6 Important Steps to Creating a Business Continuity Plan

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

Business continuity planning is a way to help you recover from unexpected disruptions to your operations.

Business continuity planning is an essential element in the risk management process. It's a way to ensure that your business can recover quickly and effectively from unexpected disruptions. There are many factors that should be considered when creating a business continuity plan, which will vary depending on the type and size of your organization. In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the basic steps for developing a continuity plan for your business and how it will help keep your company up and running during times of crisis.

Assemble a Business Continuity Team

Before you begin, it's important to assemble a Business Continuity Team. This team should include members from all departments and levels of your organization. This is because each department has unique needs during an emergency situation and each person on the team will have different responsibilities based on their role within the company.

Prioritize the safety of your employees

Safety is the most important aspect of business continuity planning. A plan that leaves your employees in danger is no plan at all.

In order for your plan to be effective and successful, you need to ensure that everyone involved understands how it will affect them and what they need to do if there's an emergency.

Identify your risks

Identifying your risks is the first step to creating a business continuity plan. Although it may seem like an overwhelming task, it's important to take time and think through all of the potential risks that could impact your business. You should consider:

• What are the possible risks that our business might face?
• What are the possible consequences of each risk?
• How likely is it that these risks will occur? (Consider both external factors and internal conditions.)
• How much money would be lost if these risks were realized?

Determine critical activities needed to run your business

The next step in creating a business continuity plan is to determine what activities are critical for your business. Critical activities are those that, if interrupted or delayed, could cause severe financial loss and/or harm to the business in some form. Critical activities should be listed in order of importance, starting with the most critical activity and working down the list until all of them are identified.

Create a Continuity Plan for each risk

Once you've identified the risks that could affect your business, it's time to create a plan of action for each and every one. The first step is to determine how likely the risk is and how severe its impact would be if it were to occur. Also consider whether there are any steps you can take now (i.e., purchasing insurance) that will reduce or eliminate the likelihood of said event taking place in the future. Then, create a plan of action for each individual risk. This might be time-consuming but will ensure that you are prepared for anything and everything.

Test the plan and update it regularly

The best way to make sure your business continuity plan is up to date is to test it at least once a year. If you make changes to your business or add new technology, then update the plan accordingly. You should also train employees on how they should respond in an emergency and what they need to do if they are affected by an emergency themselves.

Business continuity planning can help you get back on track quickly

Business continuity planning is a way to help you recover from unexpected disruptions to your operations. It's important because it can help prevent problems and save money, as well as ensure that your business continues to run smoothly in spite of any challenges that might arise.

Business continuity planning is a process that takes time and effort to complete, but it's worth the investment. If you want your business to continue operating in an emergency situation, then you need a plan in place. The key is to take it slow and make sure you're doing everything right before moving on to the next step. You'll also want to make sure that everyone involved understands what they need from each other so that when something does happen they know exactly what steps they should take next!

What Should I do if My Roof is Damaged in a Fire?

10/16/2022 (Permalink)

We recommend asking your insurance company if they offer money for tarp-overs and temporary repairs after storms or fires before you commit to paying.

What Should I Do If My Roof Is Burned Down?

After a fire, your roof is likely the last thing on your mind. But if you don’t repair it immediately, water damage can cause more problems for your home down the line. 

It’s always best to seek professional help when repairing a roof after a fire or other natural disaster. SERVPRO of Scarsdale/Mount Vernon has been helping families just like yours recover from fire damage for years, and we want to help you too!

Start With Assessing the Roof

When it comes to figuring out what to do first after a fire, we recommend beginning with your roof. The damage may be hard to see from street level, but heavy rains will reveal weak spots in the roof that need to be repaired.

The most important thing is to have your roof inspected by a professional who can tell you if repairs are necessary or if a new shingle installation is required. It's also important that you protect your property from further damage while waiting for repair work on the damaged area of the home's exterior and interior walls/ceilings/floors by putting up tarps over these areas until they're fixed as well!

Tarping Your Roof

A quick tarp-over is an affordable solution for repairing a roof after a fire. A professional roofer can cover the entire roof with a sturdy tarp and make sure it doesn’t come loose during inclement weather. The tarp will keep out the elements and prevent further damage. It should be replaced as soon as possible, but it will offer temporary protection in the meantime.

Talk With Your Insurance

We recommend asking your insurance company if they offer money for tarp-overs and temporary repairs after storms or fires before you commit to paying for them out of pocket. If your insurance company doesn’t provide money for tarp-overs and temporary repairs, you should ask if they will reimburse for them. If not, consider asking the fire department if they can help out. If neither of them is able to pay for it, then consider getting a quote from a roofing company. You may find that paying a roofing company will be cheaper than replacing the entire roof yourself.

Call SERVPRO

When you’re ready, call SERVPRO of Scarsdale/Mount Vernon at (914) 699-5181 and we will help guide you through the rest of the cleanup process! We offer professional fire cleanup services to help with any home or business that has been damaged by fire.

We are your first point of contact when disaster strikes and can be there within minutes. Our trained technicians use the most advanced tools and techniques available to get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.

So, if you’re ready to get started on the rest of the cleanup process, give us a call at 914-699-5181. We’d be happy to help guide you through it!

Who Is Financially Responsible for an Apartment Fire?

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Structural fire damage is the responsibility of the landlord. It includes the building itself and its electrical, plumbing and other systems.

Who Is Financially Liable For A Fire In An Apartment?

Landlords take on various responsibilities when they rent a property in Bronxville, NY. They must provide a safe, clean and livable space for their tenants. Keeping up with maintenance, repairs and safety codes is part of a landlord's duties. Paying the mortgage and property taxes is also necessary. Property insurance is vital, too, and if your property experiences an apartment fire, it's good to know what damages landlords must cover.

Landlord Duties After a Fire

Immediately following a fire, landlords should take care of some urgent tasks:

• Contact your insurance agent to file a claim.
• Call a fire restoration company to secure your property from further damage and begin repairs.
• Check on your tenants to ensure they have received medical treatment. Ask them what they know about the fire.
• Check with a fire officer before entering the property with your tenant to collect belongings and assess the damage.

Financial Responsibility for an Apartment Fire

Once the initial shock is over and your tenants have temporary housing, repair work can begin. You may have questions about financial responsibility.
Structural fire damage is the responsibility of the landlord. It includes the building itself and its electrical, plumbing and other systems. Landlords are not liable for the tenant's personal belongings. Tenants should have renter's insurance to cover their items.

Your property insurance policy typically covers your portion of the damage. If the fire resulted from the negligence of your tenants or their guests, they must be accountable for paying the deductible and your out-of-pocket costs. It's a good idea to explain this in the lease agreement so that if you have a fire, there's no question about responsibility. Typically, your insurance company reaches out to the tenant's insurance company to seek liability compensation.

An apartment fire is something landlords prefer to avoid. However, knowing what to do in an emergency helps you be prepared if the unthinkable happens.

What To Expect During Commercial Fire Cleanup

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

If a fire disaster occurs, it is important to know who to call for your commercial fire cleanup and restoration needs! Call SERVPRO!

What To Expect When Cleaning Up After A Commercial Fire

After a commercial fire, business owners in Eastchester, NY, face many challenges. As the fire crews drive away, you have the daunting challenge of cleaning the water and smoke damage left from rescue efforts. Over the next few weeks, turn to experts in fire remediation services to assist you in the fire cleanup process. These professionals should complete the following stages, focusing on restoring and sanitizing the premises.

1. Immediately Secure the Facility

The fire created moisture and soot damage, possibly leaving you with drenched and crumbling structures. However, additional secondary conditions could set in if the experts do not defend the property from other future hazards. The remediation crew evaluates the team for possible exposures, such as openings within the walls and roof. Once identified, workers fortify the vulnerabilities with thick plywood and tarps.

2. Determine the Extent of Water and Smoke Damage

Before cleaning begins, the specialists perform tests to learn more about the fire's structural impact. Using moisture reading tools, employees determine the amount of saturation. In addition, they assess concerns with odor, smoke and ash. Using this information, professionals develop a thorough plan to remediate the property.

3. Tend to the Fire's Harm

Water hoses quenched the blaze; however, it also penetrated porous objects such as papers, cloth, drywall and carpeting. Before completing the smoke cleaning, the restoration staff tends to this concern. Fluid and organic material serve as a host for fungus, allowing spores to reproduce and spread within days. To mitigate this trouble, the crew must dry out the property immediately. They use air movers and dehumidifiers to extract the dampness. In addition, they may tear out pieces and remove contents that cannot wholly air out.

Once specialists complete this phase, they rely on sophisticated equipment to scrub the premises, removing soot stains. In addition, they use innovative technology such as fogging equipment and air scrubbers to deodorize rooms.

Fire devastates building structures, creating many problems for owners. Remediation professional services can handle the cleanup process, from securing the premises to managing the smoke damage.

What You Should Expect From a Fire Damage Estimate

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO team is in action on a commercial fire cleanup job. Our crew is working hard to clean up the smoke damage left behind after a fire.

What To Look For In A Fire Damage Estimate

After a business fire in your facility in Eastchester, NY, you are likely looking for a little clarity. Even after a small fire, your building probably looks like a disaster zone with burned walls and soot and smoke damage everywhere. One of the first steps toward recovery is receiving a complete and understandable estimate of restoration services from a trusted fire mitigation company. This important document should tell you a lot of things about the costs and time frame for the cleanup.

A List of Fire Damage Services

A vague document with few details probably raises more questions than it answers. You deserve clarity at this time, and the bid for services document should cover the status of the following typical restoration services provided after damage by fire:

• Fire board up services
  
• Roof replacement
  
• Security provisions
  
• Damage restoration
  
• Smoke and fire odor removal
  
• Debris removal

The document should also include the name of a contact person, a project manager who oversees the entire process. This is who you will contact when you have questions or concerns. The estimate should also provide details on how long each stage should last, anticipated expenses and costs, and any additional services that could become necessary.

A Transparent Process

Many benefits exist for working with a full-service contractor after a commercial fire. The project manager should be involved in all aspects of the restoration process so you won't have to deal with multiple contractors who can't see the overall picture. This makes the process simpler, especially when it comes to dealing with the insurance company, which could result in a faster and more accurate claims settlement. In most cases, working with one contractor speeds up the cleanup and also results in lower expenses. 

An accurate and complete estimate can take away some of the stress of dealing with the aftermath of a fire. It also means your company is one step closer to recovery.

Tips To Reduce Commercial Damage and Loss

3/12/2022 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO of Scarsdale/Mount Vernon team is in action on a commercial fire cleanup job. If you need help, just call us today!

Tips For Minimizing Commercial Damage And Loss

If you are suffering from devastating damage to your commercial building in Yonkers, NY, it is critical to act quickly. Finding a restoration service that has professionals standing by all hours of the day and night is crucial to reduce damage and loss. A quick response to the problem is important when you submit an insurance claim as well.

Reduce Claim Costs with SERVPRO

Restoring property is always preferable to replacing it because it keeps expenses down. SERVPRO understands this process. Each professional is trained to follow certain steps aimed at reducing the costs associated with your claim.

Pretesting - An expert will examine the property to determine what can be restored and what must be replaced.

Claims Inventory - The inventory list itemizes the materials, furniture and equipment that you have lost, along with pictures of the more important items that can’t be saved.

Electronic Claims Files - Insurance claim information is stored in a database to help your adjuster determine an accurate accounting of the costs in restoring the property.

Assure That Professionals Are Properly Trained

SERVPRO professionals go through a rigorous, self-paced training program to properly restore your property. There are a number of certification programs available to employees, including modules in fire and water restoration, carpet and upholstery cleaning and crew training.

SERVPRO franchises are individually owned and operated, but each one also has access to corporate training and materials. Approved as a training facility for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, corporate classes are offered all year in water restoration, fire restoration, applied structural drying and carpet cleaning.
Training at the corporate facility is also available to new franchises in mold mitigation and fire and water restoration.

These training programs and cost reduction techniques are among the many reasons your insurance agent is likely to prefer you to work with a SERVPRO franchise.

Before you file that insurance claim, make sure you are working with a professional.

Mold and Mildew: Bad Smells and Where To Find Them

1/27/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the expertise and trained technicians and equipment to knock out the mold in your building or any business. Call us!

Mold And Mildew: Unpleasant Odors And Where To Look

Building owners in Scarsdale, NY quickly realize that mold is much easier to smell than it is to locate. The mold smell can be strong and overpowering without being directly visible, leaving you to wonder just where exactly it’s coming from. Following is a discussion about what causes a mold smell, mildew smell, fungus smell or any variety of the three and how best to find the sources throughout your commercial property.

What Makes Mold and Mildew Odor So Distinct?

Mold and its similar species are quick to grow in areas with a lot of moisture and humidity. Mildew and mold thrive in such places as they’re both different kinds of fungi that need the presence of water to survive and multiply. These fungal inhabitants create their smells through the basic function of their existence, meaning any time they eat and reproduce the smell becomes stronger. Mildew brings less of an odorous presence with lighter, musty smells, but moldy smells become quite overbearing the more they continue to grow and spread around your building.

Where Can You Find Non-Visible Mold on Your Property?

The mold smell itself often leads you closer to its original growth point, though it’s not always an exact indicator. Thermal cameras are available these days to help find previously undetected sources of water, but mold is generally found in common areas like:

• Kitchens, bathrooms and other sources of consistent water usage
  
• Air conditioning units or water heaters
  
• The walls below leaky windows or door frames
  
• Cellars or basements where light to heavy flooding occurs regularly
  
• Refrigerators or freezers that create high condensation in dark corners

When you’re trying to find the presence of mold in your Scarsdale, NY, property, following your nose towards the mold smell is a great first step. However, remediating the fungus smell, mildew smell and any other similar odors that are harder to pinpoint requires checking these suggested places to find their non-visible locations. Once the mold is found, call remediation specialists to clear out your building.

4 Reasons To Have a Commercial Flood Policy

1/27/2022 (Permalink)

Property owners should consider these reasons to obtain flood coverage for a commercial property Tuckahoe, NY.

4 Reasons Why You Should Have A Commercial Flood Insurance Policy

Most general commercial insurance coverage excludes damage caused by flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program or an endorsement on a private policy can cover this type of damage. Here are four reasons why commercial property owners should consider taking out a flood policy.

1. A Business Is Located On a Flood Plain

The Federal Emergency Management Agency maintains flood maps that can help business owners determine whether a commercial building is located in an area prone to flooding. Most insurance providers define a flood as water damage that originates from outside water sources such as rain or rising bodies of water.

2. A Federally-Regulated or Insured Mortgage

Owners of property located in a flood zone with mortgages regulated or insured by the federal government are required to purchase and maintain flood coverage. Contact an insurance agent that offers NFIP policies or add a flood endorsement or rider to a general commercial insurance policy.

3. Owners Want To Be Prepared

If there is any reasonable risk of flooding at a commercial building, the owner of the property may want to obtain coverage for this peril. According to FEMA, the average flood insurance claim is approximately $33,000 and total property damage due to flooding tops $6 billion every year.

4. Mold and Other Secondary Damage

In addition to excluding flooding, most standard commercial property policies also cut out coverage for any secondary damage that results from this uncovered peril. Without a flood policy, it may be more difficult or prohibitively expensive to pursue mitigation and restoration. As a result, a structure may be prone to mold growth.

Property owners should consider these reasons to obtain flood coverage for a commercial property Tuckahoe, NY. This commercial insurance will apply to cleanup and restoration costs for primary damage and extend to secondary damage as long as owners do everything they can to limit damage.