Be Flood Ready This Spring!

Here are some basic steps to take to prepare for spring rains:

• Contact the local county geologist or county planning department to find out if your business is located in a flash-flood-prone area or landslide-prone area.


• Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of emergency shelters.


• Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your employees. Post emergency phone numbers at every phone.

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Water Damage Prevention for Your Commercial Building

Every building is at risk of water damage. Over 7,000 fire, water and storm losses are reported each day - water is the most common. The causes can range from minor roof leaks to major storm damage. Protecting the roofs, walls and windows is essential to reducing the likelihood of water damage. The following checklist will help you to protect your business from a costly water damage.

Roofs
- Inspect all rooftop penetrations regularly inside and out.
- Inspect seals around HVAC systems to be sure they are intact.
- Inspect condition of flashings around skylights, vents and other rooftop elements.
- Inspect for water stains.
- If your roof is flat, inspect roof drains monthly.

Walls

 - Inspect wall penetrations for proper flashing and sealant integrity.
- Inspect wall joints at windows, doors, electrical and plumbing penetrations.

Windows

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How to Make a Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

In support of National Preparedness Month 2010, Champion is encouraging all employees to make a basic disaster supplies kit for their homes. We would like to encourage you to do the same.  It is very simple to do and could very well save your life.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

Three-day supply of non-perishable food

One gallon of water per person, per day

Portable, battery-powered radio and extra batteries

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit and manual

Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)

Matches and waterproof container

Whistle

Extra clothing

Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener

Photocopies of credit and identification cards

Cash and coins

Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries

Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers

Other items to meet your unique family needs

What Water Damage Is Covered By Insurance?

Many people often ask "What kind of water damages are covered by insurance?" and I came across the helpful article. It also includes information on how to clean up after a flood to prevent mold...

Many people have no clue as to what types of water damage is covered under their home or business insurance policy. Homeowners and business owners are becoming confused, hearing about mold insurance claims getting denied, and lots of questions arise about water damage to their homes. This article will go on to explain what types of damage is covered by your home insurance or your business policy and what you should do if your house has damage.

What Water Damage will your Home Insurance Policy cover?

Homeowners policies don't cover damages from a flood, you would need to purchase flood insurance if you want to be specifically covered for water damage caused by a flood. Your home insurance policy would pay for damage from rain coming through a hole or a window if the hole had been caused by strong storm winds. But if you have a pipe leaking inside your house that created water damage over time, that wouldn't be covered. It simply comes down to if your water damage was caused by a covered event such as a storm or if the water damage happened because you failed to keep your house repaired which would not be covered. If you are unsure as to what kind of water damage is covered, carefully read through your home insurance policy or call your the company.

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Before you leave for vacation

When you leave your home for an extended period of time no matter what time of year it is, turn off the main supply line of water to your home. If you dont, you may come back and everything will be just as you left it. But there is a chance that you can have a water line in your house break and your "vacation" as you knew it will be ruined because your home will have water damage and in these cases... a very big water damage. Its good for us but bad for you! Please do keep champion in mind if you do have a water damage. Our expertise knowledge of structural drying and the genuine care for your home will allow us to do the best job possible of restoring your home to normal.

Thomas Stuart - Mitigation Crew

Flood Trivia

1. How much rapidly moving water can knock a person down?
A. 3 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 12 inches

The answer is B. It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving water to bring you down.

2. Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994 dropped how many inches of rain on Americus, Georgia in a span of 24 hours causing rivers to burst their banks and flood the area?
A. 21 inches
B. 32 inches
C. 44 inches

The answer is A. 21 inches

3. How high was the wall of water that hit Shadyside, Ohio, in a flash flood on June 14, 1990?
A. 10-15 feet
B. 15-20 feet
C. 25-30 feet

The answer is B. 15-20 feet. After thunderstorms drenched Southeastern Ohio that day, three tributaries of the Ohio River flooded and sent a wall of water into Shadyside, killing 26 people.

4. This "Great" flood occurred in 1993 and caused a very well known river to flood and cause massive damage in the Midwest. What is the name of this river?
A. Snake River
B. Chattahoochee River
C. Mississippi River

The answer is C. The Mississippi River. This flood is one of the worst of all time. The Mississippi River broke through many dikes and walls after months of rain. The floodwaters stayed in some streets for 2 months or more.

5. What's a muddy flood?
A. a flood caused by runoff on farmland
B. a flood caused by a landslide
C. a flood with a lot of mud in it

The answer is A. Muddy floods happen when heavy storms on cropland cause a great deal of runoff. They've increased in some areas because of new home construction and the planting of erosion-sensitive crops.

6. In 1976 the Teton Dam failed and caused the loss of 14 lives with the flood it caused. What state was this doomed dam built in?
A. Wyoming
B. Idaho
C. Utah

The answer is B. The dam was located in Idaho and the dam was doomed when seepage started to wear away the bottom of it. The dam was never rebuilt.

7. Which of these can cause floods?
A. Heavy rain
B. Snow melt
C. Ice jams
D. All of the above

The answer is D. Most floods are caused by heavy rain but some of the worst floods ever have been caused by rapid snow melt. Ice jams can cause major flooding problems also.

8. What caused the famous 1889 flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania?
A. Sudden ice melt in the Allegheny Mountains
B. Hurricane Clara
C. Broken dam

The answer is C. On May 31, 1889, after days of torrential rain, the South Fork Dam burst near Johnstown, sending the waters of Lake Conemaugh roaring downhill. The flash flood killed more than 2,000 people in a matter of minutes.

9. What should you do if a flash flood is approaching you?
A. Climb to higher ground any way you can
B. Run as fast as you can
C. Go limp and let the flood waters carry you

The answer is A. You should  climb to higher ground out of the path of the flood.

10. What percentage of the city of New Orleans was flooded after Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
A. 30 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 80 percent

The answer is C. Because of the failure of the city's levee system, 80 percent of New Orleans flooded.

Georgia Severe Weather Awareness Week 2010

Georgia Severe Weather Awareness Week
February 1 - 5, 2010

Severe weather is no stranger to North and Central Georgia. (Click Here to view the North and Central Georgia Severe Weather Climatology.) Severe Weather Awareness Week is designed to provide information about the types of severe weather that affect Georgia, and what to do in the event that severe weather occurs.

Topics to be covered include:

Monday - NOAA Weather Radio

Tuesday - Thunderstorm Safety

Wednesday - Tornado Safety

Thursday - Lightning Safety

Friday - Flooding

Source: www.noaa.gov

FREEZE ALERT!

This week we are expecting the coldest weather in 7 years. With the combination of the cold weather and high winds, many of our clients may experience water damage from frozen pipes.

If you experience a water damage at your home or business, please call Champion for immediate response 24/7.

We have over 1000 pieces of drying equipment and 25 crews available. 

We also offer many valuable resources in our information center on our blog.

Champion's Information Center

As always, the Champion team is committed to doing everything in our power to continue to provide outstanding service to our clients during this year's winter freeze season. If you have any questions please feel free to call our office at
770-253-6070.

 Click Here to Report Water Damage and Have Crews Dispatched Immediately!

Champion is Fast and Committed When It Comes to Flooding

Flooding can happen almost anywhere it rains. In fact, floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S. We at Champion have been committed to serving the Atlanta area since 1970 as a trusted restoration company in the industry. We understand water damage is an emergency, this is why technicians are dispatched within minutes to the loss. The property's successful restoration depends largely on receiving immediate response, and the fastest drying possible. Champion has crews on-call 24/7, 365 a days. Our combination of an immediate response and leading edge technology returns the damage property back to normal faster than the traditional drying methods. It also substantially lowers the repair cost and time. After nearly 40 years of water removal, we are committed to the same outstanding service!

Pamela Brown - Marketing Representative

Helpful Websites for Atlanta Flood Victims

      I thought I'd post some helpful websites that will help any that were affected by the recent Georgia flooding. "Take Charge of Your Recovery" www.wsbtv.com/news/21158767/detail.html "Federal Aid Programs" www.wsbtv.com/news/21106852/detail.html "Clark Howard: What Does Flood Insurance Cover?" www.wsbtv.com/money/21105951/detail.html The National Flood Insurance Program: www.fema.gov/business/nfip Standard Flood Insurance Policy: www.fema.gov/pdf/nfip/dp126.pdf Loans Offered to Flood Victims: www.wsbtv.com/news/21148766/detail.html And some helpful government websites: www.disasterassistance.gov www.floodsmart.gov Larry Banach - Construction Manager

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