6 Disaster Restoration Myths in Greater Minneapolis

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Natural disasters have the immense power of taking down homes, structures, and surrounding areas in the blink of an eye. The impact of earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding can be very costly, not to mention the lives of families turned upside down in the wake of the devastation. 

Communities can go for days, weeks, and even months without recovering from a natural disaster.

A report published by reinsurance company, Munich Re, stated that damages from natural catastrophes in the United States in 2020 went over $90 billion. That figure was nearly double the losses from the previous year. 

Fortunately, disaster restoration companies are there to help rebuild communities when disaster strikes. These companies are often well-equipped with disaster recovery strategies and resources to help communities, and surrounding areas make a complete comeback. 

Together with construction companies, disaster restoration services help repair and rebuild property destroyed during a natural disaster. If you need disaster restoration services, you may be oblivious to how the process goes.

Let’s take a brief look at a few things you can expect from a disaster restoration company:

  • The project manager will communicate an ETA to the homeowner (usually no more than 2 hours).
  • Next, the project manager will discuss the repairs that need to be done.
  • After the homeowner gives formal authorization, the emergency response team will get to work immediately. 
  • The project manager creates an estimate to be approved by the homeowner or insurance company. 
  • Next, the PM works with the crew to restore the property to its former state.
  • After the work is complete to the homeowner’s satisfaction, the accounts team follows up with payment from the homeowner or their insurance provider. 

Debunking 6 Common Myths Regarding Disaster Restoration Services

Myth #1:  I don’t need to buy flood insurance

Floods are among the terrifying forces on Earth. Often a result of storm damage, flooding continues to terrorize the American landscape, leading to severe water damage and disasters. 

Unfortunately, many homeowners believe they don’t need flood insurance because they may have the standard homeowner’s insurance or think the government will compensate them through federal disaster aid.

The truth is homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage restoration from flooding. Therefore, you need to get flood insurance for your house, the contents inside it, or even both! 

If you expect the government to reimburse you for your losses, you will be very disappointed. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) only covers presidentially declared disasters. 

Don’t wait until your house experiences flooding or for storm season to consider flood insurance. It helps to be prepared, plus most flood insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period before the policy is active. 

Myth #2: I can clean up the mess myself

A common misconception is that DIY-ing is much more reasonable and feasible than hiring a professional damage restoration company to handle the cleaning after disaster strikes. 

While this could be true sometimes, a botched repair project can cost you more in the long run. For instance, mold remediation on your means puts your health and other house occupants at risk. 

As such, you need to work with a recognized and certified damage restoration company to get rid of potential problems so you can get your property back to its original state within a shorter time frame. 

Damage restoration professionals use advanced gear and technology to ensure that your house is safe for you and your loved ones. 

Myth #3: The water will evaporate

This doesn’t seem right. If you’ve suffered from flooding, you won’t wake up the following day and find the water has magically disappeared. Once your property sustains water damage, the most important thing is to drain the water and dry your house completely. 

Even when the house is dry, you should know that water hides in porous house materials such as walls, floorboards, and even in your carpet. 

Mold can grow in unseen spaces, presenting health issues for you and your family. Colored patches can also form on your walls and floor. This hidden moisture can cause structural damage, compromising your property’s structural integrity.

As such, you need to work with a water damage restoration company with the proper drying and moisture detection equipment. 

Myth #4: It’s not worth it to call a professional because I’ll just be charged an hourly rate that won’t cover my losses anyway 

In some cases, replacement is the most viable solution. But not always. Cleaning and salvaging the contents and structure of your property often costs less than replacing them. A disaster restoration company will also prioritize mitigation to prevent further damage and losses. 

For instance, a professional water damage restoration service can successfully remove hidden moisture and any contaminants from a flooded house, saving the property owner from expensive replacement costs.

Myth #5: It’s only a small leak, so I can wait and see if it gets worse before calling someone out

As pointed out, water can hide underneath your flooring and inside your walls. If the area is not dried out, you risk the chance of causing even further damage to your property. Even the tiniest leak can cause vast, extensive damage.

The longer you wait, the more complex and expensive the dehumidification process. 

Myth #6: If the house is flooded, there’s nothing I can do about it

This is a very dangerous mindset to have. Time is of the essence when dealing with flooding. Acting quickly can help prevent further damage to your house. The longer water sits, the worse the situation gets. 

It takes just 24 hours for mold to grow after your house floods. That’s a very short window if you think about it. Plus, the longer your house contents and structure are exposed to water, the less their chances of being salvaged.

Contact the Disaster Restoration Professionals in Greater Minneapolis

If you need disaster restoration services, reach out to the Disaster Restoration Professionals at Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis. We can help you limit the damage, control the situation, and prevent unsafe living conditions and future expensive repairs. We’ll even help out with insurance claims. Contact us online or call 612-268-5789 today to discuss your needs.