Part 2: The Outer Banks

As promised, here is the second half of my time in the Outer Banks, NC as our team did Irene clean up.

I stumbled across SERVPRO of Richland working hard.

The Red Cross teamed up with N.C. Baptist Men to prepare three meals a day for victims of the hurricane. I found them in after lunch as they were preparing for the dinner rush.

Check out all that the American Red Cross supplied for this to be possible!

Signs asking for FEMA's help could be found.

"Open Monday I hope."

It wasn't uncommon to see signs written to hurricane Irene hanging from people's homes.To see all of the photos, please visit our facebook.

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Sandy Hayden

Irene in the Outer Banks

I must begin by apologizing profusely that I have been absent from the blog for a couple of days, particularly yesterday--missing a Fun Friday is a serious offense. I hope my loving readers will find it in their hearts to forgive me as I have been traveling north to join the team in the Outer Banks to work on hurricane relief.

This morning I have been exploring the area our crew is working in today to get a sense of the devastation of Irene. I will post several photos here, but please visit our Facebook to see the entire album.

The damage here seems to be far more water-induced than wind, hitting some neighborhoods harder than others. In the less fortunate areas (those more vulnerable to water damage), a walk down the road will reveal limbs and tree debris neatly piled at least chest-high in front of every other house. In the yards water-logged furniture and household items sunbathe--either in hopes of drying their way back to functionality or awaiting their pickup by a city garbage truck.

Having grown up in South Carolina and doing hurricane relief in the past (namely Katrina), what leaves a strong impression on me is the attitude of the homeowners. The equally neat and enormous stacks of debris have been collected by the locals themselves--there is no concept of helplessness here. Locals' immediate response upon Irene's damage seems to be one part can-do and one part community. It is no unusual sight to find neighbors aiding each other in removing wet furniture from their homes, chainsawing fallen trees, and even gutting water-damaged areas of their houses. That's not all. The most impressive part: I have yet to hear a local complain. As a matter of fact, I've even seen several smiling. It is an honor to be working for people like that.

All of our drying equipment for the water damages we're tackling.

In this neighborhood, every single yard was littered with furniture and household items sunbathing while awaiting either restoration or the garbage truck. 

Representing.

One of the houses the crew was working on this morning.

A fairly normal sight here.

Josh working hard with his Breast Cancer Foundation work gloves.

See what you can do to help by visiting my last post: How You Can Help.

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Sandy Hayden

Hurricane Irene: How You Can Help

Imagine 1200 homes like this all in one cove. This photo was taken by a member of our crew that is currently cleaning up the hurricane damage in the Outer Banks, NC. This is a reality for many home owners today. If you were one of the fortunate ones who is not currently focused on picking up the pieces of a damaged home, then perhaps it's time to see what you can do to help.

Step 1: Call your local Red Cross chapter and ask to volunteer. Labor day is coming up, and what better way to use it? Bring the whole family along, as there's something for everyone to do, including helping with care packages and blood donation drives.

Step 2: Donate blood. The blood supply was already low, but the recent disaster has further increased the need. This is one thing you can do that will directly save lives. How can you say no to that opportunity?

Step 3: Donate money. This is one of the fastest ways you can help hurricane victims. Here are some places to consider donating:

• American Red Cross --  Beginning a large scale relief operation to help people who were in the path of Hurricane Irene. Select "Disaster Relief" in the designated field.


• Americares -- Has stocked crucial supplies should the need arise for an immediate emergency response. To designate your gift to US Disaster Relief, write “Hurricane Relief Fund” in the designation field.


• Direct Relief International -- Hurricane Prep Packs pre-positioned at 39 total locations before hurricane season started in June, with 17 locations across four states in Irene's path equipped to help people affected by the storm. To designate your gift, write "Emergency Preparedness & Response" in the designation field.


• Humane Society -- The HSUS Animal Rescue Team is on the ground in North Carolina, Vermont and other hard hit areas responding where they are needed the most.


• K.I.D.S. -- Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) is distributing clothes, shoes and home goods to needy children and families on the East Coast, in NJ & VT.


• Operation Blessing -- Positioned to respond with emergency food, water and other relief supplies for impacted families. To designate your gift, write "Hurricane Relief" in the designation field.


• Salvation Army -- Prepared in the case that Hurricane Irene makes landfall. The Florida Division is equipped with mobile kitchens, shower trailers, field kitchens, and equipment  To designate your gift, write "Disaster Services" in the designation field.

Tips on giving: Do give to an established charity, do designate your gift, don't go through telemarketers, do research and follow up, and do give online.

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Content credit: KNCI, Network for Good, and Charity Navigator

Sandy Hayden

Happy Trails

As things are finally cooling off a bit, it's time to take in the great outdoors we've been taking refuge from all summer. Whether that's hiking and camping or just an afternoon picnic, remember these simple ways to ensure happy trails.

• Check the weather forecast before heading out for a hike. It's not safe to hike when thunderstorms or heavy snowfall is expected.


• Carry drinking water. Streams, lakes, and springs are not the same as drinking fountains, so don't drink from them without first properly treating the water.


• Observe wildlife... from a safe distance. It's called wildlife for a reason, so don't get too close to wild animals.


• Stay on the trail -- leaving it could result in getting lost. I know you guys who are reading this thinking "getting lost is the adventure," but staying lost, my friends, is a hazard.


• Help prevent food poisoning by keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Perishable items do not belong in a hot car.


• Clean all surfaces and utensils that come in contact with raw meat or meat juices before using them again.


• Wash your hands frequently when preparing food and before serving and eating.


• Keep children away from grills and lighter fluid. Keep grills away from anything that can burn them.


• Be aware of tiny deer ticks. They could carry Lyme disease, so know what symptoms to watch out for! When in potentially infested area, apply insect repellant, wear light-colored, long sleeved shirts, pants, and socks.


• Do not build a fire near tree trunks, fallen trees, or over hanging branches. Always keep the flames at a size you can control.


• When it's time extinguish a campfire, let the flames die down, then break up the coals or logs, spread the pieces, soak them with water, and cover the area with dirt or sand.

Photo credit: http://therepublicofless.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/camping-glow-night2.jpg

Content credit: http://www.ci.dupont.wa.us/files/library/9ed9c444fe7e45c0_o.pdf

Sandy Hayden

Back to School Safety

It's that time again, and the kids aren't the only ones with homework. Parents, it's your turn. Don't let autumn safety "fall" to the side. Instead, talk to your children about how they can be healthy and safe this school year.

1. Walk and ride to school safely by remaining aware. Obey traffic signals and lights, walk only on crosswalks, and listen to traffic guards (that means no headphones).


2. If your children bike to school, make sure they wear a helmet. My recommendation: reward safety with an awesome helmet.


3. If possible, walk with your child to and from the bus stop.


4. Keep backpacks light! Your kid's backpack should only be 5-10% of his or her body weight, according to the American Chiropractic Association. A backpack with wheels is easy to use and most importantly reduces back stress. If your child chooses to use a backpack, utilize both straps. Wearing your pack on one shoulder can cause spinal curvature.

*Photo credit: http://www.prlog.org/10415746-attachment.jpg

*Content credit: http://www.ci.dupont.wa.us/files/library/9ed9c444fe7e45c0_o.pdf

Sandy Hayden

Fun Friday!

It's our fourth Fun Friday today and it's time for a little inspiration! Check out some ideas that will make an impact on your house and not your wallet. "Reduce, reuse," my friends.

Wait before you throw those light bulbs out. For a romantic green house feel, try using them for hanging plants or vases.

On your next Saturday morning thrift trip, snatch yourself an old window for a great conversation piece as well as a handsome way to display photos or artwork. You can hang it on the wall or go a step further and make it a table surface. Get creative!

Wood needs a little help? Before shelling out for an expensive product, try shelling a walnut instead.

Wooden cable spool + wheels = brilliance.

Scrap wood? More like chic headboard. A touch of ingenuity (and paint) goes a long way.

Any other cheap n' chic ideas? Submit them in the reply box below! Happy, happy Friday!

Credits: A Well Traveled Woman, Everyday Ebullience, Carrie Leber: the blog, Poppytalk, DIY Ideas, and Apartment Therapy.

Sandy Hayden

Talking Business: Damage Lingers Even When Smoke Clears

Let's talk business. In the corporate world, office downtime can mean bad news for a company. Especially following a devastating fire, the days and weeks that a company's doors are shut mean money lost that may not be recouped. In addition to the loss in productivity, it is not hard to imagine what could become of millions of dollars of computers and other office equipment, having been enveloped in smoke and doused in water.

Expensive electronic equipment is not the only thing damaged when exposed to water and smoke. Conference rooms, tables, chairs, carpeted floors, art, lamps and other employee possessions are among the many office components at risk for fire and water damage. In fact, a fire can and sometimes does mean an untimely end to a once successful business. These critical moments require immediate attention from specialists trained in fire and water restoration. Fast response time can be step one in the eventual recovery of a business.

When we get a call from a business owner who has experienced a fire, we know they are experiencing a whirlwind of fear, frustration and anxiety, which is why we get on site as fast as we can to assess the damage and get to work. SERVPRO is a nationally franchised professional fire and water cleanup and restoration company in Greater Columbia. We also provide professional pack-outs, relocating any damaged documents or equipment to a cleaner environment so they can be restored to preloss condition.

Restoration companies trained in this type of cleanup must also be familiar with the inner workings of the insurance industry. SERVPRO works with agents and adjusters to quickly settle claims and achieve high customer satisfaction. The work that we do to restore equipment and materials, as opposed to replacing them, saves the insurance industry a lot of money each year.

Few companies are able to efficiently get in there and clean electronics after a fire. We happen to be one of them. There are a series of steps we take to ensure that electronics and important documents are properly cleaned and restored. Of course, we can also professional clean the carpets and other saturated items. Chairs may not be expensive compared to computers, but if you have 100 chairs that are soaking wet, the cost of replacement can be quite high. When customers see our green trucks on site, they can rest assured that "green means clean."

*Photo credit: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Photography/Images/POD/p/pines-fire-blair-444449-xl.jpg

Sandy Hayden