Recent Storm Damage Posts

Flooded Basements

3/18/2024 (Permalink)

Flooded basement. A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall.

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are at the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your Michigan basement could flood, including:  

  • A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe 
  • Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home 
  • Storm sewer backup 
  • Sanitary sewer backup 
  • Foundation drainage failure 
  • Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure 
  • And many more 

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get. 

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. Let our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals. 

Why Choose SERVPRO® 

  • We are available 24 hours/7 days per week 
  • We’re a preferred vendor to many national insurance companies 
  • We bill the insurance directly – one less thing for you to worry about 
  • Our technicians are highly trained in water restoration techniques 
  • We use s500 IICRC Restoration standards 
  • Advanced inspection and extraction equipment 

Protect Your Pipes from Cold Weather

1/25/2024 (Permalink)

Ice on an outdoor pipe Extremely cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst.

In winter, it is important to take the proper steps now to protect our homes from busted pipes and prevent the stress associated with a major water loss. Extremely cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst. In general, pipes are more likely to freeze when the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The resulting water damage can be extensive. Outdoor pipes and pipes in unheated areas of the home can freeze if they are not properly insulated or if temperatures are severely cold. 

Outdoor pipes most likely to freeze include: 

  • Outdoor hose bibs 
  • Swimming pool supply lines 
  • Water sprinkler lines 

Pipes in unheated or partially heated areas are also at risk of freezing, including: 

  • Basements 
  • Crawl spaces 
  • Garages 

If your pipes do freeze or burst, immediate action is necessary to prevent additional damage to your property. SERVPRO® has the winter storm experience, expertise, and the resources to remediate damage caused by winter weather.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

11/16/2023 (Permalink)

Water trickles from an outdoor pipe Frozen pipes are actually very preventable.

With frigid temperatures and winter storms coming, now is the time to learn more about how to avoid frozen pipes and water damage that can occur if those pipes expand and burst. Frozen pipes are actually very preventable. SERVPRO® offers the following tips for preventing frozen pipes and mitigating potential damage that they can cause.   

To prevent frozen pipes and avoid any potential damage:  

  • Insulate all exposed pipes in your property. Pay close attention to where pipes may be unheated, such as the basement, attic, garage, crawl space, and under cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom.  
  • Maintain a consistent temperature throughout your house day and night.  
  • Close any valves located inside that supply water outdoors and open outside valves to properly drain any excess water remaining in the pipes.  
  • Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors.  
  • In especially freezing temperatures, let your faucet trickle; running water is less likely to freeze.  
  • If your home will be unoccupied for an extended period, leave the heat on and set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.  

Thawing Out a Frozen Pipe:  

  • If you turn on a faucet and only a few drips come out, you may have a frozen pipe. Typically, frozen pipes are found along exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.  
  • Leave the faucet on while treating any frozen pipes, as flowing water will help melt the ice.  
  • Apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe by using an electric heating pad, an electric hair dryer, or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, or other open flame devices.  
  • Check all other faucets in your home to see if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze too.  

Cold weather, snow, and ice storms can cause severe damage to your home or business. When these types of disasters strike, immediate action is necessary to prevent additional damage to your property. SERVPRO® of Saginaw / Bay City has the winter storm experience, expertise, and the resources to remediate damage caused by winter weather.  

Structural Drying

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

An area in need of structural drying There is never a convenient time for flooding or storm damage to strike your business.

Storms and inclement weather can be devastating to any business. Wind damage, heavy rain, and flooding can occur suddenly and cause substantial damage in a matter of minutes. There is never a convenient time for flooding or storm damage to strike your business. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when an emergency situation arises in your business, SERVPRO® will be there fast with the help you need.  

Time is Money  

As a leader in water damage restoration, we know fast mitigation is the key to limiting business interruption. With an unmatched national footprint of over 1,800 franchises, SERVPRO®’s Disaster Recovery Team can provide trained crews faster to any size disaster and can be on-site within a few hours to help reduce the future damage that water can cause. We have the right equipment, procedures, and training to help ensure the structure is dry the first time, saving you time and money.  

Specific Tasks to Include:  

  • Containment of damaged areas to reduce in-flow of water.  
  • Shrink-wrapping of structures to control inflow of mixture.  
  • Water Extraction – to remove excess water from a structure.  
  • Moisture Mapping – to determine impacted areas of a structure.  
  • Selective Demolition – to remove wet building materials that cannot be economically dried in place.  
  • Containment – to ensure potential contaminants do not spread.  
  • Evaporation Enhancement – to remove moisture content from building materials.  
  • Dehumidification – to remove excess water vapor from the structure.  
  • Temperature Control – to assist in dehumidification and to prevent the onset of mold growth.  
  • Post-Drying Cleaning – to remove any potential contaminants from dried building materials.

Protecting Your Garden During Rainstorms

7/13/2023 (Permalink)

Plant propped up on stick in garden. Follow these tips to protect your garden during heavy storms.

Although our gardens love a nice rain shower, too much rain can be harmful to all the plants. After all the hard work you have done to manage your garden, do not let heavy rainstorms ruin it! Follow these tips to protect your garden during heavy storms:  

Before Rainstorm:  

  • Remove damaged limbs and shoots – Removing dead limbs and shoots from your plants will help make them more streamlined and will reduce snapping and tangling.  
  • Add compost and mulch – Adding a couple of inches of compost to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil will help with drainage.  
  • Support taller plants – Push wooden or metal support into the ground and tie taller plants to it. This will help keep them stable against rain and strong winds.  
  • Drainage – Make sure there is a proper runoff that tilts away from your garden and make sure it is not blocked. Water collecting in your garden can be damaging to your plants, possibly drowning them.  

During Rainstorm:  

  • Cover your most delicate plants – Use a waterproof tarp to cover your most fragile plants during heavy rainstorms. Make sure that the covering is not blocking water from draining because it can cause other plants to drown.  

After Rainstorm:  

  • Check your vegetable roots – Once the rainstorm has stopped, make sure there are no exposed roots following soil erosion. If there are exposed roots, cover them with soil or compost before they dry out.  
  • Check your pots and planters – Pots and planters can easily become flooded if the drainage is blocked. Check them before, during and after rainstorms. You can always cover pots and planters if necessary.  
  • Pull weeds up by hand – The moist soil after rain means you are much more likely to retrieve the whole root without it snapping or breaking.  

Need more tips? Go to The Plant Guide for more information on maintaining your garden during severe weather. 

Prepare for Tornadoes

5/8/2023 (Permalink)

Tornado against a dark sky. Tornadoes are nothing to mess with and it is crucial to act quickly if one comes through the area.

Tornadoes can quickly rip through communities destroying buildings and homes and can produce deadly flying debris. Tornadoes are nothing to mess with and it is crucial to act quickly if one comes through the area. Here are some tips to prepare for tornadoes in Michigan:  

Under a tornado warning? Find shelter immediately:  

  • Stay away from windows, outside walls, and doors.  
  • Find a safe and sturdy building.  
  • Stay in a low and flat location.  
  • It is best to go into a basement or storm cellar.  
  • If you do not have a basement, go to a small interior room on the lowest level (avoiding windows).  
  • Use your arms to protect your head and neck.  
  • Watch for flying debris.  

How to prepare:  

  • Know your area’s tornado risk. By living in the Midwest, we have a larger risk of tornadoes.  
  • Sign up for your community’s warning system.  
  • Know the signs of a tornado.  
  • Funnel cloud  
  • Cloud of debris  
  • Loud roar like a freight train  
  • Pay close attention to weather reports.  
  • Choose a safe place and practice going there with your family to prepare.  
  • Always keep a safe distance away from others in your safe shelter.  

What to do during:  

  • Go to your safe shelter immediately.  
  • Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.  
  • Cover your head and neck for extra protection.  
  • Listen to your local alert systems for current emergency information. You can also listen to EAS and NOAA Weather Radio for information.  
  • If you happen to be outside or in your car, cover your arms and body with a coat or blanket.  

What to do after:  

  • Continue listening to your local alert system, EAS or NOAA Weather Radio for updates.  
  • If you happen to be trapped, cover your mouth with a cloth or mask to avoid breathing dust.  
  • Do not enter damaged buildings until they are safe.  
  • Save your phone calls for emergencies.  
  • Stay clear of fallen power lines.  

For more information, visit ready.gov on how to prepare for tornadoes.