in Hollywood Lakes

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is prepared to make your storm damage “Like it never even happened” in Hollywood Lakes.

Have you ever heard the saying, “what you don’t know can’t hurt you”? Sometimes what you don’t know can hurt you in Hollywood Lakes. Too often, after a storm has damaged our property, what we see initially doesn’t tell the whole story. From hidden foundation compromises to the beginning stages of mold growth under a tub, costs can mount quickly and before you know it, you’re in the middle of a spending spree that isn’t recreational. When the waters go down and the damage becomes visible, we often become overwhelmed with the stresses associated with insurance claims and subcontractor costs and errors.  It doesn’t take a psychic to see that you need relief. If or when this happens to you, call SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura. In a short amount of time, a friendly crew of professional cleanup and restoration personnel will quickly assess the damage and start the process of making your disaster  “Like it never even happened.”

Disability Concerns During Storm Evacuation in Hallandale

7/1/2019 (Permalink)

Be Prepared For An Emergency Storm Evacuation In Hallandale, Florida

People with disabilities may need to pack more during an evacuation.

SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura has these tips:

Plan for backup if you have your own car. A storm or flood may damage your car.

Before an emergency, check with your healthcare provider to understand these things:

• Where should I go if I need medical care?
• Where can I get medical supplies?
• How I do get accessible transportation?
• Does the facility have disability ramp access?

Bring with you:

• Written contact list
• Medical alert tags/bracelets
• Copies of medical insurance and Medicare cards
• List of all medications, dosages, and allergies
• Style & serial number of medical devices
• Supply of prescription medications
• Supply of medical equipment
• Extra battery for a power wheelchair
• Any cushions or padding
• Wheelchairs, canes, braces, etc.

Storm damage makes life more difficult for service animals too.

For people who have service animals in Hallandale:

Pack extra food,  water, & other supplies for the service animal

• Tell emergency responders that your service animal travels with you
• Shelters and other buildings may not refuse entry to a service animal

Once you have returned to your home, contact the professionals from SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura at 954-921-8992 to address storm damage, water damage, fire damage, or mold damage.

Links:

https://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs

Thunderstorms and Lightning In Golden Beach and Royal Poinciana

6/5/2019 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous.  They can cause severe damage to your home and property. Thunderstorms include lightning and can:

• Include winds over 50 MPH
• Create hail
• Cause flash floods
• Cause tornadoes

In most places, a thunderstorm can happen at any time of the year and at any time of the day.

You cannot prevent a thunderstorm, but you can prepare:

• Know the risk for thunderstorms in Golden Beach and Royal Poinciana
• Sign up for your community’s warning system
• Cut down or trim trees that may fall on your home or office
• Install surge protectors, lightning rods, or a lightning protection system

SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura repeats the warning, “When thunder roars, go indoors”.  You don’t have to wait for the thunder. If there is a thunderstorm warning, go inside. Once there:

• Unplug appliances
• Do not use landline phones in office or home
• Pay attention to alerts and warnings

If you can’t get inside a building:

• If you are swimming or in a boat, get to land immediately. Find shelter
• If you are in a car, don’t touch anything metal
• “Turn around. Don’t Drown”. Avoid flooded roads. 6 inches of moving water can knock you down. One foot of moving water can sweep away your car.

A lightning strike during a thunderstorm can leave a wake of destruction in its path. This can range from minor electrical issues to fire damage. Lightning is also a major cause of injury or death from weather-related dangers.  Most people survive being hit by lightning, but they often have long-term problems.

Links:

https://www.ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning

Hurricane Irma

3/2/2018 (Permalink)

Hurricane Irma was a category 4 hurricane when it struck the west coast of Florida, leaving a lot of damage along the way. Yet, the real work begun once the hurricane passed. Immediately SERVPRO's technicians rushed to the warehouse, waiting for the calls to come in, and they came in by the bulk. SERVPRO crews were dispatched from various franchises; which came from all over Florida and even out of state. The first week was strictly handling mitigation of the wet materials left behind by Hurricane Irma, but once the second week rolled in, the remediation process took place. This was the case for a majority of the jobs that were called in for several months after. SERVPRO is always prepared to handle any size disaster. 

Three Actions to Take Now to Prepare for Hurricane Season

10/10/2016 (Permalink)

Today we released the 2016 National Preparedness Report, an important guidepost in our work to build a stronger, more resilient America. The findings of this year’s report are significant. This vital information is analyzed to gauge the progress that community partners—including all levels of government, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, communities, and individuals—are making to prepare for a wide array of threats and hazards. We should be prepared for all hazards, from hurricanes and tornadoes to earthquakes and terrorist attacks.

The good news is that this year’s report shows an increase in community resilience over the past three years. This matters because we know that the more resilient communities are before a disaster hits, the faster and stronger they’ll bounce back if disaster strikes. The bad news is that this year’s report also shows that the percentage of Americans who have developed and discussed a household emergency plan with their families has fallen for two years in a row. We must avoid becoming complacent in taking deliberate steps to be prepared for the unexpected.

Being prepared for disasters is a shared responsibility among all of us. And today, as we mark the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, I want to encourage everyone – families, communities and businesses - to take action now to prepare.

We’ve been lucky over the past several years. The United States has not had a significant impact from a hurricane or tropical storm since Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012. But luck isn’t a strategy when it comes to being ready. As we’ve seen too many times before, all it takes is one major hurricane or tropical storm to devastate a community, neighborhood, or family.

When a hurricane hits, it can bring high winds, heavy rainfall, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, and even tornadoes. Storm surge produced by hurricanes poses the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. The destructive power of storm surge can travel several miles inland, and large battering waves can result in loss of life, buildings destroyed and road and bridge damage along coastal areas. That’s why if you live in an area where hurricanes are a threat, you need to know where you’d go before the danger arrives and makes evacuation impossible.

We are not powerless against the threat of these disasters. Here are three simple steps you should take today to prepare:

Know your evacuation zone. Evacuation zones are areas that may be impacted by hurricane flooding. Many communities have designated evacuation zones and routes to get citizens to safety. This information can often be found on the websites of your state, county, or town emergency management offices. If a hurricane threatens your community and local officials say it's time to evacuate, don't wait.
Download the FEMA app. With the FEMA smartphone app you’ll have all the information you need to know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. You can also receive weather alerts in your area from NOAA’s National Weather Service, find lifesaving safety tips, and have access to disaster resources should you need them. You can download the app from the Apple App store or the Google Play store. The FEMA app is also available in Spanish.
Make a plan and build a kit. When a hurricane hits, communications systems can go out, transportation can be limited, and it could be days before emergency responders are able to reach your community if you need help. Making a plan - and practicing that plan - helps to ensure you and your family are safe and ready for these challenges. Your plan should include:
Family communication plan: Talk with your family members about how you will contact one another in an emergency. Know how you will check in with family members in different locations, how you will care for children or members with access and functional needs, and how your family will get in touch if cell phone, internet, or landlines don’t work.
Emergency Supply Kit: A ‘go kit’ is a bag that contains basic items you and your family may need, during an emergency. Kits should contain non-perishable food, water, and other supplies, such as flashlights, local maps, and a battery-powered radio, to last you and your family for at least 72 hours. Visit Ready.gov for a complete list of items.
Pets: Many local shelters do not permit pets, but laws require them to accept service animals. Know what you will do with your pet if you need to evacuate.
We want everyone to enjoy the summer without having to worry about what to do when severe weather threatens. The best way to do that is to prepare now and know what you’re going to do in the event of a hurricane. Planning ahead gives you more options and better control over situations that could become chaotic at the last moment if you’re not ready. To learn more about how to prepare for a hurricane visit ready.gov/hurricanes.

After the Storm: How to Check Your Property for Damage

10/7/2016 (Permalink)

Conduct a Storm Damage Inspection

The beauty of spring is often tempered by powerful storms, with heavy rains, strong winds and destructive hail. Through it all, your home protects you from the elements, so be sure to check it for damage afterward.

Even if you have no reason to suspect that damage occurred, check your home and its surroundings (once it’s safe to do so, of course). It’s important to identify problems, make emergency repairs and determine if an insurance claim is necessary.

Here’s a handy list of things to check after a storm from the National Storm Damage Center:

Roof

Your roof might be the area of your home most vulnerable to damage in a storm, because so many things can impact it. Whether you’ve had high winds and downed tree branches or just a simple hailstorm, look for these indicators of damage:

• Holes in the roof 
• Split seams
• Missing shingles
• Leaks in your roof or ceiling

Building Exteriors

While siding, stucco and brick all are durable, they also are susceptible to storm damage. In some instances, homeowners don’t notice until it’s too late to file a claim, so check carefully for:

• Cracking, chipping or dings and dents on siding. Even if there doesn’t appear to be damage at first, check again at a different time of day. You may see something you missed when the lighting is different.

• Holes in stucco. This is a serious problem, even when small, so look closely. If you find holes, have a professional conduct a full property inspection.
• Damaged brick and tuck pointing. While brick typically holds up well, a check can identify any problem areas.
• Detached or damaged trim, gutters, etc.

Driveways and Walkways

Concrete can chip, crack and split, not only reducing the lifespan of your driveway or walkway, but potentially creating a safety issue.

Trees

Fallen trees and limbs cause more than $1 billion in damage each year, according to the National Storm Damage Center. Keep in mind that property owners generally are responsible for removing trees and limbs that have fallen on their property, even if it is a tree from a neighbor’s yard. Your insurance policy may help to cover the cost of removal and repairs, depending on the coverage you have and the circumstances of the incident. (There are exceptions to this, depending on the maintenance of the tree, so check with your insurance agent.)

General Tips

• Severe storms often will knock down power lines. If this happens on your property, rope off 30 feet in each direction around the line and do not touch it. Call 911 and the power company immediately.
• Be sure to do a full check of your property, including things such as your air-conditioning unit, fences, vent caps, etc. And don’t forget to check your vehicles if they were not garaged at the time of the storm.
• Don’t forget the crawl space. “Most people don’t ever look down there,” according to J. Szczesny, owner of 4 Seasons Home Inspections in Seattle and a Certified Master Inspector. “You need to be sure no water is getting in, and, if it is, make sure it is removed quickly via a sump pump or underground drainage system.”
• Take pictures of all damage from different angles. You want to document as much as possible.

Finally, knowing the details of your homeowners coverage, your limits and your deductibles can help you during the insurance claims process. It’s a great idea to examine your policy and know what your homeowners insurance covers now, before the storm.

Storms

9/14/2016 (Permalink)

Storms

Storms, a natural phenomenon caused by violent atmospheric disturbances occurring over land and water, represent a major potential threat to the entire population of the earth because of their prevalence, the size of areas devastated and the scale of the resulting damage.

There are several different types of storms distinguished by the strength and characteristics of atmospheric disturbances. These are tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes), extra tropical cyclones (winter storms and blizzards), monsoon type storms, tornadoes and thunderstorms.

Certain violent winds, which affect limited areas and the names of which vary from country to country (for example, Bora, Chinook, Faehn, etc.) can be regarded as storms and calI for special preventive, protective and intervention measures.

The different types of storms, their frequency, the seasons during which they occur and the areas usually threatened can be established with some precision but their occurrence and trajectory cannot, until they are already developing. The preventive and protective measures are decisive in such cases and the establishment of meteorological institutes and observatories in each country is necessary to enable the risks to be predicted and the political authorities, firms and population to be warned and advised accordingly.

Preventive and protective measures
The damaging effects of different types of storms are generalIy known to the authorities and inhabitants of the various regions and areas at risk. It is recommended that, if need be, new arrivals’ and tourists contact the public services to find out about the likely risk of a storm in the season when they usually occur and the preventive measures and instructions relevant to such situations.

At the community level the damage caused by storms can be avoided, or at least limited, by:

Permanently monitoring weather conditions and appraising the atmospheric turbulences that could affect the national territory or particular areas.
Co-operating with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations (UN) to strengthen technical and technological assistance and to implement appropriate measures against destructive natural phenomena.
Establishing construction regulations requiring more resistant structures and prohibiting building on areas particularly at risk because of exposure to violent winds, etc.
Determining the probable outcome of a particular event and issuing information bulletins (alarms, protective measures) to the authorities and the general public.
Establishing weIl-equipped management and rescue teams trained in the preventive, assistance and rescue measures needed to respond to the different types of storms likely to strike a built-up area or region.
Training the population, and those in charge of security in companies, in the principles and application of preventive, protective and behavior measures, with a view to reducing the damage caused by a storm.
Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

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Highly Trained Water Restoration Technicians
A Trusted Leader in the Water Restoration Industry
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Storm and flood damage require specialized restoration techniques and equipment. When a storm hits your Hollywood home, you need the company with storm damage experience and expertise. SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions.

Do You Have Flood or Storm Damage?

Call Us Today (954) 921-8992

Why Choose SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura?

We're Faster to Any Size Disaster

We’re dedicated to responding immediately to water and storm damage emergencies. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces cost.

Learn More

We're Highly Trained Storm Damage Specialists

We specialize in flooding and storm damage restoration, the cornerstone of our business. We have extensive water damage and storm restoration training that allows us to get your home back to normal quickly.

Water Damage Restoration Technician
Applied Structural Drying Technicians
Learn More

We Have the Resources to Handle Storms and Disasters

We can scale our resources to handle any size storm or disaster. We can access resources from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the country.

Learn More

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura is close by and ready to respond to storm and disaster events. We are proud to be an active member of the Hollywood community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

Earthquake

9/14/2016 (Permalink)

Earthquakes

Introduction
The term "earthquake" or seismic tremor is a good description of the natural phenomenon which suddenly strikes an area causing damage that varies according to the intensity of the quake and local geological conditions. Close to the epicenter of the quake, the damage is direct, resulting in immediate destruction, such as collapsed buildings and other infrastructure, and indirect or secondary, resulting, for example, in fires, landslides, ruptured water and gas mains, interruption of electricity supplies, floods, etc..

It should be noted that the main quake is regularly followed by after-tremors, which may occur a few hours, days or even months later and which can be as violent as the initial earthquake. These can cause considerable additional damage which, unless protective measures are taken by the political authorities and their intervening bodies, can result in numerous victims.

Seismic waves (usually known by their Japanese name, "Tsunamis" or tidal waves) are caused by severe underwater earthquakes, or by collapsing sea or lake beds which often result from an earthquake or volcanic eruption. The waves produced spread in all directions at high speed (several hundred kilometers an hour) and, even after having travelled several hundred kilometers from their underwater epicenter, may become very high (tens of meters) when they reach shallow coastal waters or narrow bays. They thus give rise to major dangers for the exposed population and coastal infrastructure, such as hotel resorts, port installations and buildings on the coast.

Preventive and protective measures
Because man has no control over earthquakes they must be considered as unavoidable events.

The damage they cause can, therefore, only be limited by taking long-term security measures to avoid the collapse of homes and important infrastructure, such as, for example dams, nuclear power stations, reservoirs of toxic or inflammable materials, power lines, communication networks, bridges, etc. It is the same for tsunamis. It is clear that such long-term security measures will be adapted to the major dangers that threaten different regions. This is notably the case for areas subject to high tectonic pressure or situated over geological faults, the main causes of high seismic activity (for example the areas situated around the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean).

It is up to the governments of the states at risk to establish local seismic building standards ensuring that buildings are resistant to earthquakes, having a solid base and foundations with shock absorbers or dampers that can reduce the effects of seismic tremors. Building should also be flexible and resistant to horizontal and vertical tensions. However, the recent earthquakes in Kobe and Los Angeles have shown that full protection from earthquakes does not exist.

It should be noted that states with civil protection shelters for use in wartime have at their disposal an additional safety measure to protect their citizens in case of an earthquake and, more particularly, from the aftershocks.

Logically, precautions against tsunamis can only consist in the establishment of an observation and warning system along the coasts which have been shown in the past to be subject to this type of disaster.

Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

Related Storm Services

Overview of Storm & Flood Services
Water & Storm Damage Tips
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Building Services
Commercial Storm Damage
24-Hour Emergency Service
Faster to Any Size Disaster
Highly Trained Water Restoration Technicians
A Trusted Leader in the Water Restoration Industry
Locally Owned and Operated
Storm and flood damage require specialized restoration techniques and equipment. When a storm hits your Hollywood home, you need the company with storm damage experience and expertise. SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions.

Do You Have Flood or Storm Damage?

Call Us Today (954) 921-8992

Why Choose SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura?

We're Faster to Any Size Disaster

We’re dedicated to responding immediately to water and storm damage emergencies. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces cost.

Learn More

We're Highly Trained Storm Damage Specialists

We specialize in flooding and storm damage restoration, the cornerstone of our business. We have extensive water damage and storm restoration training that allows us to get your home back to normal quickly.

Water Damage Restoration Technician
Applied Structural Drying Technicians
Learn More

We Have the Resources to Handle Storms and Disasters

We can scale our resources to handle any size storm or disaster. We can access resources from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the country.

Learn More

Locally Owned Company with National Storm Resources

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura is close by and ready to respond to storm and disaster events. We are proud to be an active member of the Hollywood community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

Floods

9/14/2016 (Permalink)

Floods

Floods generally occur as a result of bad weather ( for example : storms, cyclones, tornadoes or thunderstorms, heavy or persistent rain), melting snow or ice, or the sudden discharge of water.

These events lead to a rise in the water level of major riverbeds or to an accumulation of flow water, to the resurgence of underground rivers or to thaws in low-lying areas adjoining stream banks or river estuaries. In mountainous areas, landslides, earthquakes, and avalanches can cause the overflowing or rupture of hydraulic dams or cause unstable blockages at certain points on rivers, and thus threaten or destroy people and the infrastructure located in the lower parts of valleys.

Bursting or overflowing of hydraulic dams, as well as seismic/tidal waves are special cases which require specific protective measures.

Damage caused by floods can vary greatly according to the nature of the phenomenon at the origin of the flood. They can affect whole regions or certain limited sectors. Moreover, their impact will vary according to whether the event is sudden and violent or a steady but relatively slow rise of flood waters which will inundate a vast area, especially plains situated near or at the mouth of rivers.

The danger is obviously highest in mountainous areas or steep valleys where depressions will be totally levelled or momentarily drowned then covered in debris carried by the flood water (rocks, sand, gravel); this will result in the destruction or burial of all or some of the dwellings, of the economic infrastructure and of vital installations (energy grids, communications and drinking water). This also happens when torrential rainstorms occur in arid regions and deserts where the water cannot penetrate the impermeable soil and, depending on the topography, runs off as surface water destroying homes and settlements over a wide area.

AIl types of floods have grave consequences, mainly because of their secondary effects. Localized flood, or one involving a small rise in water level can lead to large-scale damage, to the interruption or destruction of communication routes (road, rail, etc.) or the loss of infrastructure and damage to the environment (economy, supplies, crops).

Preventive and protective measures
As opposed to other natural phenomenon (landslides) or the causes of certain floods (tidal waves, bad weather), the risk of flood from rising water levels is predictable, although it is difficult to know when it will occur. It is therefore possible to determine the areas at risk.. This is also true in the case of hydraulic dam bursts or overflows since their consequences can be calculated from the volume of water held, the slope and topography of the valley, and the absorptive capacity of the rivers located below.

Long-term preventive and protective measures will essentially consist in regulating the layout of the areas at risk by legislation calling for a systematic appraisal of potential natural dangers, and taking these into account when defining areas that can be built on, and when granting planning permission. These preventive measures will, as far as possible, be completed by an obligation to replant and maintain forests and vegetation, and by the control of upland water streams and rivers. To this end, it can only be recommended that a national hydrological or geological institute responsible for studying these problems and coordinating preventive measures be set up.

At the community level general preventive measures can be summarized as follows:

- Permanent monitoring of the risk of flooding (establishment of a network to measure the water levels of streams/rivers).

- Setting up one or several information and flood warning centers for the population especially with regard to large capacity hydraulic dams.

- Issuing regulations banning building, residing in, and access to identified risk zones and implementing specific protective systems such as alarm signals.

- Building and developing infrastructure that will prevent, avoid or limit floods and protect the population.

- Planning the evacuation of the population likely to be at risk, and instructing them on how to behave in case of a flood.

- Forming well trained and equipped management and rescue teams.

- Lowering water levels in hydraulic dams and increasing the flow of rivers ) preventive measures.

Water Damage Repair and Restoration

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Equipment
When your Hollywood home has water damage from flooding or leaks, we have the expertise and equipment to properly restore your property. The water removal and water cleanup process is completed by our highly-trained technicians who will document the drying process. This validates that your property has been dried properly and thoroughly.

Please follow the tips outlined in our Water Damage Tips—Until Help Arrives Guide to protect yourself and your property.

Have Water or Flood Damage?

Call Us Today – (954) 921-8992

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura is close by and ready to respond to your flood or water damage emergency. We are proud to be an active member of the Hollywood community and want to do our part to make our community the best it can be.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

Hollywood, FLAventura, FLGolden Beach, FLRoyal Poinciana, FLHallandale, FLHollywood Lakes, FL
Why Choose SERVPRO of Hollywood / Hallandale / Aventura?

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster

Immediate action is crucial when dealing with water damage. With over 1,650 U.S. and Canadian Franchise locations, we are strategically positioned to be faster to any size water emergency, so Hollywood residents can expect an immediate response, day or night.

Learn More

We’re Highly Trained Water Damage Specialists

We are water damage specialists who get started promptly to get your property dry and back to pre-water-damage condition. Using advanced water removal and drying equipment and scientific drying principles to get your property dried quickly, we document the drying process to validate your home or business is ready. Learn about our water damage training and certificates.

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We Use Advanced Drying Equipment and Techniques

We invest in the latest technology and equipment because it helps us restore your home more quickly and to minimize cost. This equipment allows us to detect hidden moisture and extract standing water quickly and efficiently. We also utilize professional-strength cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing products to cleaning and sanitize the affected water damage area for your comfort and safety.

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Our Water Damage Restoration Process

Since every flood and water damage scenario is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. However, the overall water restoration process remains the same. The steps below detail our restoration process for the typical water-damaged property.