The Likelihood of Water Damage

A major insurance company analyzed its claims data and concluded that its policy holders were 10 (TEN) times more likely to suffer water damage than fire damage.  In North Carolina alone this insurance company determined that water damaged claims - excluding water damage caused by catastrophes - accounted for 28% of its property claims in the state.  The insurance company - in a predictable attempt to control this info and for its own interests - went on to state that much of the damage was preventable thereby parlaying its own realized risk onto the policyholder who may not have had any reasonable expectation of control over the situation.

In response to such ongoing and unrealistic circumvention of responsibility, an independent water damage restoration company in Illinois recently decided to educate the insurance industry and created a "Flood House Laboratory" ("FHL").  The FHL was conceptualized to, and is being used to, educate insurance company adjustors, agents, and relevant personnel as to what full, proper, and customer focused water damage restoration entails and requires.  The FHL is a small scale "house" that is complete with hardwood floors.  The continuing education insurance company representative is required to flood the house and then physically work with a variety of tools ranging from low level and ineffective "adjustor approved" tools and techniques through professional equipment to see and experience the difference firsthand.  From this experiment even the most blind adjustor was able to see, and have an appreciation for, the true level of workmanship and expertise an independent water damage restoration company has opposed to the standard, adjustor approved lapdog that under-prices and under -performs simply to appease the adjuster and get work.

The scary part of this "appreciation" is that such appreciation is something a reasonable policyholder would assume is common knowledge to their insurance company and adjuster.  The policyholder is reasonable to question how their insurance company and insurance adjuster could properly and fairly assess their water damage and assign a fair and reasonable indemnification valuation to their loss if they are not properly educated in water damage restoration.  Unfortunately, the policyholder soon realizes that their loss is nothing more than another burdensome claim to be unfairly and prejudicially adjusted in favor of their insurance company and in blatant disregard of their contractually bound and written policy.

This is why the policyholder must insist that their water damage claim is handled by a professional, independent water damage restoration company to ensure that their loss and subsequent indemnification claim is handled to their expectation, interest, and favor.  Despite the friendly and outgoing attitude of the insurance company's dispatched adjuster, the adjuster is a double agent who, admittedly, works for or contacts with the insurance company and is there, primarily, to find any possible reason or unintentional policyholder mistake to reduce or deny the claim so that they do not have to pay.  Despite this, the insurance company still, in an apparent otherworldly and sociopathic manner, fully expects the policyholder to continue making full and timely payments on their policy... the audacity of this fully excepted and enforced self serving, "nothing for something", narcissistic concept is jaw dropping.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Dangers of Unknown Water Damage

Wikipedia reports that Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack, better known as Brittany Murphy, big screen star of films including Clueless, Girl Interrupted, 8 Mile, Sin City, Happy Feet, and Riding in Cars with Boys, died on December 20, 2009 from pneumonia despite public speculation of an eating disorder or drug abuse.  Sharon Murphy, mother of Brittney Murphy, has filed a lawsuit against her former attorneys alleging legal malpractice, breach of express and/or implied contract, and breach of fiduciary duty concerning the legal firm's negotiation of a settlement in this case which is underscored and aggravated by Sharon's reported discovery of "extensive water damage and mold infestation".   Sharon suggests the real cause of death of her daughter and her daughter's husband, Simon Monjack - who died five months and three days later with the same diagnosis, was Black Mold.

Black mold or toxic black mold is known to the scientific community as S. chlorohalonata and is one of the fifty species of Stachybotrys.  S. chlorohalonata is frequently found in water damaged buildings with poor indoor air quality and can result in a wide range of ailments depending on the length of exposure and the volume of spores inhaled.  It is well reported and documented that long term exposure can result in a bevy of maladies including immunosuppression, dementia, ongoing and recurring respiratory infections, irregular heartbeat, and death.

If Sharon can prove that the underlying cause of death for Brittany and Simon was in fact black mold infestation that was caused by the builder purposely covering up known water damage then she may in fact have a legitimate case against her previous attorney who settled the case opposed to perusing damages against the builder - who may be criminally negligent and, therefore, strictly liable for the deaths.  Alas, I am not an attorney and I am not qualified to practice law so I can only speculate, for entertainment purposes only, as to the potential responsibility and liability of this case.

However, what I can state without disclaimer is that mold abatement (defined as suppression or termination) is well within the operating scope and professional expertise of a professional, independent water damage restoration company.

A professional, independent water damage restoration company is professionally trained and industry certified to remediate (repair) water damage and eliminate other damages and risks caused by water damage including mold.  The reader would be wise to consider that such qualification and expertise may not be what you get when you call a national franchise or your insurance adjuster's suggested or "preferred" company to remediate your water damage as these "dependent" companies tend to cut corners in order to continue being preferred.  Perhaps the builder in question was an insurance company  preferred company?  We can only speculate.

R.I.P. Brittany Murphy

R.I.P. Simon Monjack

Best Wishes Sharon Murphy

May no one have to suffer the caustic and fatal effects of black mold again.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Why You Should Repair Water Damage Quickly

It is an unfortunate reality that many people underestimate the potential damage water can cause with even limited exposure time.  Chemistry teaches that water can be a base or an acid depending on environmental factors meaning that in high acid environments, water acts as a base and in low pH environments, water is slightly acidic.  The mutable nature of water affords water the ability to carve through solid rock to create beautiful natural wonders but this same ability can also destroy drywall, plumbing materials, and other common building materials.  This point, however, is often forgotten when people deal with water damage.

When dealing with water damage, many people simply focus on the top layer of water and neglect to do anything for the layers of water that have penetrated the subsurface or been absorbed in to the gypsum board (aka drywall and sheetrock) and sill plates usually due to the double whammy of they do not understand the risks and they do not have the proper extraction equipment.  Wikipedia reports that gypsum board is "easily damaged by exposure to water" and "supports the growth of mold."  While gypsum board is treated to make it more water resistant, should the gypsum board be punctured or should water, as in the case of water damage, collect around the unprotected area of the gypsum board, the porous gypsum board will then readily absorb and hold the water.  The longer this absorbed water stays inside the gypsum board the more damage it causes.

Unlike fire damage that leaves a visible and generally static path of damage, water damage can be subtle and can manifest its destruction over a period of time.  Opposed to the immediate destruction caused by fire, water, similar in many ways to stress, can slowly chip away at the host until it requires extensive repair at a cost that is MUCH higher and over an area MUCH larger than initial exposure would have been required to treat.  The subtle nature of water is what causes water damage to be regularly underestimated and, therefore, undertreated in real world case scenarios.

Unfortunately, despite the best intention and valiant effort of many honorable do-it-yourselfers, their efforts are for naught as they simply lack the equipment needed for remediation and such equipment is not commonly available at your local rental shop.  At best these people may have access to a commercial carpet cleaner which can effectively remove the top layer of water but does little to penetrate the subflooring or remove the absorbed water so they will stop when the area feels dry and will leave a fan on.  This method is very similar to the method employed by remediation professionals in the infancy of the water restoration profession but this was soon sent to pasture as it was quickly shown to be ineffective, at best, and a catalyst for decomposition and mold growth, at worst.

The best way to combat water damage, and to prevent the short and long term devastation caused by water damage, is to call a professional water damage restoration company as soon as the damage is found.  While the honorable do-it-yourselfer will have the unrelenting urge to break out their equipment and assist the professional water damage restoration company, the best way a do-it-yourselfer could assist the company is by disabling the source of the water damage (if possible), ensuring the area is free from electrical risks, and ensuring the affected area is free of debris and physical hazards (if possible) so that the professionals can extract the water as quickly as possible to minimize the restoration time.

Proper timing is essential for the fastest restoration.  Now you know.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

What is that Smell?

You smell it... a foul stench that permeates the air and chokes the oxygen from you as you struggle to breath without holding your nose but you cannot find the source of the stench.  You have searched everywhere you can think to look but the smell persists and you wonder aloud if it is actually worsening.  You know it can't have anything to do with your recent water damage as you called the best carpet cleaner in the phonebook - the "family" owned operation with the big ad - and you were there when they removed the water.  They gave you full disclosure concerning a "little" dampness and even added a pleasant smelling chemical as you are a wonderful customer.  So, then, what is that smell?

That smell can be any number of maladies ranging from decomposition of hidden organic materials through the silent yet continual destruction of your walls through mold.  Such maladies omit a foul and offensive odor and each could have been avoided or abated by using a professional water damage restoration company.

The carpet cleaner was introduced herein as a generic but realistic scenario as this scenario plays out on a daily basis.  Most victims of water damage severely underestimate the scope of work that is required to indemnify the situation while simultaneously fearing the perceived cost to fix the situation.  While the carpet cleaner is working to the best of the cleaner's ability, a carpet cleaning company is NOT a professional water damage restoration company and is ill equipped, at best, to address the bevy of tasks required to properly remediate the water damage despite its best effort and honorable intention.  Additionally, most carpet cleaners are paid from the pocket of the water damage victim whereas a professional water damage restoration company can handle the entire restoration project thereby restoring the scenario to it preloss condition with, in many cases, little to no out of pocket money from the water damage victim as the water damage restoration company bills the water damage victim's insurance company for its service.

So rather than argue to defend the integrity of that nice man from the carpet cleaning company and wondering what that smell is, hire that nice man from that professional water damage restoration company and enjoy your restored asset without smell and without the risk of future problems stemming from an underestimation of the damage the water caused initially.  Better yet, tell your family and friends how that nice man from the water damage restoration company was able to complete ALL of the work without taking money from your pocket and how happy you are with the work!  They need to know.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Water Damage of the Rich and Famous

Despite the house, the cost of the house, or even the architectural design of the house, no home is immune to the effects of water damage.  It has been widely publicized that Pop sensation Rihanna is looking to short sale her 8,250 square foot, 8 bedroom, 10 bathroom, Beverly Hills home due to "extensive damage from moisture and water intrusion."  Despite paying $6.9 million for the home about two years ago, the singer is looking to sell the home at a $2.5 million loss.  Citing damage to, "but not limited to", the roof, windows, doors, and balconies, one would have to wonder who in their right mind would buy this home knowing what is already disclosed for any where near the amount offered?

While her asking price for this rapidly depreciating asset may be otherworldly, her desire to take the money and run is prudent.  Not counting the money she is losing every moment professional corrective measures are not taken, or are delayed, thus allowing the water to continue to damage her home, the unseen damage is likely to be much more of a financial abyss then the immediate $2.5 million loss.  It seems unlikely that this slow seeping water damage is acute so this damage has, most likely, been steadily increasing in volume for some time (a period most likely longer then her two year ownership) so the hidden damage can be extensive.  Then there are the health considerations that run tangent to chronic water damage including toxic black mold.  The inherent heath risks of black mold are well known and well documented and the chances for Rihanna's home being a black mold hotspot are good.

For the record, we take nothing at face value and have found the actual listing online.  While Rihanna's home is quite a bargain, considering and compared to similar listings in the Beverly Hills area, and her full disclosure is admirable, we feel the chances of the house being sold "As-Is" with " EXTENSIVE damage from moisture AND water intrusion" and with "encroachment issues and other problems" is limited.

At this point, we feel, the only way for Rihanna to stem the financial loss she continues to incur is by using an independent water damage restoration company to mitigate the damages and stop the water damage at its source.  Hiring a professional, certified independent water damage restoration company is a prudent financial step as such company can restore the home to its preloss condition thereby negating the immediate $2.5 million loss which could allow Rihanna's undervalued home, for the market it is in and based on comparables, to achieve its true value and sell for much more than $4.5 million.

Best wishes Rihanna.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.

Water Damage Restoration 101: The Dangers of Water Damage

 In this, our 20th public service article, we looked back and asked ourselves the best and most basic question of all, who cares?  How does the intra-industry information we have shared with the public benefit the public and why would someone take time from their busy schedule to read what we have freely presented?  The answer, of course, is self interest.  In this "ah-ha" moment we realized that we are missing a key component in our article database... the health risks and financial dangers posed by and created by exposure to water damage.

So then, why is water damage a concern to me and why should I care about it?

1. Water damage can destroy the structural integrity of your structure rendering it unusable and inhospitable.  Even a small amount of water damage can wreak havoc with your drywall, flooring, and infrastructure as it penetrates and is absorbed into the structure.

2. Such penetration and absorption can easily become an ideal environment for health risks and financial challenges associated with the unconstrained growth of mold, bacteria, and structural degradation.

3. Water conditions can quickly degrade into Category 2 or Category 3 water conditions.  Category 2 water, also referred to as "Grey Water", is known to carry microorganisms and can be caused by reasons as common as a sump pump failure or a compromised dishwasher.  Category 3 water, or "Black Water", poses serious human health risks and can carry a wide range of life threatening fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes.

4. Any category of water that is not removed properly and by a trained professional can penetrate and poison or infect local sources of clean water.

5. Water damage that is not cleaned professionally can have devastating long term health and financial consequences.  Unless the structure owner is a trained water damage restoration professional, the admirable and laudable American original Do-it-Yourself attitude should not be used in this situation and at no time should any one cut corners to cut costs.

Only a professional water damage restoration company is equipped and trained well enough to remove the water, restore your structure to its preloss condition, and dry the structure to a level that adheres to the structure's normal dry level, thereby, circumventing all of the issues we have outlined.

While any one can easily suck the top layer of water off a floor using a simple grocery store rented wet/dry vacuum cleaner, for example, this can, and will, miss the water that has penetrated the inner layers of the structure including the subflooring and inside the wall cavities.  This is the real threat of water damage and is the reason you should only use an independent water damage restoration company to handle all of your water damage restoration needs.

Water Damage Restoration 101 What about my memories?

Water damage is uncompromising and can be devastating. The stress incurred by loss of the use of your property is bad enough but the loss of irreplaceable pictures and family heirlooms can be a tremendous strain. This article will outline some steps you can use to prevent loss to such items.

- Prevention is the key -
Per the adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of Cure," the best way to prevent loss of irreplaceable pictures and family heirlooms is by eliminating or severely reducing the ability to lose said items. Preventing the ability to lose or damage such items is the key to enjoying the maximum pleasure and benefit such items convey for the longest amount of time.

- Image all irreplaceable documents and pictures to your PC -
Most people have some form of scanning device in their home or place of business but for those who do not, and for those who do not have the time, interest, or technological ability to do it themselves, there are low cost services that will image these items for a nominal cost.

- Synchronize your iDevices, cameras, and other electronic devices to your PC -
iPhones, iPads, touch devices, and other similar items that allow the user to take pictures, download personal items, or otherwise express themselves creatively, are lost, stolen, and damaged every day so all of the personal data contained on such device is forever lost. For most people, synchronizing such device is as simple as plugging their device into their PC. More advanced users may have turned off the autostart process but can reactivate the service by simply running the original application.

- Regularly backup your PC -
People seem to forget one basic tenant of computer law... computers are machines... it is not if they will break down but when. Many times computers break down at the most inconvenient times and unless the user has backed up their PC to some external source - i.e. flash drive, file server, Internet backup, etc., all of the files, documents, pictures, etc. on such PC are lost until such time their PC is fixed or their data is retrieved. The entire nightmare scenario can be avoided by simply backing up the PC.

- Keep all original and PC backups in a safe storage area off the premises -
This should go without saying but many people keep the backup directly next to the source. While this may not matter in the scenario of a computer crash, should the user experience fire or water damage, then it is reasonable to assume that something that killed the source can kill the backup. It is a best practice to keep the backup in a safe place separate from the source.

- Use only copies or electronic images -
Now that all irreplaceable pictures and family heirlooms are safely backed up and stored away, the enjoyment of such items should not be lost in the attempt to protect such items. The electronic reproduction of such items will afford the utility such items provide with the peace of mind knowing that the originals are secure from loss or damage. Truly a win-win scenario.

Unfortunately, these words of wisdom may come too late for your needs. Should this be the case, then a professional water damage restoration company may be able to refer your electronic devices to a qualified recovery center for possible repair or data recovery. Any paper or non-electronic items, however, may be lost depending on the conditions of the loss. It is clear that the best key to recovery is prevention.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K. Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of Emergency Response Restoration (http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/), 2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.