Fire Escape Plans

11/8/2024 (Permalink)

How To Make a Fire Escape Plan For Your Home Whether from faulty wires or a candle left burning, any Morgantown residence is at risk for the possibility of a home fire. The National Fire Protection Association estimates two minutes to escape a building once the fire alarm sounds. Rather than wait for those crucial seconds, create a fire escape plan now to ensure everyone in your home knows what to do. 

Survey Your Home 

The first step to creating an effective fire escape plan is knowing when and where you can escape. Walk through your home and look for these three crucial factors:  

Fire alarms should be installed on every level, as well as within every sleeping area and connecting halls. Mark the location of each and check they are all functioning.  

Every room should have two ways out, including doors and windows. Windows should be easy to open, and any security screens or bars should be simple to release. 

There should be no blockage in front of the two routes of every room. Ensure bookshelves, storage or home decorations don’t slow down your ability to escape quickly 

Once you have established the layout of your home you can create an effective plan. Gather everyone in your household and consider drawing a floor plan, marking all fire alarms and escape routes. Select an outdoor meeting location such as a neighbor’s house, lamp post or stop sign and ensure everyone knows where to meet after leaving the house.

Next, it’s time to put it to the test. Practice the Plan Everyone in the household should be able to successfully complete your fire escape plan, from smoke alarm going off to meeting at the pre established outdoor location, within two minutes. Practice waking up to the sound of the smoke alarm, walking through the plan, and meeting outside. Twenty minutes to create your home emergency escape plan now can make all the difference in the two minutes you could be faced with then. Ensure everyone in your household knows how to contact emergency services and keep the number for your local fire restoration company nearby should the need arise.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

It’s Never Too Late to Clean Up Mold!

10/4/2024 (Permalink)

It’s Never Too Late to Clean Up Mold!

Common Indoor Mold:

Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria & Aspergillus

Here in the middle Morgantown area, we have the ideal climate for mold to develop and thrive. Since mold can start to develop in as little as 48 hours after water damage, it is imperative that any damage due to a fire, flood, broken water pipe, or leaky foundation be cleaned up promptly and properly. This cleanup will help you avoid significant property damage to your Morgantown home due to mold.

After Spring storms and summer showers, comes the damp, and moisture forecast, and the result of mold infestation is high. It is important to address any signs of mold immediately and correctly. Homes in our area are often affected by mold in bathrooms and basements,  mold can develop anywhere in your home, especially if you have experienced any type of flooding. 

Mold spores spread through the air, so even areas that were not directly affected by floodwaters can soon become home to serious mold infestations. Mold is often found in air ducts, which can cause it to spread quickly.

SERVPRO of Morgantown is always ready to help you restore your home after a water damage or in the event of mold.

Time is of the essence: the longer you postpone cleanup, the longer the mold remediation process, the more expensive,  and more inconvenience for you and your family. If you are starting to see or smell mold in your home, a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is required, and the sooner the better. Mold has the potential to cause health effects, so cleanup should be conducted with proper protective clothing, masks and gloves. Bleach and water should be used to kill the mold in all affected areas. Scrub the solution into the area, rinse, and dry thoroughly.

If saturated drywall and insulation was not removed after storm damage, you likely need a thorough evaluation by a professional emergency water damage restoration team. Water damage that was not properly remedied prior to rebuilding may have caused mold to start growing behind your new walls or under your new carpeting.

If the structure of your home was not properly disinfected, dehumidified, and dried, mold may be thriving. Your local SERVPRO of Morgantown team see this frequently. In a rush to make properties habitable, steps are often skipped, leading to mold infestations. If you believe you have mold growth from recent floods or other water damage, call us immediately. We can quickly help you identify problem areas and start the mold remediation process.

Our mission is to help our neighbors, friends, and community members quickly recover from damage caused by natural disaster, fire, sewage backup, or other events. Regardless of the size or type of damage, we can quickly respond and start the evaluation and investigation into the cause, as well as the best way to restore your property  to its original state. Call us today at 304-291-3434 we work directly with insurance companies and carriers to help relieve a portion of the burden of the rebuilding process in order to make your loss "Like it Never Even Happened."

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols 

 304-291-3434

Fire-Induced Injuries

9/6/2024 (Permalink)

Fire damage can be devastating, but fire-induced injuries can be more so. Burns can be medically complicated, so it is essential to know what you are looking at and what steps you should take immediately in Morgantown.

Major Versus Minor Burns To apply the correct type of burn first aid, you first need to know what type of injury it is. The two most significant categories are major and minor burns. Minor burns appear red, can include blisters, are painful, and are smaller than 3 inches.

Major burns are more serious and have the following characteristics:

• Larger than 3 inches or 8 centimeters  Cover important areas like hands, feet, groin, face, or major joints  Go deep, affecting underlying tissue  Appear charred, with discolored spotting  Appear dry or leathery 

Major Protocol

• When addressing a major burn, the objective is to keep the person from further harm until emergency help arrives. You should call 911 right away. First, the person should be removed from the source of the burn or the fire damage. Burns tend to swell, so restrictive apparel should be removed. Be sure that the victim is breathing and keeps an eye out for shock symptoms, such as shallow breathing or fainting. If possible, injuries should be elevated. Cover the burned areas with a clean, moist bandage or cloth. Do not put large burns in water, as it could cause hypothermia.

Minor Protocol

• Minor burns do not require emergency help and can be treated with simple first aid. Remove rings or restrictive apparel before the burn swells. Cooldown the burn by running it under cool, not cold, water. You can apply lotion and wrap it loosely with a gauze bandage. Be sure not to break the blisters. You may also take over-the-counter pain relievers, if necessary.

Humans need to take priority, so what should you do about the fire damage? A fire remediation service can handle the full scope while you keep your attention on the health and recovery of those injured. Call 304-291-3434.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

What To Do If Your Basement Floods

8/2/2024 (Permalink)

If your basement has flooded in Morgantown, you may be at a loss regarding what you should do. No one wants to deal with a basement flood, but facing reality and following these four steps will help you to recover your property with as little residual damage as possible.

1. Call Your Insurance Agent  You may have insurance coverage for floods in your home. Because of this, you should always check over your homeowners policy and call the agent who handles your account to ask questions and make a claim if you can do so. 

2. Wait for Conditions to Settle  Before you decide how to handle water removal, you will need to make sure that the water is under control. If it seems to be limited to the basement, and any outdoor water has receded, you can safely move on to draining your basement flood. 

3. Choose Your Removal Method   All water removal methods are typically handled best by water damage technicians. Two typical solutions are pumping for large floods and vacuuming with a wet/dry machine for smaller ones. It is a good idea to research all of your options so that you make the best decision possible.  

4. Decide on a Drying Method   Most homeowners will find that the majority of their damaged property and valuables will need to be dried, dehumidified or otherwise salvaged, as old flood water can cause irreversible damage to your investments if left to sit. The service that you hired for water removal can likely help you with drying and restoration, as well.  

A basement flood is a big deal to any concerned homeowner, but being prepared can help you be less overwhelmed if this unfortunate situation is occurring or should occur in the future. Use your newfound knowledge to help protect your Morgantown, WV house from as much lasting damage as possible.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

Emergency Kit for Evacuation for the Deaf, Blind, and Service Animal

7/12/2024 (Permalink)

Emergency Kit for Evacuation for the Deaf, Blind, and Service Animals in Morgantown. 

Storm Damage & Evacuation in Morgantown. Low vision or hearing loss may make a power outage more difficult in Morgantown. Evacuation may also be more difficult.   

SERVPRO of Morgantown has these tips:   

• Have an evacuation emergency kit ready. You can also use it at home.  
• For people who have low hearing or deafness in Morgantown, consider the following:  
• Extra batteries for hearing aids     
• If you Sign, have a pen and paper for people who do not know Sign   
• Backup batteries for any augmentative communication devices  

For people who have low vision or blindness in Morgantown, consider the following:   

• Use large-print or Braille on labels    Magnifiers or other assistive devices   
• White cane (if you use one)   
• Storm damage makes life more difficult for service animals too. 

For people who have service animals in Morgantown, consider the following:    

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

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

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

We Offer Many Commercial Services.

6/6/2024 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Morgantown, we offer many commercial services. From working in office buildings and restaurants, to government agencies and malls, we solve problems anywhere from water damage to mold damage and beyond.   

We realize it’s important to keep your commercial property in the best repair possible. Your building, both on the outside and inside, is oftentimes the face of the company. Below, we have listed a few of the most common issues commercial properties face. You may want to take note of these issues and check your building for them. If you do come across any of these problems, it’s important to get them fixed immediately as holding off can increase the problem (and cost).  Check for the following (or you may need to hire a professional to investigate for some of these):

Leaks: From roofs, to gutters, to serious moisture buildup, water leaks can cause an assortment of problems including mold growth and rotting Asbestos: If your building is older than 20 years, you should have it inspected for asbestos, which if present, can cause detrimental effects on one’s health    

Cracking: Could possibly be a sign of an underlying problem in the building’s structure Fire and safety regulations: Make sure your building and property meet all standards regarding the current safety and fire requirements Infestation of bugs or rodents: Yikes! No one feels comfortable working in a building knowing it’s home to an abundance of rodents. It also doesn’t look pleasant to visitors or clients when ants or gnats are buzzing around or see a few rodent droppings. Additionally, pests can damage the wiring of a building.

High energy costs: Keeping your commercial building in good --repair can help keep your energy consumption at a manageable level. Also consider installing energy-efficient lighting and appliances. Consider creating energy and water-saving campaigns throughout your building. Make colorful posters and have prizes for whichever floor most actively participates, for example. 

Electrical faults: Dead outlets, melting wires, and faulty circuits can cause fires. A trusted electrician should be called to check out the situation immediately.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

Roof Damage

5/2/2024 (Permalink)

In any type of weather there are lots of different issues that could cause damage to your home; Roof damage is one of those.

Damage due to storms is the most typical, but there are several things that COULD cause the damage to your roof some being more visible than others.  

It is always good practice to have your roof inspected every 10-12 years, unless there has been a specific issue that may have caused a reason to check it sooner such as a severe storm, hail, or some other sort of natural disaster. Unfortunately, when your roof becomes damaged it can lead to bigger issues that may ultimately cause water damage to the interior of your home.   

Here we mention a few things to look for when you are inspecting your roof:    

• Loose or missing shingles: this could be caused by high winds, improper installation, or simply wearing out over exposure to the elements through the years. Loose nails can also leave a hole in the shingle that water can find its way through as well.  
• Poor installation of the flashing. "Flashing" is the metal that is placed in the sections where the roof meets the walls, or in the valleys. This must be installed properly to divert water from the roof.    
• Gutters that are not placed with the right pitch, or that have seams that are not sealed properly can also cause water to back up and then overflow into the house causing water damage to ceilings and/or walls. Not having gutter guards to keep leaves and debris from collecting in the gutters can cause overflow of water that can result in damage to your roof and other areas of your home as well.    
• Rotted fascia or soffit can also be an area -that allows water to intrude.    

If you suspect that you may have roof damage causing water damage to your home please feel free to contact us at  and we will be happy to assist you. SERVPRO® of Morgantown can also supply emergency tarping and board up if the need may arise.  SERVPRO® of Morgantown will be there for all of your home repairs or accidents.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

We Have The Professional Equipment

4/5/2024 (Permalink)

It’s the water you don’t see! Even small water damages have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time. The key to avoiding costly future restoration is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your property.

SERVPRO® of Morgantown professionals have the equipment, training, and experience to find and dry unseen water before secondary damages occur. The proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the damage expense during a fire or water loss.  When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to perform. 

SERVPRO® of Morgantown  professionals will answer your call with fast action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. Here are a few of the tools used by our SERVPRO® professionals.

Moisture Sensors-  Used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards and walls.

Moisture Meters- Used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing us to monitor the drying process.

Thermohygrometers- Measure temperature and relative humidity.

When armed with this information, we here at SERVPRO® of Morgantown can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized. 

Ultra Low-Volume (ULV) Foggers- Atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.

Thermal Foggers- Dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solutions that attach to and neutralize odor-causing particles to deodorize structures, garments, automobiles and other places where cleaning cannot reach.    

The bottom line? SERVPRO® of Morgantown professionals have the training and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

Water Damage Turning Into Fire Damage

3/8/2024 (Permalink)

When flooding occurs in your home or business you need to worry when the water rises to the height of electrical outlets. This can result in a loss of power. However, in some cases the results can spark and damage can create a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are restoration companies that specialize in water damage, but very few have the experience that can handle fire damage and water damage like SERVPRO of Morgantown. For decades we have been in the business of restoring homes to original condition.

Our expert response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease. Fortunately, fire damage that is caused by a flooded outlet is usually small and is mainly just smoke damage. In either disaster, removal of drywall is critical so that the workload is not as difficult to deal with.

However, the rising smoke can leave residue higher up on the walls, requiring more panels to be removed. Ceiling tiles can also require cleaning after a fire as well. When an outlet is damaged by water, it needs a replacement from the hardware store, which typically costs less than $5 apiece.

The spot where the fire begins, the point of ignition, would be the outlet in this case. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and may require cutting from above where there is any damage.

It is important to inspect the rest of the building as well to ensure that the fried wires did not compromise any other building materials. If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing so that the new outlet is in the original location.

Our technicians are trained to run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if it is needed to rebuild the wiring system of your home or business. This task is extremely easy! A different team member removes the flooded drywall; exposing the drywall for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a flood can be a very difficult and stressful process. Restoring your home and property from both requires professional treatment and care from experts with a nationwide support network or equipment. SERVPRO of Morgantown is ready to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434

What is Acrid?

2/23/2024 (Permalink)

Do you know that nasty sting you feel in your nose when walking by a building that has recently burned down? It's unpleasant & hazardous. The odor is sulfur mixed with smoke. It's called Acrid.

What’s the best way to get rid of it?

• Smoke contains the residue of all the burned materials and it can be Caustic. Special equipment is used to completely clean the air. 

Ozone Machines   Air Scrubbers 

• Ozone Machines destroy the Molecules, Bacteria, and Spores that cause unpleasant smells.
• Air Scrubbers clean the air by repeatedly moving it through HEPA filters which help reduce the smell.

What else is involved? Other necessary steps involve: (1) Clean all the hard surfaces (2) Wash or treat clothes, drapes, carpets, and upholstery. A fire doesn’t always destroy a building, smoke, however, can ruin everything it contacts.

Make sure you do all that’s needed to “clear the air.” SERVPRO® of Morgantown here to help with all your fire damage needs. We are open 24/7, 365 days a year to help you get back to normal. 

Call us at 304-291-3434

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

304-291-3434