How Do I Know If I Have Hail Damage?

I can’t tell you how many times over the past few months I’ve heard that question. With recent strong thunderstorms and associated hail, our area has certainly received more than its fair share of damage, as evidenced by all of the vehicles parading around the streets advertising first one roofer then another. Many of such roofing contractors are referred to in the industry as “storm chasers”. Hail storms are closely followed by their swarm of vehicles, eagerly anticipating a quick surge of easy money. After the initial rush of activity, they disappear as quickly as they came… on to the next affected area. They leave behind them a plethora of customers who have no one to turn to when warranty issues arise. The responsibility, and the financial cost, are then up to the homeowners themselves. I’ve see this happen time and again to families in our coverage area. Alas, I digress. Back to our original question.

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Georgia Winter Weather Awareness Week November 16th - 20th, 2009

Winter storms are considered “deceptive killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Seventy percent of fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and approximately twenty-five percent of all winter-related fatalities are people caught off-guard in the storm. Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia. Powerful winter storms can also have thunderstorms associated with them. These storms can dump as much as three inches of snow or one inch of ice in an hour.  So how can you prepare for winter weather?

- Monitor radio/TV or NOAA Weather Radio.

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Winter Fire Safety Quiz

1. Where do most fires start in the home?

A. The bedroom
B. The living room
C. The kitchen
D. The bathroom

The answer is C: 30% of house fires start in the kitchen.

2. In the United States, a home fire claims a life every _________.

A. 2 hours
B. 3 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 8 hours

The answer is B: In the United States, a home fire claims a life every 3 hours.

3. TRUE OR FALSE: Use a fire extinguisher if you have a grease fire on your stove.

The answer is FALSE: Never pour water or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire.

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Water Damaged Furniture?

With the recent catastrophe that has hit the Greater Atlanta Area, it has undoubtedly left some with furniture that they just could not bring themselves to throw away. Any item in question would need to be dried as soon as possible assessing items that are upholstered to see if they could be stripped down to the items skeleton to accommodate the drying process. Once dried the extent of damage will be evident. If there are areas of splitting or cracking it would be recommended to have the item professionally evaluated.  The following link is for a company that I would recommend to anyone: www.furniture-clinic.com. The item should be cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water and dried immediately with a clean towel. Evaluate to verify the presence of any water staining or clouding. There are many manufacturers who have products for water staining, i.e. Gaurdsman, Murphy's Oil Soap, or Old English. Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area to observe the effect on the finish and color. Any item in need of reupholstering could also be assessed by The Furniture Clinic. www.furniture-clinic.com

Peter Kanavas - Contents Supervisor

Fire Roasted Vegetable Salsa

I know we are a restoration company but we are also great eaters and to continue with the fire theme I have added a recipe that includes roasted tomatoes and peppers. There are thousands of ways to prepare salsa, and different dishes are better with different salsas. There are sweet salsas, hot salsas, green salsas, red salsas.  I would like to share with you the salsa I use to put in chicken or beef soup.  This salsa is also good just on plain chips. 

Ingredients
6 Tomatoes ( I use roma since that is what we planted this year)
2 Jalapeno peppers
1/2 onion
1 tablespoon of cilantro
1 garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Turn your broiler to high. Place some aluminim paper on your broiler pan so you dont have to wash it. Wash the tomatoes and the peppers and cut them in half and place them on the broiler pan. Peel the garlic clove slice it and place it next to the tomatoes and peppers. When they are browned, turn them over and let it cook on the other side. Place the tomatoes, peppers, garlic and salt in the blender, press the pulse button about 4 or 5 times depending on how chopped you want it. Chop the onion and the cilantro and mix in or you can arrrange the chopped onion on top and the cilantro on top of the onion.

Pearla Jimenez - Job Data Processing

Would YOU know what to do if you had a cooking fire in your home?

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires in the United States.

Would YOU know what to do if you had a cooking fire in your home?

• IMMEDIATELY CALL 911


• GREASE OR OIL FIRES: Slide a pan lid over the flames to smother the fire, then turn off the heat and leave the lid in place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside.


• OTHER FOOD FIRES: Extinguish the fire with baking soda. Never use water or flour on cooking fires.


• BROILER OR OVEN FIRES: Keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat to smother the fire.
  
  Visit our new INFORMATION CENTER on our website for more fire safety tips and other tips and information!
  
  http://drying911.com/information-center.php

BE PREPARED FOR THE PEAK OF HURRICANE SEASON

Hurricanes in Georgia?  Yes! According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Georgia is at particular risk of being affected by hurricanes because it is a coastal state.  The hurricanes that affect Georgia are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st until November 30th, but the majority of activity is from August until October.  Therefore, every state resident should plan what to do in the event of an evacuation.

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What's Your Emergency Response Plan?

During these distressing economic times, many of us have found ourselves going back to the basics. Some have done this as a precaution while it has been downright necessary for others. We find ourselves asking, is this a necessary expense? And, what changes can I make today, to make my business stronger tomorrow? The result is that we cut back and are left with the core basics that really matter.

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National Preparedness Month - September 2009

This September is the sixth annual National Preparedness Month.  NPM 2009 will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and will help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready and how preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, and extra food in the pantry.

Visit www.ready.gov for help on making a disaster supply kit, making a family emergency plan, staying informed and how you can get involved!

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Preparedness Quiz

1.  How much water per person per day should your disaster supply kit have?

A. One gallon
B. One liter
C. Two gallons
D. Twelve ounces

The answer is A - one gallon per person per day for at least three days.
  
2. Which of the following is not a safe water source in the home?

A. Melted ice cubes
B. Water beds
C. Toilet tank
D. Hot water tank

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