After a Quiet 2018, Tornado Activity Ramps Up in 2019 The weather in 2018 was fairly mild, especially when it came to tornadoes. Less than 1,000 twisters touched down in the U.S., according to AccuWeather. That number may shock you, but in actuality, it was significantly less than the years before. So much so that it was one of the least active years on record. Fast forward to this year, and it's a different … [Read more...]
After a Quiet 2018, Tornado Activity Ramps Up in 2019
What’s Your Company’s Tornado Resilience Plan?
What's Your Company's Tornado Resilience Plan? Tornado alley encompasses portions of South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and other states. This region has been coined ‘Tornado Alley’ for obvious reasons – as it is the part of the country where twisters occur frequently. Contrary to popular belief, living outside of tornado alley doesn’t exactly entail safety from these phenomena. Unlike hurricanes, … [Read more...]
What Last Year’s ‘Mild’ Hurricane Season Could Mean for 2019 Forecasts
What last year’s ‘mild’ hurricane season could mean for 2019 forecasts At first, the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season wasn't exactly one for the record books. Sure, it was an above-average period for tropical storm activity - producing 15 named storms, three more than what is typical - but it wasn't nearly as destructive a stretch as 2017, when several Category-4 hurricanes not only developed, but made … [Read more...]
Best Way to Protect Your Home from Water Damage
The national average cost to remediate and restore a basement that has suffered water damage is $2,700. That doesn't even begin to account for the cost of water damage to a roof or other parts of your home. If you live in a flood zone, you should be particularly wary, but water damage can occur anywhere and at any time. In the face of this looming threat, what's the best way to protect your home from water damage? … [Read more...]
Prevent Damage from Storms to Your Home with These 7 Simple Steps
We can't control Mother Nature, but we can do some preventative things to help keep her out of our homes during storm season. When storms rage, we can feel like we're at the mercy of wind, rain and hail. Florida gets hit hard at different times of the year. In 2016, losses from storms set a record--almost $4 billion in damages in the Miami and Orlando areas. You can't avoid the storms, but with a few tips, you can … [Read more...]
Trying to Stay Dry? Learn How to Protect Your Home from Water Damage
Each year, 1 of every 50 insured homeowners in the United States files a house water damage claim with their insurance company. Some of those claims are for clean water damage, which is caused by leaking plumbing pipes. Another common cause of this water damage is rainwater. With the spring rainy season already in full swing, your home could be the weather’s next target. Don’t get mad at Mother Nature. Instead, learn … [Read more...]
Got Mold? Learn Learn How to Prevent Mold from Growing in Your House
Mold. The word strikes fear in your heart. Its scientific name, fungi, sounds even more frightening. Mold comes in several varieties including Acremonium, Cladosporium, Dreschslera, Epicoccum, Penicillium, Stachybotrys and Trichoderma. Try pronouncing those! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) isn't too concerned about your pronunciation, but they do suggest you don't allow mold in your home. In … [Read more...]
Where Does Mold Come From? The Main Causes of Mold in Homes
Believe it or not, more than half of American homes have an active mold problem. When left untreated, that mold can lead to severe upper respiratory issues, putting your family at risk. Though it’s possible to clean and remove mold once and for all, it’s far better to prevent it in the first place. But you can’t do that if you’re stuck asking yourself, “where does mold come from?” If you don’t know, don’t panic. Here … [Read more...]
How To Ensure Fire Safety for Your Home This Summer
Throughout the western US, especially in California, widespread damage from catastrophic wildfires has increased in both frequency and scale in the past 10-15 years. Whether attributable to climate change or other factors, it's undeniable. The fall of 2018 was particularly bad, with the horrific Camp Fire killing dozens and leveling the entire community of Paradise in northern California. Life will never be the same … [Read more...]
How to Remove Smoke Smell After a Fire
If you've had a house fire, you're not alone. Believe it or not, there are over 355 thousand house fires in the U.S. every year. Every single one of them have had struggles associated with the fire, but there's one that isn't talked about as much. All of those victims had to figure out how to get rid of that disgusting smell that's left over. Luckily, we can help with that. Let's talk about how to get rid of fire … [Read more...]
What to Expect From the Atlantic Hurricane Season
What to Expect From the Atlantic Hurricane Season The summer will be heating up soon enough and so too will the Atlantic hurricane season. Over a six-month period - stretching from June 1 to Nov. 30 - business owners up and down the eastern seaboard hold their collective breath, hoping that a tropical storm won't arrive at their doorstep. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, … [Read more...]
Why you should fear floods if you’re unprepared
Why you should fear floods if you're unprepared If you've paid attention to the news lately - or if you live in one of the affected regions - you know the Midwest has received massive amounts of flooding. In Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota, among others, farmlands have been destroyed and cattle tragically swept away by swollen rivers overflowing. At one point in mid-March 2019, at least 75 cities were in … [Read more...]