As we continue with our hurricane theme, because it is after all hurricane season, we wanted to update our loyal readers on the doings of Tropical Storm Gert, as he passes through the east of Bermuda. Tropical Storm Gert is the 7th named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season. Since he passed Bermuda it is predicted that he will now head out into the open North Atlantic, having no impact on land.

We’ll keep you up-to-date on all the hurricane news as the season progresses, because we always want you to be prepared in case any water damage is on the horizon.

When it comes to hurricanes we don’t know which is worse, more hurricanes but less power, or less hurricanes but more power. On second thought, we would have a lot of storms, and less strength. Whichever the case, they both can amount to high levels of water damage, and the need for water extraction. We were looking at the 2011 Atlantic forecast and it has already been an active season, but when you really look into it, it really hasn’t been that bad. The quality of the storms has been underwhelming, thankfully!

We have already seen 7 tropical systems in the Atlantic basin, only two behind the notorious 2005 season; but it has been dominated by rapidly forming, and rapidly dissipating, weak tropical storms. Storms like Emily, Franklin and Gert all lived only a short time after being christened a Tropical Storm. But, yes there is always a but, the truth is is that there isn’t more storms this season, it’s just that technology has improved over the years so now meteorologists can catch all the capricious storms that form.

It’s never how many storms form during a season, rather than where they go and how strong they are.  And so far this season, the tropical systems have had minimal impact on the U.S. We all know that a season with a few storms could still wreak extensive amounts of havoc.

“If Tropical Storm Gert fails to reach hurricane strength, this will be the first season in recorded history in which each of the first 7 named storms fails to reach hurricane status,” says weather.com meteorologist Jon Erdman. Well, I guess we’ll just wait and see, crossing our fingers of course!

Following The Weather Chanel’s information on Hurricane Week we came across this worthwhile analysis by hurricane expect Dr. Rick Knabb. He compiled a Top 5 list of cities that are overdue for a hurricane hit. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we have to to admit it may just be there turn to experience the need for some water extraction.

The reason these cities ranked so high in the list is because they have gone the longest without a direct hit from the core of a “significant” hurricane. The list’s order is based on how many years it has been since it last experienced an intense storm. For some of the cities, their last “significant” direct hit was from a major hurricane, while for others that have no known direct hits from a major hurricane, their last direct hit from any hurricane is the determining factor.

Fifth on the list is Tampa, it’s last extreme hit was in 1921 when it was hit by a category 2 hurricane, one that produced storm surges up to about 10 feet in Tampa Bay. Needless to say it causes extensive damage. Storm surge in some areas of Hillsborough County, home to the city of Tampa, could be as high as 15 to 20 feet or more above the ground in a major hurricane, and the ocean could penetrate up to three miles inland, especially near rivers or canals.

After Tampa comes Savannah, Georgia. The last time it was evacuated was in 1999 with Hurricane Floyd, the city was so pre-cautious because of it’s coastal location (Floyd missed it to the east). The Georgia coast is extremely vulnerable to storm surges because of the shallow Atlantic waters off the U.S. In 1979 David, a Category 1, came ashore but the damage was minimal.  The National Weather Service has termed Georgia hurricanes a “sleeping giant,” because it has not experience a major hurricane since 1893.

The Big Apple comes in third place. Although most people do not think of New York City as a hurricane-vulnerable city the truth is hurricanes have struck there before. It experienced a direct hit in 1821, and 1893 is experienced a Category 1 between Coney Island and JFK Airport. 118 years have passed and, to current residents, New York City seems to have essentially no history of hurricanes at all. Storms like Bob, the New England Hurricane, and others to name a few have all missed the city of dreams. New York City is dangerous for two reasons, its population, and northeastern U.S. hurricanes usually move quickly, and a day or two prior to striking they often lurk more than a thousand miles away.

Second place is taken by San Diego, California. Who ever thinks of hurricanes in sunny Cali, right? Well, only one hurricane is known to have ever impacted the coast of California with hurricane-force winds. There is no satellite or camera evidence of the storm because it happened such a long time ago, in 1858. California residents experienced extensive water damage as a result. Hurricanes are so rare there because of the very cool ocean temperatures over the eastern Pacific. For a hurricane to occur on the Cali cost is must be moving fast enough, over waters that are warm enough to hit shore.

And the top overdue city is Honolulu, Hawaii. Although the hurricane plans for Hawaii are some of the most extensive I have ever seen, including different phases and scenarios, an extreme storm has not hit its shores since, well, never. There are no known records of a major hurricane strike in Honolulu. The reason for such preparation is that there is no meteorological reason why the core of a major hurricane cannot directly strike Honolulu. And everyone can agree, the thought of a  major hurricane striking Honolulu is terrifying. The winds alone would be bad enough, with most homes not built to withstand hurricane-force winds, many of them perilously perched on mountain slopes, and numerous high-rises that would lose windows especially on upper floors. Add to that the flooding because of waves and storm surge that would occur near the coast as the ocean moves inland, plus rainfall-induced flooding that could send water rushing down the mountains from the opposite direction.

There is no need to fret just because shark week is over, there is another week of mayhem and terror coming up – Hurricane Week 2011 on The Weather Channel. While most of you are thinking “what’s so scary about hurricanes?” Oh, well trust us they cause plenty of water damage, destruction, and can even threaten lives. Hurricanes are nothing to be taken lightly, that is why The Weather Channel is dedicating a whole week to them.

The weeklong event includes Hurricane-Themed Programming, Live Chat with Hurricane Expert Dr. Rick Knabb and FEMA Director Craig Fugate. We expect to see a lot of information being introduced in this year’s Hurricane Week, seeing as how this year’s hurricane season has already had five-named storms covered by The Weather Channel. The week will be dedicated to preparing viewers for what TWC hurricane expert Dr. Rick Knabb predicts to be an active season.

You can expect to see hurricane-related episodes of viewer favorites Weather Caught on Camera, Storm Riders, Full Force Nature, Surviving the Elements and It Could Happen Tomorrow will air throughout the week of August 15-19 beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Also, each day beginning at 5 p.m. ET, hurricane-related episodes of the popular series Storm Stories will air. Hurricane preparation and safety tips, information and video will be featured online and on mobile from www.weather.com.

We here at Super Restoration always worry about the interior of your property’s, and how to protect them, but we rarely focus on the exterior. How exactly do you protect the outside of your property from water damage? Well first things first you need to start off with the top of your property – the roof.

• Make sure it is clean from any debris that may prevent proper drainage.
• Make sure that air can flow freely through all the roof vents, this is because if air cannot flow freely there will be a buildup of heat and moisture, which would damage the life of the roof.
• Always remember to keep your trees trimmed so that they will not rub against the room.
• Replace any damaged shingles.
• Check around your property, attic flues, plumbing vents, chimneys, for any roof leaks.

And don’t forget about the rest of your landscape:

• Make sure the gutters and downspouts are clean from debris. Also, remember to check it regularly to make sure it is not full of debris. If you suffer from blocked gutters you should think about installing gutter shields.
• If you have downspouts, place splash blocks at the end of them to carry water away from the foundation.
• Do not forget about your air conditioning. Every couple of months have your system serviced by a qualified contractor so that he/she can inspect and clean the condensation pan drain line. And do not forget to the change the air filter regularly.
• Before winter starts, disconnect garden hoses from all spigots and turn off each spigot’s water supply.
• Replace any damaged caulk around your windows and doors, and repaint wood siding when it is needed.
• Fill in any low spots next to the house to help water drain away from the foundation.

And always remember to call us, Super Restoration, to prevent water damage, and when you need a water extraction company.

Most people don’t know all that goes into water extraction and water damage, and neither did we, until we got into the business, of course. And we bet you didn’t know that there are different categories for water. Well there are, and it affects the water extraction process, so it is better if you know just what you are dealing with.

• Water in Category 1 is from a clean or sanitary source, and it does not pose a hazard to humans if consumed. Category 1 water may become progressively contaminated as it mixes with soils on or within floor coverings or building assemblies (walls, decking, subflooring). Water in Category 1 can quickly fall into categories 2 and 3 depending on time and contamination. Time and temperature promote the growth of the microorganisms that contaminate the water, and transform into further categories. This kind of water includes water from broken clean water supply lines; clean water from toilet tank or bowl; faucets; and bottled water.
• Water in Category 2 is water with some level of contaminants that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. It behaves just like water in Category 1 in the sense that depending on time and temperature it can degrade into Category 3. It includes washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; and dishwasher overflow.
• Water in Category 3 is extremely contaminated, and could cause death and serious illnesses if consumed. It includes sewage; flooding from rivers or streams; water from beyond the toilet trap; water from the toilet bowl with feces; and standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

All those who live in South Florida know just how capricious the weather is. One minute you’re writing your Last Will and Testament because you believe you’re going to perish from a heat stroke, and the next you’re swimming to your car because a batch of massive showers struck. The fact that the weather is constantly changing does not help property owners when trying to prepare for water damage and water extraction problems.

We’re going to try and help our readers prepare for the weekend by mentioning the supposed weather forecast for the next couple of days; but let’s be honest, we all know this is as stable as your vision about lottery numbers.

• Friday is scheduled to be mostly sunny with a high of 91 and a low of 82, with a precipitation of 20%. In other words, you may not die of a heat spasm, but you should probably wear a lot of sun block and stay hydrated.
• Saturday is predicted to have morning showers, not the best way to start your day, but at least it’ll be better by the time you want to put your party dress on, and paint the town red. There will be a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 81, with 30% precipitation.
• The weekend will be ending on a bang. Isolated thunder storms will just force you to have a lazy Sunday. It is predicted to have highs in the low 90s and lows in the low 80s.

Well, there you have it folks. We hope you somehow manage to enjoy your weekend, even with the somewhat sullen weather forecast.

While we know that water damage is unavoidable at times, there are some things that you can do avoid the horrible experience. We are always dishing out tips on how to prevent, or how to try to prepare yourself when it comes to water damage, but we always think it’s better to be safe than sorry. So what’s another post going to do? Help!

• You should replace old water heaters. We know what you’re thinking, “random?” But it’s the truth, their destruction is underestimated. When they burst they can cause extreme amounts of damage with water pouring into adjacent rooms. Water heaters last an average of 10-12 years, do not wait for it to burst before you replace them. Replace them every decade, besides the new energy-efficient heaters are also cheaper to operate.
• Stainless steel hoses are the way to go, because they last longer than standard rubber or plastic hoses. You should always replace a hose that has kinks, cracks, or bulges. You do not know the damage they can wreak when ignored.
• You should constantly check the attic air conditioners and swamp coolers. What do attics have to do with anything? Well, when attic air conditioners fail they cause water damage to everything below it. So at least once every year you should check on them, and look for wear and tear or any loose connections. Especially if they are exposed to the sun or rain.
• If you are leaving the property do no leave dishwashers or washing machines running. It may seem like common sense, but it is too often that customers come to us because havoc ensued when they left. You never know if something is going to break while you’re away, and what could have been a harmless spill or mop job may turn into a flooded home.
• Two words: water alarms. You should consider installing them around your property.

And don’t worry, we’ll never run out of helpful tips to give out!

The Super Restoration team has been thinking, and we realized – some of our readers may not know the most basic water extraction terms, and may just think we’re crazy when we’re throwing words like water damage and mold remediation out there. The truth is we want to be helpful to all our readers, even if they’re not customers. That’s why we’re going to teach you the most basic meanings behind our terms from time to time.

Have you ever come across our blog and wondered just what in the world water damage restoration was? Water damage restoration is the process of restoring a property back to pre-loss condition after sustaining any level of water damage. Pretty self-explanatory, right? Well, there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s not just removing the water and making sure your home is dry with a couple of towels and vacuums, what we do is so much more than that. There are standards we must follow based on two large certifying bodies – the IICRC and the RIA.

Water damage restoration is not only removing the water, but also monitoring the removal of the water, and properly drying the property; but those are conversations that will be saved for later dates.

In our earlier articles we mentioned mold spores, and then we realized – some of our readers may not know what mold spores are, or that they even existed. So we have taken the liberty and decided to give you all a crash course on mold spores.

Mold spores are tiny bacteria, and when we say tiny we mean tiny, less than 4 microns in size. They are the most dangerous culprits because a person can inhale as many as 750,00 spores in just 60 seconds.

While the body is equipped to defend itself against small contaminants, and it is prepared with mucous lining, coughing, and sneezing, mold spores can still bypass the body’s natural defenses. They can do this because of their size and because there are so many of them.

Mold spores can move into and gather in one’s lowers lungs, while they are there they can produce toxins. Toxins that are present within the lungs are extremely dangerous because the lungs transfer oxygen to the bloodstream. If there are toxins present in them they become a roadway to dangerous materials to travel through the bloodstream. The body’s reaction to the toxins permanently affects the lungs’ ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. One’s lung tissue becomes permanaently scarred, and with each exposure to mold spores more damage will occur. The body’s last defense against these tiny invaders is to develop an allergy producing cold or pneumonia-like symptoms.

Now that you know what mold spores are don’t you just want to do everything to avoid them? When water damage occurs make sure you hire a water extraction and mold remediation company who will do the job correctly.