Not Ready for Prime Time (viewer discretion advised)

by Marc Goldwich

I was reviewing the headlines this morning which were chock full of mayhem.  Everything from the aftermath of catastrophic flooding which resulted in numerous drowning deaths in the South Carolina, to more school shootings, along with a smattering of auto-related fatalities vied for my attention. This combined with Halloween being just around the corner was enough to cause my mind to entertain the dark side of life. So I began thinking about the job of cleaning up after a catastrophe.

Image from commons.wikimedia.org

In case you're not aware, there is an entire industry set up for handling these kinds of events. Typically called “Biohazard Clean-up” or “Crime Scene Clean-up”, these companies are e an offshoot of emergency restoration companies. Whether the hazard you need gone consists of  toxic waste, deadly mold, body fluids or most any other kind of nasty stuff that crop up after an emergency, there are trained professionals who are only too happy to roll up their sleeves and dive right in. 

The hit Discovery TV show “Dirty Jobs” is a favorite of mine, but I doubt you will ever see Mike Rowe tackling this type of job. While certainly “dirty” enough, my guess is it would simply be too disrespectful to find any humor in this line of work, and for his show, humor plays a major role.

There are other shows which depict and deal with death, usually CSI or homicide, but I have never seen one address the clean-up aspect that invariably needs to take place after the police finish their investigation. Since you can now watch shows on just about any occupation imaginable, I would not be surprised to find a show following biohazard clean-up teams around.

So what would that entail? First let’s think about the types of situations these companies and their crews might deal with. Things like:

-          Sewage backups

From commons.wikimedia.org

-          Crime scene residue

-          Suicide

-          Homicide cleanup

-          Blood cleanup

-          Accidental death cleanup

-          MRSA and H1N1 decontamination

-          Hoarding scenes

-          Animal waste/remains

-          Chemical spills

-          Tear gas cleanup

-          Meth lab cleanup

-       Radiological hazards

    

None of these events should be taken lightly, or undertaken by anyone except certified biohazard professionals. Not that most people would want to deal with any of these problems

.

These companies need to be well versed in applicable state and federal regulations, they need to be licensed and certified (where required), they need to use appropriate transportation and/or disposal protocols, and they may need to be registered with the states’ Department of Health. These companies can also expect to be regulated by governing and advisory bodies such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), DOT (Department of Transportation), and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Image courtesy of townhall.com

The dirty work of these professionals usually begins when the coroner’s office, or other governmental entity officially releases the scene to the property owner or other responsible party. Depending on the type and severity of the “event”, the clean-up teams are required to wear protective clothing, may seal off rooms to prevent or minimize the spread of airborne or physical elements of the bio-hazard scene, and follow specified methods and practices to decontaminate such scenes.

The scenes must be meticulously cleaned of all harmful material, which typically includes the removal of any porous materials (whether personal belongings like clothing and sheets, or building materials such as carpeting, wood subfloor, or drywall) – which must all be properly disposed of, and then sanitized. You can only imagine the mess that will be left, even after the mess that was the biohazard is removed.

And many people are so distraught after dealing with such a loss, that they overlook the fact that insurance may cover the expense of the clean-up efforts. Just remember this rule of thumb, if property is damaged as a result, it is probably covered by insurance (either yours, or someone else’s).

ServPro.com provided the following bio-hazard and sewage emergency tips:

After any biohazard or sewage contamination in your home or business, your primary focus should be safety:

-          Is it safe to stay in the house?

-          Exposure to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences.

-          Flood water can contain sewage, pesticides, and other contaminants.

-          Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.

Image courtesy of aftermath.com

What to Do After a Contamination

-          Stay out of affected areas.

-          Call emergency service personnel if the situation is life-threatening.

-          Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.

-          Turn off the HVAC system if there is sewage damage.

What Not to Do After a Contamination

-          Don’t leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.

-          Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.

-          Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water.

-          Don’t use television or other household appliances.

-          Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

Let’s all hope we never need these tips, but as we can plainly see from watching the news, the fact is, biohazard clean-up is a grim reality for many families. As with anything else, the more you know in advance of an emergency, the better equipped you will be in handling that situation.

In this article I discussed the subject of biohazard clean-up, and the professionals that are trained to perform what just might be the dirtiest job of all. I mentioned some of the types of events this might involve, and included tips for dealing with such an event.

Mark Goldwich is president of Gold Star Adjusters, a group of public insurance adjusters dedicated to helping citizens get the maximum settlement for any insurance claim.   

Hurricane Season is Here

by Mark Goldwich

With so many other topics consuming the 24-hour news cycle lately, and so much time since a hurricane hit their usual targets, a pair of storms whipping up winds today are an important reminder we are in the midst of the height of hurricane season, and we must not be lulled into a false sense of security.

Courtesy en.wikipedia.org

Danny became the first named storm of the Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season on Tuesday, and quickly became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. By Friday, just 1 day later, it strengthened from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 3 hurricane, with winds reaching 115 MPH. And as I write this on Saturday morning, Danny has already begun to weaken. It is still a Category 2 hurricane, but is expected to be further downgraded to a tropical storm by tomorrow, and is not expected to have any impact on the United States.

This is not only a good reminder of the need to be prepared for such events, especially for those of us living in hurricane-prone regions, but of how quickly things can change. When Danny was first mentioned earlier in the week, it was simply a tropical storm to be watched, and weeks away from any possibility of affecting the U.S. Even when it reached Category 2 strength, some said it was expected to weaken, and not reach the Category 3 level. And keep in mind, a Category 3 hurricane is considered a “major” hurricane, and capable of catastrophic damage.

And while Danny has already begun to weaken, and meteorologists can opine about high pressure fronts and wind shear and all sorts of other reasons storms act the way they do,  in the end the storm is a living, breathing, and relatively unpredictable phenomenon. As a result, even professionals never know for sure what the storm will do.

Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Eric Holthaus, a meteorologist writing for Slate.com on Thursday wrote, “Danny is currently struggling to strengthen and has a tough road ahead of it: Dry air blown in from the Sahara and a pocket of cyclone-killing wind shear over the Caribbean will probably offset the potential boost from increasingly warm water. It’s not possible to confidently predict Danny will even be a storm at all beyond five days from now. On the other hand, it’s perhaps equally as likely that Danny will be a formidable hurricane in 10 days. There are model runs to support both possibilities.”

Holthaus went on to say, “Though it’s borderline meteorological sacrilege to even discuss the possibility of a tropical cyclone landfall so far in advance, a Danny landfall in the mainland United States has the tenuous support of two of the leading weather forecast models, the Euro and the Global Forecast System, the flagship model of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Euro, widely regarded as the world’s most accurate weather model, has been relatively consistent over the last several model runs that a weak version of Danny could approach Florida in about 10 days. The GFS has been much more variable, showing a potentially stronger landfall anywhere on the East Coast—as well as the possibility of a much safer curve out to sea. But you should take this information with an Everest-sized grain of salt.”

Predictions are made, analyzed, evaluated, revised, and then reanalyzed in hindsight after events actually occurred. If the person making the prediction turns out to be correct, they are congratulated for “knowing” what would happen. If they are wrong, they simply explain what happened to cause the prediction (not “them”) to miss the mark.

Meanwhile, a depression in the Pacific Ocean strengthened into what is now called Tropical Storm Kilo on Friday, churning about 500 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Forecasters believe Kilo could grow in strength into a hurricane by Monday, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. One forecast track indicates it could move under Hawaii before changing course back toward Hawaii, and may threaten the state as a hurricane by Wednesday.

Image courtesy flickr.com

In the end, all we can do each time a depression, or storm, or hurricane is taking shape, is to pay attention and prepare for the worst based on information gathered from multiple sources. Of course, it is always better to be prepared (even if nothing happens) than to be unprepared, because when the rare instance of a major storm does happen, being unprepared can lead to disastrous consequences. 

There are so many resources to take advantage of today, and I do not want to bore anyone with disaster plans and safety kits (I’ve probably done this enough already), but I do want to remind you to take some time to at least contemplate what you would do if you had 24 hours to prepare for a large-scale natural disaster. Get on the computer, and find a disaster plan you like, complete with emergency supply kit, and at least print it out and review it with your family. This 30-60 minute exercise would not only create some “family time”, but would hopefully become a habit, and over time increase in everyone the confidence that comes from such repeated planning. The last thing you want to wind up doing is standing in a big box store as a hurricane bears down trying to grab the last couple of pieces of plywood, or the last few cans of food on the supermarket shelves.

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This type of exercise is good for much more than hurricane planning, I believe it helps shape the way people react and act in all kinds of stressful situations, allowing them to remain calm, prioritize needs, and take measured actions in coordination with others (or alone).

So thank Danny and Kilo, for the wake-up call to remind us that Hillary’s email scandal and pre-season football is not the most important news of the day. Remember that while the hurricane season has been quiet so far, it's far from over. Stay vigilant, my friends.

Mark Goldwich is president of Gold Star Adjusters, a group of public insurance adjusters dedicated to helping citizens get the maximum settlement for any insurance claim.   

Keeping Your Head Above Flood Waters

by Mark Goldwich

You may have noticed storm season is picking up. On the news you may see stories of tornadoes and hailstorms, because these tend to be large, violent, and spectacular events. But the same storm systems that create conditions for twisters and hail, can also  bring major amounts of rain. And with this rain comes localized flooding. Often, stories of flooding go unreported because they are so localized, sometimes affecting just part of one county, or a neighborhood, or even just one street. Needless to say, if it's your street, this is a big deal as far as you are concerned. And I know what some of you are thinking, “That’s never been a problem in my neighborhood.” Keep in mind, it was never a problem in their neighborhood either, right up until the moment it happened.

Image courtesy of efunnyimages.com

So let’s just imagine for a moment that floods can happen pretty much anywhere (because they can), and with very little notice (because they do). What should be considered when thinking about floods?  How can we protect ourselves? More importantly, how do we prepare for something that can happen without notice? Even for seasoned insurance adjusters, flood claims are some of the most difficult claims to handle. The flood policies are written differently than standard homeowners policies. They are more strict in their coverage. Often they have lower limits. They don’t pay for you to live somewhere else while your home is being repaired, and they are not intended to “make you whole” as standard policies attempt to do. They are merely there to help bear the brunt of a flood loss. These flood policies are not written by your insurance company. Instead they are put out by the federal government, through the Nation Flood Insurance Program, which is part of FEMA. So, you can think of these policies as being more like social security – nothing more than a safety net to save you from ruin, .

But that's not to say flood insurance is a bad thing. When floods devastate a region, invariably there

Image courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

are large numbers of people who don’t have flood insurance. Why? Simply because it's not required as standard homeowners insurance is (if you have a mortgage). And you will always see some homeowners who do have flood insurance right next to those that don’t. The ones that have flood insurance will almost always fair better than those that don’t, especially when it comes to worrying how they will recover from the disaster. Those without flood insurance are typically ruined. They lose nearly all their possessions, they can’t afford to repair their homes, and they must depend on family, charity, or government to get by at all. On the other hand, those who do have flood insurance can get most of their belongings replaced, most of the repairs done on their homes, and they may only need temporary assistance, or may only dip into savings, or have to take out a small loan.

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The point is, the first step to surviving a disaster like flood, is to be prepared to begin with. That does two important things right away: It helps shift some financial risk from you to someone else who can better afford it (which is the purpose of insurance), and it can give you some peace of mind. Besides the fact that flood insurance is not required, even if you have a mortgage, many people still do not get flood insurance for one simple reason – they don’t live in a flood zone. If I had a dollar for everyone that has been devastated by flooding that didn’t think would ever happen because they were not in a flood zone…let’s just say I’d be very well off. And then, when they find out how inexpensive flood insurance can be when you are “not in a flood zone”, they get even more depressed.

From telepgaph.co.uk

Besides, just think about these “flood zones.” We toss the phrase around a lot, but do we really know what it means? How are flood zones created? By whom? And do they ever change? Well, flood zones are created by government officials, mainly using computer models and past experience, and yes, they can change over time – usually right after your home floods for the first time. For years, I have been saying, “If you trust the government to accurately draw your flood zones now, you might be standing in a long line and depending on the government to help you later.”

So please consider buying flood insurance – no, I don’t sell flood insurance, so that is not my motivation for being a proponent of flood insurance. It’s not even because my business can generate revenue on flood victims only if they have insurance. Instead, it’s simply because I have seen far too many people who didn’t have flood insurance when they needed it. If you have ever been to an area that has been ravaged by flood, it is something you will never forget.

When it comes to flooding in a non-flood zone, the risk may not be great, but then neither is the cost. If it never happens, you’ll have had peace of mind at a reasonable price. If it does happen, you can look like the smart guy on the block. So shift the financial burden, and be in a position to rebuild your life.

Courtesy rjhedges.com

And while you're planning to survive disaster, you might as well do it right. Create a written disaster

plan (the internet is full of checklists and plans). Buy and stock emergency supplies in a disaster kit. Make sure the whole family is aware of the plan by reviewing it every year. Have one of more places to meet up if the family is not together when disaster strikes. Think about how you will communicate if phone lines or cellphone towers are down. Take photos or videos of your property – the building and the contents, and keep a copy in another location. Have a plan for your business as well. A major component of surviving disaster is the preparation that takes place before  disaster strikes. The better prepared you are, the better you will do during and after the disaster.

Mark Goldwich is president of Gold Star Adjusters, a group of public insurance adjusters dedicated to helping citizens get the maximum settlement for any insurance claim.

Weathering the Storm

Hurricane Helene 18 sept 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Mark Goldwich

“Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.”  At least that’s the way that Mark Twain saw it.  Here in Florida, as well as the Gulf Coast of the US at this time of year we do more than talk about the weather.  We fret over it, since hurricane season is once more upon us.  Beginning on June 1st and ending on November 30th, this six month time span is also known as the time when storm preparation can literally mean the difference between life and death.  Anywhere in between there can be expected a number of “Named Storms” including those containing hurricane force winds of 74 mph or greater. While the current hurricane season has been quiet thus far, NOAA is predicting a dozen named storms with half of these growing to hurricane strength.  It’s this sense of false security that lulls many people into being complacent when it comes to preparing for the worst.  As we all remember from a late season hurricane that ravaged the Northeast in October 2012 named Sandy, when it comes to hurricane preparation, talk is cheap. 

Projected path of Tropical Storm Norman (2006). From NOAA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aside from high winds, hurricanes also deliver a tremendous amount of water in the form of rain and from coastal areas storm surge.  Dollar-for-dollar and ounce-for-ounce, more property is damaged and more lives are lost due to water than wind when it comes to major storms and hurricanes.  Storm surges can reach depths of 20 feet or more, flooding entire towns and even carrying away or battering down homes and businesses.  Hurricanes can also cause more than six inches of precipitation, which have been known to produce widespread flooding.   This, combined with winds high enough to bring down trees and power lines, means that if caught in a hurricane, you and yours could be left without power and clean water for days or even weeks.  So it is vital you create and establish an emergency plan that can help you and your family weather the storm.  And the time to create this plan is not when a hurricane is imminent.

Below is a list of items that every homeowner needs to consider this hurricane season:

Hurricane Preparedness Program @ Your Library (Photo credit: hcplebranch)

Protection:  The last thing you want to do is be caught in the cattle call at the local big box store fighting for the last few pieces of plywood needed to protect your windows from wind damage.  Today, there are a number of ways to protect your doors and windows in the case of a major windstorm.  These include hurricane shutters, Storm Stoppers http://www.storm-stoppers.com/, Hurricane Fabric http://hurricanefabric.com/, accordion shutters, sliding and roll down screens and more. http://stormsmart.com/hurricane-protection/products/  Once installed, these systems are ready to deploy in the event of any major wind storm.  Many times insurance companies will even give homeowners that employ these devices a reduction on the windstorm protection portion of their policies.  (Check with your insurance agent to find out more.)  You should also invest in a number of large nylon tarps and ropes so that you can cover any roof damage that can be caused by wind and weather.  Unplug all non-essential appliances and turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting.  (Stock up on ice as well, since this can keep your food fresh for up to 72 hours provided you don’t open the fridge frequently or for long periods of time.)

A hurricane evacuation route shield in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Evacuation:  In the event that discretion becomes the better part of valor and you decide to evacuate your neighborhood due to a major storm, make sure you not only know the best evacuation route, but also pack enough provisions to enable you to get to where you are going.  Many times, highways turn into parking lots as the populace all try to get out of Dodge at once.  When this happens, traffic snarls are inevitable and many times gasoline will be unavailable at any price.  Bringing extra fuel along with food, water and even a tent is a good idea if you decide to evacuate.  Also, make sure you have a battery powered radio with you so you can receive updates on the continuing crisis. 

Communication:  Once the power goes out so will most means of communications, including the Internet and cellphones.  Unless you have a backup generator, this also means that your television will go dark as well.  Make sure you have a battery powered radio on hand with a substantial supply of batteries.

English: Orange, TX 9/28/05 -- Ice, food, and water are given to Rita victims at a distribution center coordinated by FEMA. Photo by:Liz Roll (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Food and Water: Whether you choose to hunker down in your home or evacuate, you will need to eat and drink.  So make sure you have a substantial supply of potable water (1 gallon per person per day) and non-perishable food to last you several days (if you flee) or even several weeks (if you stay).  Just as with plywood, supermarket shelves will be quickly stripped bare in the event of a predicted hurricane.  So it is vital that you stock up on drinking water, canned goods, cereal, crackers, coffee, powdered milk, dehydrated soup and other foodstuffs well in advance of a panic.  You will also need something with which to cook on, such as a gas grill or camp stove.  If you remain home, you should also fill your bathtub and sinks with water before the hurricane hits, since clean water for cleaning and bathing could be hard to come by once the storm hits. 

Emergency Medicine: Having a box of bandaids isn’t going to cut it in the event of an emergency.  Every family should invest in a prepackaged first aid kit that can handle everything from cuts and scrapes to broken bones and contusions.  Also, make sure that you have an adequate supply of any prescription medications you currently take.  It could be quite some time before you can go to the pharmacy. 

Burning brightly ~ hope for Haiti (Photo credit: EraPhernalia Vintage . . . (playin' hook-y ;o))

Shelter and Power:  Once the storm has passed, you may find that your home is no longer habitable.  If that’s the case, having a tent or tents big enough for the entire family could prove to be a godsend.  Since power is one of the first things to go out and the last things to be replenished after a major storm, many people rely on auxiliary generators to provide power to their homes.  If you have purchased one of these, you need to ensure it is in proper working order long before storm warnings are issued.  You also need to make certain you have an ample supply of fuel and that you have extension cords long enough to enable you to position the unit far from your home.  (Generators have been involved in a number of fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning.)

Sun Insurance Policy Receipt (Photo credit: Laineys Repertoire)

Insurance: Once again, proving that the last shall be first and the first shall be last, it is vital to your ability to recover from a major weather event that your insurance policies are current, comprehensive, and at-hand before the lights go out and the wind and rain starts to assail your property. 

In short, if you live in any part of the country that is vulnerable to storms or flooding, preparing for the worst can be one of the best things you can do to keep you and your family safe and help you weather the storm.

Mark Goldwich is president of Gold Star Adjusters, a group of public insurance adjusters dedicated to helping citizens get the maximum settlement for any insurance claim.

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