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 and business owner should plan what to do in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. The following tips can help you keep your business up and running this hurricane season.

Click to read more ...

Georgia Lightning Awareness Week June 20-26, 2010

Lightning kills more people in the United States every year than tornadoes, floods, or hurricanes. In Georgia, lightning kills or injures several people every year. Lightning occurs mostly during the warmer months of June through September.

Lightning can also cause significant damage to personal and commercial property. In addition to direct strikes, lightning generates electrical surges that can damage electronic equipment some distance from the actual strike. Below are some lightning safety tips for inside the home or business. We hope they help everyone stay safe during this year's storm season.

- Avoid contact with corded phones.

- Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.

- Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry.

- Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.

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

LEARN ABOUT FREE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

HAILSTORMS: What to Do Before, During & After

Hail might seem like a minor concern but it can shatter windows, leave pockmarks in siding and most importantly destroy or damage roof coverings. Here are some helpful hints to protect your home.

Before 

- If you need to re-roof select an impact-resistant roof covering. These products have passed the UL2218 impact test with a rating of Class 1 through 4. Class 4 (most resistant) has proven to be highly effective in hailstorms.

 

- Make sure your roof covering is impact-resistant. Do not rely on building codes or regulations to protect you. Look for the UL2218 label on the package and literature confirming the product has passed this test.

Click to read more ...

Meet Champion's New Marketing Rep

SuAnne Evans has joined Champion Construction Services as our newest Marketing Representative. She is a native of Atlanta, and a graduate of The University of Georgia. SuAnne is married to Craig Evans, and has two children, Scott and Shelly. Her background includes real estate sales for Prudential, pharmaceutical sales for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, and Territory Mangager for Revlon, Inc.

SuAnne is very excited about this new opportunity and is looking forward to meeting all of you!

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.

Click to read more ...

Hurricane Preparedness Week May 23rd - 29th, 2010

How to prepare well before a hurricane hits 

Most people do not think of preparing for a hurricane until the threat is imminent. Preseason hurricane preparedness focuses on tasks that one would usually not have the time to complete once a hurricane is forecast to impact a community. These types of jobs may take days or longer to be properly prepared. Knowing how to be prepared for severe tropical weather first focuses on taking an inventory on which issues would impact your property and family. Once the inventory is taken, the items then should be prioritized as to the potential negative impact it could cause if not rectified. 

What to prepare for... 

Before knowing how to prepare for a hurricane, one needs to know what to prepare for. A hurricane brings a number of threats: high winds, storm surge, tornadoes, and flooding.

Click to read more ...

My Personal Storm Damage Experience

The night was cold and stormy. I slept through all of it in blissful serenity and awoke the next morning to begin my daily ritual of getting ready for work.

I headed straight to the bathroom, neglecting to illuminate the path I knew by heart. As I busied myself with necessary matters of hygiene, I suddenly noticed the normal hum of the refrigerator was joined by a soft plopping noise that I could not identify. It seemed random at first but upon further observance, the plopping was rhythmic and methodical.

I listened for a moment and the source suddenly dawned on me. I hurried out of bathroom and turned on the lights to investigate and confirmed my suspicions based on a large puddle of water on the laminate flooring. I looked up at the ceiling and saw large water stains and the drywall seams were getting longer by the second.

Click to read more ...

Tornado Survival Skills

Tornado Survival Skills

Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a tornado hazard.

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area. You should monitor NOAA Weather Radio (www.weather.gov/nwr), local radio and television news outlets for the latest developments.

A tornado warning comes when a tornado is actually occurring. Take shelter immediately.
Determine in advance where you will take shelter in case of a tornado warning.
Storm cellars or basements provide the best protection.

Click to read more ...

STORM TRIVIA

1. The Fujita scale measures the strength of what?

A. Hurricanes
B. Tornadoes
C. Wind

The answer is B. Tornadoes.

2. TRUE OR FALSE: A severe thunderstorm is the same as any other storm.

Click to read more ...

Planning For Pet Disaster Needs

Today much emphasis is put on planning ahead for disasters. Many families now have disaster supply kits, escape plans and emergency contacts prepared in case of an emergency. But what about the furry members of our families (or feathered or scaley in some cases)? Do you know what you would do with your pet if a disaster struck your area?

Here are some helpful tips from FEMA...

Identify Shelter:

Click to read more ...