Photo Gallery

Lexington Chamber of Commerce board members address golf tournament participants with SERVPRO tent in line of sight

2022 Lexington Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament

We were thrilled to be a part of the 2022 Lexington Chamber of Commerce golf tournament! The weather was perfect and fun was had by all who attended. 

SERVPRO advertisement in bleacher seats of Fenway Park

SERVPRO partners with Fenway Park

We are proud and honored to be partnered with The Boston Red Sox at the historic Fenway Park!

SERVPRO table under tent with promotional products on it and people surrounding it

Celebrate Weston! 2022

We had the opportunity to participate in Celebrate Weston! this weekend. It was a wonderful event and it was great to connect with members of the community to let them know more about SERVPRO.

multiple fans, dehumidifiers, wood floor drying mats, air filtration devices, and a hydroxyl generator on a gym floor

Commercial Water Loss at a Private School in Weston

We used multiple fans, dehumidifiers, wood floor drying mats, air filtration devices, and a hydroxyl generator to mitigate a large water loss at a private school in Weston.

Kelly Hill holding gift basket she won during raffle

Waltham Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party 2021!

Congratulations to Kelly Hill for winning our raffle donation at the Waltham Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party! Many thanks to the Chamber and Craft Food Hall for hosting the event and supporting all of the businesses in Waltham.

SERVPRO team having dinner in warehouse with vans in back ground

SERVPRO 2021 Thanksgiving Party

We were so happy to be able to get together this year to celebrate Thanksgiving with our team. We had a potluck-style meal where each team member brought their own dish and we all shared a meal together. Happy Thanksgiving! 

crew standing in front of SERVPRO van

2021 Team Photo

Happy Holidays from our family to yours! Thank you for an incredible year in 2021. We love to serve to communities we work in every day. Thank you for trusting with your most valuable asset, your home.

SERVPRO branded tent with branded table underneath

Bedford Day 2021!

We had a great time at Bedford Day 2021 on Saturday! It was great to connect with so many members of the community. See you next year!

SERVPRO technicians posing in front of Dallas, Texas graffiti mural

SERVPRO storm team photo in front of Dallas, TX graffiti mural

SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster, we deployed our storm team down to Texas where they worked tirelessly for over a month restoring homes to pre water damage conditions as soon as possible. 

SERVPRO box truck parked in front of AT&T Stadium in Texas

SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster

Our storm team helped communities in need down in Texas after a polar vortex swept through the region. SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster to make it "Like it never even happened." 

hardwood floors in Weston MA refinished after water damage

Hardwood floors in Weston MA refinished after water damage

SERVPRO now offers construction services! Here are some beautiful hardwood floors refinished after water damage occurred at a home in Weston, MA.

SERVPRO green van with UHAUL trailer parked in front of brick home

SERVPRO storm team helping families in Texas

Our SERVPRO storm team is wrapping up their hard work in Texas this week - we are incredibly proud to be able to serve communities in need across the country. 

SERVPRO storm team in Texes

SERVPRO Storm Team Deploys to Texas

Our storm team has been activated to respond to the weather event in Texas. SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster and our team is proud to help communities in need 24/7/365.

2021 graphic

Bring on 2021

2020 was different, eventful and unprecedented for all of us. We hope 2021 is everyone's best year yet and wish you the best of luck. We look forward to continuing to help out and do all we can for all our communities in 2021. 

SERVPRO Company Photo 2020

2020 Company Photo

2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us, but through it all, SERVPRO has been committed to helping out our communities any way we can. We still always offer 24/7 Emergency Services regarding Fire and Water clean-up. This year we also introduced a disinfecting initiative known as Certified SERVPRO Cleaned. Our crew treats your health and safety with the utmost importance so they will show up to every job wearing masks and personal protective equipment. Let us know how we can help your residential or commercial property today. 

SERVPRO Water damage graphic

Water Damage

Water damage does not run on a 9-5 schedule so neither do we! We offer 24/7 Emergency Services and strive to make water damage look like they never even happened! If your residential or commercial property is ever affected by water damage, we are just a phone call away.

frayed wires graphic

Don't let Fray Wires Trip you up

Always look out for frayed wires because they can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.  IF you ever need assistance after experiencing Fire Damage, do not hesitate to contact us. Our team of professionals offers 24/7 Emergency services and is always ready to help!

One of our technicans cleaning a carpet

Get your Carpet cleaned Professionally

While we are known for our top notch Fire and Water cleanup restoration services, we also provide excellent carpet and upholstery cleaning! Our hard working professionals can handle and address unwanted conditions with your carpet and will get the job done right. Our state of the art equipment can make your old carpet look good and new again! Contact our office in Waltham to get started! 781-861-0500

SERVPRO Protective Suit Graphic

Being as Safe as possible

At SERVPRO, our team continues to take all precautions necessary and wears PPE to every job. We want to help out as many people as possible but at the same time, follow all safety protocols.

PPE helps to:
-Protect workers from threat of viral pathogens in area
-Protect area from potential contamination by our workers
-Protect from harmful contaminants in water or particulates in the air during our fire restoration & water mitigation work

Wiping down ceiling

"Like it never even happened."

Here at SERVPRO, we take pride in helping make structures look as good as new. In this photo one of our technicians, wipes down the top of a Visiting hut after it had been sprayed with our cleaning agents. Check out the before and after section on our website to see the significant difference! 

Our SERVPRO trucks outside a job

Cleaning and Disinfecting Bedford Village Visit Area

On Friday, members of our team were proud to help out our friends at Bedford Village. Our team provided a thorough disinfecting deep-cleaning to make patient/family visiting areas as safe and clean as possible during this time. We were truly grateful for the opportunity and look forward to helping others in the near future!

SERVPRO Air Movers

What Makes Us Better than Competitors

At our SERVPRO, we have countless Axial Air Movers, or in simpler terms, high-end fans. These Air Movers provide us with 3,000 CFM (Cubic Feet per minute) of Air movement. More importantly, they only use a considerably low amount of power at just 2.5 AMPs. The advanced technology, which we have at our disposal is a key component to staying a step ahead of our competition. 

Never hesitate if you need our assistance, as we offer 24/7 Emergency Services and look forward to helping whoever we can!

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned Sticker Decal

The New Normal

Clean has taken on a new meaning in 2020. As stores and businesses are beginning to open up their doors, we are offering them an additional step to help ensure your confidence and safety with a higher cleaning standard, Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

If you own a store or business today, give us a call and get a professional disinfecting deep cleaning by us today! After our work is done a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned sticker window decal will be placed on your window so everyone knows the building is as clean as possible.

SERVPRO residential flyer

Let us know how we can help you

Here at SERVPRO we are in constant contact and are working with the CDC during this unusual time. We are following all guidelines and we have access to CDC approved cleaning products. Our team continues to follow all the protocols and have gone through extensive training and experience. We remain open & stay ready to help residential & commercial properties at this time. 

Nurses, firefighters, doctors

World Health Day

On World Health Day 2020, we would like to say THANK YOU to all our medical professionals such as nurses and doctors. We are also thankful for all the other front-line workers during this pandemic. Thank you all for continuing to serve the public during this time and please continue to stay safe!

National Doctors Day Graphic

National Doctors Day

During times like these, we are forever indebted to Healthcare workers. Today, we would like to give a special shoutout to all the Doctors in Massachusetts and around the world doing everything they can as we continue to fight this COVID-19 pandemic. THANK YOU DOCTORS! 

Outline of Tennessee

Nashville Strong

Our thoughts and prayers are with the state of Tennessee and everyone affected by the Hurricane. #NashvilleStrong

SEVPRO Sign

Our SERVPRO Territories

It's the last Friday of February! Happy Friday from us here at SERVPRO! Trust us if you need restoration after Fire or Water Damage. Our priority is to make it seem "Like it never even happened."

Keep Calm Meme

We're Always Ready To Help

It's time we get in on the "Keep Calm" Meme. Here at SERVPRO we specialize in Fire and Water Clean up. Our main objective is to make fire and water damage "Like it never even happened". 

National Battery Day Graphic

National Battery Day

Battery's may get overlooked, but what would our lives look like if they didn't exist? Always replace your battery's periodically and test your smoke detectors from time to time. #NationalBatteryDay

Valentine's day graphic

Valentine's Day 2020

Happy Valentines Day 2020!

Happy New Year Graphic

Happy New Year! Bring on 2020!

Can you believe this decade is over? We hope everyone has a fun and safe New Years celebration. We wish everyone the best for 2020.  

SERVPRO Happy Holidays Graphic

Warm wishes from SERVPRO!

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Holidays! Stay warm, have fun and stay safe! 

SERVPRO Banner

SERVPRO Star Wars Movie Night

On 12/19/19 we held our first company movie night! Thank you to all our clients and employees who came for the event! We were fortunate enough to see the premiere of Star Wars 9 Rise of Skywalker! Fun and enjoyable times! 

SERVPRO Company Christmas Party

SERVPRO Company Christmas

Inside the Hilton Garden Inn, our owner Steve Taylor recaps 2019 and shows appreciation towards all the employees. The food, atmosphere and music was great! The countdown has begun for next year's party! 

SERVPRO November W.O.W Award

Production Manager Chris Mack Wins W.O.W Award

Congratulations to Chris Mack for winning our November W.O.W Award! (Employee of the month) Chris worked really hard and stepped up for our franchise in November. Keep up the great work! 

Photo of Christmas Tree in our office

Season Greetings and Happy Holidays!

We set up our Christmas tree on Cyber Monday. Have you set up your Christmas tree yet? We would like to wish you a safe, fun and memorable Holiday season. 

SERVPRO Thanksgiving Dinner Food on table

SERVPRO 2019 Thanksgiving Dinner

Last week we had our annual Thanksgiving dinner here at our office in Waltham. We did a Pot Luck and the food was tremendous! 

SERVPRO Thanksgiving Photo

Happy Thanksgiving from SERVPRO!

SERVPRO would like to wish you a safe, fun and turkey-filled Thanksgiving! 

Our Marketing Manager at an event

Trunk or Treat 2019

Our Marketing Manager Tammi Kibler participating and handing out candy to Kids at the annual Bedford Trunk or Treat 2019! 

Man holding up Two award certificates

Fall 2019 W.O.W Award

Congratulations to Richard Rogers for winning our most recent W.O.W award for "Wicked Outstanding Work". This award is similar to an Employee of the Month award. Congrats Richard! Keep up the great work! 

SERVPRO Group Photo

SERVPRO Fall 2019 Company Photo

Meet the team! Our Fall 2019 Company Photo. The Photo features our Owner and General Manager Steve Taylor (Far right), our Operations Manager Dave Taylor (Back left). The photo also includes members of our Marketing team, Production managers and our restoration crew. 

2 men standing in house with green equipment set out

SERVPRO Production Managers

A night after a house in Lexington experienced extreme water damage and flooding, Our two great production managers checked in on the good work done by our restoration crew. The house is back to looking clean and dry!

9th Annual Moody St. 5K

SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford is active in local fundraising events. This weekend, our Marketing Manager Tammi Kibler completed the 9th Annual Moody St. 5K, which raises money for Waltham public schools. 

SERVPRO W.O.W Award

We gave one of our Project Managers, Nicholas Sturgeon, our W.O.W award for the month of May. Congratulations, Nick! Keep up the good work.

Donation Basket for WCAC-TV Live Tv Auction

SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford donated a basket for the WCAC-TV Live Auction. The auction takes place on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at 6:00 pm. 

Walking to Honor Local Law Enforcement

Tammi Kibler, marketing manager for SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford, completed the Watertown Police Finish Strong 5K this weekend. This event honors Watertown law enforcement for their part in capturing the Boston Marathon bombers. Funds raised are donated to the Watertown Police Foundation.

SERVPRO Provides Continuing Education for Insurance Professionals

We have a close relationship with local insurance agents. One service we provide them is free continuing education courses necessary for maintaining their license. 

Call us today to learn more about scheduling a course for your agents.

SERVPRO at Goddard School Trunk or Treat 2018

The Goddard School Trunk or Treat in the Bedford, Mass. Whole Foods parking lot is one of our favorite events each year.

Our boss really brings it. In fact, we won best decoration the first two years we participated. Lights flash, skeletons dance, and the spooky music draws all who dare to visit our Promaster and learn more about how we are here to help in any disaster. 

SERVPRO at Bedford Summer Walkabout

We had a beautiful evening for the Bedford Summer Walkabout 2018. We were set up right in front of the Bedford Free Public Library. Many families came out to socialize with neighbors and learn more about local businesses. 

SERVPRO at LCC Annual Golf Tournament 2018

Here we are at the Lexington Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament 2018, second year of rain in row. We're hoping the third time's a charm.

This year the tournament is on June 3, 2019. We would love to see the sun that day.

Safety Tips

Even though May was National Building Safety Month - it's never too late to learn something that can save you! The International Code Conciliate wants to keep you, your family, friends and colleagues safe.

We understand the importance of homes but places of business are also very important. Always have an evacuation plan and a communication plan set up prior to an emergency. Click the links below to learn more about building safety in various disasters.

Earthquake Safety

Flood Safety

Hurricane Safety

More Summer Safety

Summertime is usually full of activities such as barbecues, camping trips, or cooling off in the water. But safety is always important to keep in mind!

  • Fireworks are dangerous and regardless of how pretty they may be, they can cause severe damage if not utilized properly. 
  • Whether you're using a charcoal/wood-burning or propane grill, it should always be supervised when in use! They can cause lots of structural damage as well as personal damage if misused. 
  • Keep children and animals away from the grilling area in order to prevent accidental burns or tipping.
  • Only swim in approved areas and supervise children when in the water

Sump Pumps are Savers

A couple of months back we could not believe how many calls we were getting from our customers in regards to water in their basements! Almost all of them were due to sump pump failures. 

Sump pumps are installed as a means to help prevent a building structure from flooding and it channels the water away from the structure. 

Due to low table waters that rose quickly because of wet weather, many homeowners were surprised when their basement was flooded with water one moment and in the next the sump pump was working again and removing the water.

Saving Water!

Water is an essential in all of our lives and it is important to use it when it is necessary. Here's some tips we suggest to save on that water bill: 

  • Shutoff the faucet when you're brushing your teeth or washing your hands
  • Take a shorter shower and/or try not to shower multiple times in one day!
  • Purchase water-efficient goods such as shower-heads, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers
  • If you have any leaking pipes, fix them! Not only can this make your bill more expensive, but it can also because the cause of mold growing in your property!

Leaving your property for vacation

Summertime is upon us and many of us are going away to enjoy the sun!

But before you go, here are some tips: 

  • Have someone you trust check on your home while you're gone
  • Secure & put away outdoor furniture as it can be damaged by the heat
  • Check the exterior of your house for any potential roofing issues (cluttered gutters, tree limbs, wires, etc)
  • Shut off the main water valve to avoid potential water losses
  • Shut off your hot water heater or put it on vacation mode if you can
  • Shut off nonessential electricity - who wants to pay for those while gone!
  • Keep your A/C Unit running because heat damage can occur

Heat Safety Tips to Prepare Your Home

Keeping cool is important! Here's some tips to take care of yourself & your home: 

  • Install window air conditions snugly; insulate if necessary
  • Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation
  • Install temporary window reflectors, such as aluminium foil covered cardboard to reflect heat back outside
  • Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in
  • Cover windows that receive morning and afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. 
  • Keep storm windows up all year
  • If you must go outside, wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing
  • Apply sunscreen, even if the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds
  • Be sure to check on your pets
  • Stay hydrated! 

Other ways to know!

It is important to deal with problems as you come across them because the longer you wait the more dangerous risks there are for your property. While standing water can be an obvious sign of water damage in your property, some other ways to know might be:

  • Staining on ceilings, walls and/or floors
  • Peeling paint and wall paper (though sometimes this can be from humidity)
  • Damaged flooring (such as buckling floors)
  • Decomposition on plumbing valves and fittings

If you see any of these on your property give us a call at 781-861-0500 today so we can set up a free estimate!

What's in Your Commercial Ducts?

Indoor air quality is super important and if you are not aware of what is in your ducts here are some possibilities: 

  • Rodents, insects or pests (these have to be exterminated prior to SERVPRO coming to do the clean up)
  • Dust, dirt & debris
  • Bacteria & mold

Keeping the HVAC and ductwork clean can potentially extend the life-span of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak condition, which may help you save money. 

Looking to improve your business' air quality? Give us a call at 781-647-9100 to set up a FREE estimate!

The Three C's

Here at SERVPRO we are focus on Commitment, Communication & Consistency.

- Commitment: Provide a solution the client can count on

- Communication: Clearly identify the process and progress

- Consistency: Prove to be a reliable partner

Regardless of whether we are talking to a tenant, homeowner, insurance agent or adjuster - we are always committing to providing consistent communication. 

Emergency Ready Profile

SERVPRO has been focusing on setting up Emergency Ready Profiles with local businesses. ERP's give us the chance to react to a commercial property loss faster than anyone else because we have all the necessary information! 

Our ERPs include:

- Emergency Action Checklist

- Advanced Emergency Contacts, Work Authorization Contacts & Insurance Contact

- Main Utility Information (Shut Off Locations)

- Property Overview

- Building Access Information

If you have an interest in setting up an ERP give us a call at 781-647-9100

Smoke Alarms

Fires can happen to anyone at anytime if people are not aware of dangers they might be subjecting their properties too! One way to prevent a fire from growing larger, is to install smoke alarms. 

- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement. 3/5 fire deaths occur due to properties not having functional smoke alarms.

- Install them at least 10 feet away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. 

- Test the smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button and replace your batteries once a year! Your smoke detector will "chirp" when the batteries are low so you have no excuses!

- Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years!

 

There are various different designs of smoke detectors you can buy to best fit the needs of your property!

Protect your home from mold!

While we know mold is everywhere and not all molds are damaging, here are some tips to prevent mold that can be harmful: 

  • Try to keep the humidity in your home between 30% to 60%
  • Make sure in your bathroom(s) and kitchen there are exhaust fans to help circulate indoor air
  • Do not let water damage accumulate because it only takes 48 hours for mold to start growing
  • Consider replacing hoses, pipes and fittings to appliances like washers every 5 years
  • You can clean your home using bleach - but it does not stop the root of the mold

WOW Award Winner for December

Jonathan Paz, our Marketing Representative for Watertown, Weston, Natick, Brookline, Allston & Brighton won December's WOW (Wicked Outstanding Award). Jonathan joined our team mid-November and has already secured 8 Emergency Ready Profiles with local businesses! He always has a go get em vibe and we can't wait to see what more work he brings in!

Flooding can happen anywhere

Flooding can happen anywhere and when it does come it can changes the lives of hundreds, even thousands. The National Weather Service lists the most common flood hazards in the United States as: 

- Flash Flooding

- River Flooding

- Storm Surge & Coastal Inundation from Tropical & Non-Tropical Systems

- Burn Scars/Debris Flows (Caused by Wildfires)

- Ice/Debris Jams

- Snowmelt

- Dry Wash (Caused by heavy rainfall in dry areas) 

- Dam Breaks/ Levee Failure

Water Categories & Classes

Categories determine the type of water while classes determine how wet building materials are.

Category 1: Coming from a sanitary source and does not pose a major threat from exposure. An example would be a tub or sink overflow with no contaminants

Category 2: Contains significant contamination and can cause various health issues if consumed. An example would be discharge from a dishwasher

Category 3: Heavily contaminated can have pathogenic agents. If consumed it can cause major damage to one’s health. An example would be a raw sewerage backup.

Class 1: Less than 5% of the combined space affected

Class 2: 5%~40% of the combined space affected

Class 3: More than ~40% of the combined space affected

Class 4: Deeply held in low evaporation materials such as plaster, wood or concrete

Mold isn’t always visible!

Most people become frantic of mold in their homes when it starts to show up on organic materials but that is not always the case! Sometimes homeowners are faced with water intrusions behind walls that they aren’t even aware of and it only takes 24-48 hours for mold to spore.

Sometimes you can smell mold and knowing the property’s history can help pinpoint how much damage you might be facing. Before trying to remediate the mold, it is important to fix the source of the moisture since that is what promotes mold growth.

Commercial Checklist

When buying a commercial property, it is important to not only have a thorough inspection of the property but here are some questions to think of

- Take into consideration the importance of maintenance to your business. When is the last time the air system was cleaned, if it was ever cleaned? If you have carpet flooring, how often would you like those cleaned in order to maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment?

- If you are ever faced with a loss, do you know where your shut off pipes are? Where to shut off your electricity? Who to even call to assess the damage?

- If you do have to close your business, for how long? How many employees will you maintain?

Having an Emergency Ready Profile will give you and SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford the chance to answer these questions as well as create a plan in case your company is ever faced with a disaster.

Interesting Facts about Mold

Though mold can be costly both financially and health wise – there are some interesting facts about mold.

  1. Mold is everywhere! There are over 10,000 species of mold and not all molds are harmful. Penicillin is a common antibiotic used that is actually a purified mold. Mold’s main purpose is to decompose organic material
  2. When buying a new property, it is important to have a thorough inspection for mold because at least 50% of homes in the US have faced water damage! It can lower the value of the property significantly if water damage has not been properly mitigated and mold has not been properly removed.
  3. Mold will practically eat any organic material – except a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Whatever preservatives are used in McDonald’s food have kept the organic material from breaking down even weeks, months and years after being exposed.

Water Damage & What to Do?

You're faced with a water damage in your home and if this has never happened before you might not know where to start! Here are some tips:

1. Do you have home insurance? Does it cover water damages and to what extent? Not all insurance companies will cover all expenses so make sure you choose wisely! Inform them of the loss immediately. 

2. What happened exactly and when? Knowing this information is important because from the moment the damage begins your time is ticking! Water is categorized differently depending on the source it stems from and building structures it comes into contact with

3. You don't have any resources to fix the damage yourself -- who do you call?! SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford is equipped to assess the damage and help make it "Like it never even happened!"

Call us at 781-861-0500 if your home is ever faced with water damage!

How Fires Are Classified

Fires are classified differently by how they are ignited.

A – Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics

B – Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane

C – Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools

D – Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care

K – Cooking oils, trans-fats or fats in cooking appliances

Fire extinguishers are rated using these letters to determine which chemicals are most effective on ceasing the fire.

Mold-Resistant Drywall

Mold removal and remediation can be time consuming, expensive and can pose a health threat. Mold survives in moist, damp environments and all it needs to thrive is water, oxygen and organic material.

The organic matter is often drywall – that after its been exposed to moisture can become a host for all kinds of mold species. But mold-resistant drywall was developed as a means to address this issue and provide prevention up front. The fiberglass mat for the paper used in traditional drywall has been substituted so that moisture cannot adhere to the organic paper material.

Fire Safety Tips

  • Install smoke alarms (and fire extinguishers with ABC rating) on every level of your home and test them monthly to make sure they work. Try changing your smoke alarm batteries every 6 months 
  • Create more than one escape plan and practice them! Escape from different areas of the house, tools for exiting if needed and a meeting place. If you have kids make sure they are aware too!
  • Remember the three feet rule! Keep grills, cookers, fryers and space heaters from anything flammable. Make sure you turn these things off when leaving

Are You Ready for the New Year?

Each new year brings the opportunity for new beginnings! We want to help ensure you enjoy a safe and happy new year by helping you be prepared for anything the year may have in store?

Did you know, up to 50 percent of businesses that suffer a disaster may never reopen? Of the business that do survive a disaster, the overwhelming majority had an emergency preparedness plan in place.

In the event of a disaster, an ERP (Emergency Ready Profile) can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate pan of action in place for your facility.

Did you know?

  • Cooking fires account for nearly half of reported home fires
  • Three of every five reported, non-fatal home cooking fires injuries occurred when the individual attempted to fight the fire themselves
  • If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flame by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner but do not remove the pan. Keep it covered until the pan cools completely
  • You can reduce the risk of a cooking fire by: staying in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food; checking on food regularly and using a timer to remind you of cooking food; keeping children three feet away from cooking surfaces clean to prevent food or grease build up. 

Flood Waters

Floods rank as one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. Whether you live near a coastline, along city streets, in the mountains, near a river or even in the desert, there is a potential for suffering flood damage.

Flood Facts:

- Floods kill an average of 140 people per year in the U.S, making flooding the deadliest natural disaster.

- More than half of all facilities during floods are auto related, often the result of drivers misjudging the depth of water on a road and being swept away in a swiftly moving current.

- The principle cause of floods in the eastern United States are hurricanes and storms

- The principle cause of floods in the western United States are snowmelt and rainstorms.

- Underpasses can be some of the most dangerous places during a flash flood – especially at night, when it’s difficult to see

Heating Hazards

The winter season is here and with it comes shorter days and lower temperatures. In an effort to keep our homes cozy, many people use alternative heat sources like fireplaces, portable space heaters, and wood burning stoves. Reduce your risk of a heat-related fire by knowing the facts!

50% of all residential heating-related fires are reported during the months of December, January & February. 

 

Understanding WEAs

The image above depicts what WEA text messages will look like on a mobile device. The message includes the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. 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 share:

- Extreme weather warnings

- Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action

- AMBER alerts

- Presidential Alerts during a national emergency

Emergency Fire Damage

  1. A SERVPRO Franchise Professional will contact the Insured within 1 hour to arrange services. Within 4 hours, will arrive prepared to begin emergency mitigation services if needed
  2. Your insured's concerns will be addressed:
    • Identify the source of loss
    • Identify the types of residue present
    • Identify safety issues and convey the information to the Insured and the Adjuster
  3. Pretesting for restorability will be conducted to determine:
    • What is unrestorable vs restorable and what methods of restoration will be most effective?
  4. The scope of the project will be communicated to the Adjuster
  5. The structure and contents will be cleaned and restored by the experts
  6. A final walk-through will be conducted with your customer to ensure both their satisfaction as well as your own

SERVPRO Storm Story

The roots of the SERVPRO Storm Response program date back to 1993 and has since then been a huge part of the SERVPRO Story. In 1992, SERVPRO was looking to make their debut in the commercial market and catastrophic response. Nashville was faced with a large fire loss and several owners came together to clean the building.

Within the next two years, there were several other storm events and many of the precedents set during these events are still part of the Storm Response Program today. Storm remained an initiative led by the Storm Team who are all Franchise Owners, using the processes learned on these early events. While lots of mistakes were made; however, a lot of lessons were learned.

Storm Response is an integral part of the SERVPRO Story and differentiates our ability to execute from all other competitors in the industry. We will continue to make incremental improvements to support the SERVPRO Brand.

What to do with Contaminated Waters

Back in September, we blogged about Emergency Water Damage Tips for clean water situations. But sometimes the water that affects a home or business isn’t from the cleanest source. Here are some tips for when it comes to dealing with contaminated water:

 

- Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with contaminated items.

- Do not walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas.

- Do not turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air. – Do not use household fans to dry the structure; air flow could spread contaminants.

- Discard any food and/or products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

- Call your local SERVPRO Franchise so we can make it “Like it never even happened

NOAA Weather Radio

One of our blogs was about "Building An Emergency Supply Kit" that would prepare families if they were ever faced with a loss and didn't have access to their usual belongings. One item on the list was "NOAA Weather Radio".

A weather radio is designed to alert you to potential dangerous weather situations, like an approaching tornado. It allows you to be warned ahead of storms, providing you time to seek shelter. 

If you are looking to purchase a weather radio here are some tips:

- 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 and if you need help you can visit www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr

Water Damage You Can't See

Your home should be your place of rest. But when water begins leaking - even small leaks in areas you can not see - your home could quickly become a source of stress. The possibility of harmful mold, rot and unseen damage may affect the value of your home and the health of your loved ones. 

 

If a water damage occurs in your home, just call us at 781-647-9100 and we'll be there to help make it "Like it never even happened." 

Emergency Preparedness Bug Out Bags

SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford created Emergency Preparedness Bug Out Bags that were designed to bring a sense of comfort to people who have experienced disasters. If you lose everything in a disaster what things are you needing most?

What's in our bags you ask?

  • 2 Diapers
  • 1 Towel
  • 1 Wash Cloth
  • 1 pack of Wet Wipes
  • 1 pack of Pocket Tissue
  • 2 Mini Journals
  • 1 Coloring Book for kids
  • 1 pack of mini crayons
  • 1 package of Q Tips, 3 cotton balls and 2 toothpicks
  • 1 package of Shampoo & Body Wash, Soap, 1 toothbrush, 1 tub of toothpaste, 1 stick deodorant, shaving cream and 1 shaver
     
     

Sump Pump Failure

While half of our team was down in VA & NC dealing with flooding from Hurricane Matthew, up here in MA we experienced some flooding from heavy rains. For this job, SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford responded to water damage in the lower level of an occupied single family residence in which the cause of loss was a sump pump failure. The water affected the lower drywall walls and flooring in the lower level. We removed baseboards, drilled holes to allow for drying and successfully dried out the home in 3 days. Afterwards we applied a plant based anti-microbial to the flooring to make it like it never even happened. 

SERVPRO of Lexington/Bedford First Annual Softball Champs

Lexington Businesses, Lexington BNI Groups, and Lexington Rotary

Wait for the right pitch

Steve Taylor owner of SERVPRO of Lexington/Bedford waiting for his pitch.

Team SERVPRO Supports Pam's Run 2015

SERVPRO of Waltham/Weston/Watertown/Wayland brought Team SERVPRO to Neighbor Brigades Annual fundraiser, Pam's Run. As a company we remediate and restore after a disasters damages people's home and businesses. Nieghbor Brigade is a community based organization all across Massachusetts responding to disasters that happen to people's lives. Neighbor Brigade establishes community-specific networks of volunteers that can be mobilized to help residents facing sudden crisis manage day-to-day tasks such as meal preparation, rides, and basic household chores. Using web-based coordination tools, we manage recipient requests and the recruitment of volunteers to fulfill those requests sensitively, quickly and free of charge. http://www.neighborbrigade.org/

2016 SERVPRO Awards Dinner

After winning this award for the year of 2013, our franchise has grown over the years letting us win the Stages of Leadership Award for 2015.

Amanda Aiken at the Women's Council of Realtors

SERVPRO of Waltham/Weston/Watertown/Wayland and SERVPRO of Lexington-Bedford are proud sponsors of the Women's Council of Realtors. Here is Amanda Aiken at the Women's Council of Realtors event on March 2, 2016. It was a MA State Chapter joint meeting with the Greater Boston Association of Realtors. She spoke about our wide range of cleaning and restoration services.