Common Causes of Commercial Damage | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties is your local commercial disaster team. Contact us to learn more about our commercial restoration services.

Businesses have been the lifeblood of this country from its inception. Every day, we Americans either work for or use one, if not more, of these companies.

Being a business owner comes with many responsibilities on a regular basis without the interference of an unwarranted disaster. When calamity does hit, it may be devastating to a company’s bottom line.

The National Center for Environmental Information estimates that weather- and climate-related damages have exceeded $2.195 trillion since 1980, showcasing just how much these damages can cost.

Locally in Oregon, it is not uncommon to encounter a major storm. Heavy rain and substantial flooding impacted the area this year, with floodwaters washing out a portion of Highway 47.

Because inclement weather like this can happen at any time, it can be helpful to know the types of weather damages that are most likely to impact your business.

Water Damage

Water or moisture in excess is a big danger to businesses around the country. Water damage can occur naturally or because of something as simple as an appliance malfunction, and both types of water damage can cause havoc on commercial property.

Flooding that starts on the outside, such as from flash floods or overflowing rivers, will often seep past the doors and into the ground, causing damage to your facility’s foundation. Consider using your landscaping to direct water away from your business if you have space around it, as this can be a vital precaution.

Leaks inside the building might also cause long-term water damage. It’s critical to look for indicators of leaks in your plumbing as well as warping or discoloration in your walls and floors. Regularly taking these measures will help you stay ahead of the damage and avoid pricey repairs.

Storm Damage

Storm-related commercial damage is common, and it can be catastrophic to a neighborhood of enterprises in a small community. Even mild storms can knock out power, uproot trees and scatter debris, all of which can cause serious harm to your business. Incredibly violent storms can easily rip off commercial roofing or building siding.

Severe winds can exceed 58 miles per hour if the current is strong enough. Storms this intense are capable of ripping trees from the ground, tumbling walls and knocking over large vehicles.

Installing storm-protective window covers and upgrading your business’s roof will often limit the extent of storm damage, but these preventive steps can be pricey.

On the bright side, taking cost-free preventive measures such as routinely assessing your building and checking the seals on your windows and doors can help you avoid costly repairs and further devastation. It’s also a good idea to remove your land from any potential risks that could uproot and harm others before a storm.

Know Who to Contact

Commercial damage can come in many different forms, the most prevalent of which are water and storm damage. Businesses are frequently forced to close for repairs or possibly to close permanently as a result of these tragic incidents.

Luckily, we here at SERVPRO are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and ready to respond quickly to any disaster you encounter. Our team of trained restoration specialists will be there to assist you in developing and implementing the best restoration strategy for your company.

If you have experienced damage to your business or want to learn more about our commercial damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, ²⁴⁄₇.

You Can Depend on SERVPRO | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties are your local commercial restoration experts. Contact us today should you experience any damage.

As a business owner or manager, you are well aware that keeping things running smoothly necessitates the use of every available hand. Significant downtime or losses might be disastrous for your company.

It does not matter what type of business or facility you are running, you should know that you already have a built-in business partner to help with cleaning and disaster recovery, and it’s right here in your backyard. SERVPRO can manage a broad range of your business needs; it’s as if you have a dedicated ally looking after an important aspect of your company’s success plan.

Large loss recovery. Fires, storms and floods are some of the most frequent causes of financial loss for businesses in the U.S., and can cause catastrophic damage if they are not addressed quickly. When you call SERVPRO, you’ll be speaking with a highly trained team that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide proven emergency services, reduce your downtime and speed up recovery time.

Emergency Ready Plan. Recovery from disaster can begin even before the crisis strikes. We can help you create an Emergency Ready Plan that you can put into action exactly when you need it. After a disaster, you’ll need an emergency chain of command, alternate meeting or work venues, and potentially even temporary suppliers. We’ll get you set up so that all of this can get started with a single push of a button.

All-purpose cleaning. From highly specialized services like trauma site cleanup and safe biohazard removal to common requirements like carpet cleaning and upholstery restoration in high-traffic areas, we offer cleaning solutions for any situation. We’ve been doing this for a long time and have seen and cleaned all there is to see and clean.

Restoration services. You never know when storms might cause flash floods, the interns might set fire to the kitchen or a pipe might freeze and burst in the winter. All of these occurrences need SERVPRO’s repair and cleaning services. You can count on us to restore the sparkle of your company after a messy disaster, from water removal all the way through to restoration.

Industry specialization. We can help a wide range of businesses, and we’ve spent decades learning the ins and outs of each. We can help you with whatever customized or unique cleaning or restoration needs your company has. In many cases, we’ll even enclose the workspace to prevent interfering with other elements of your company’s daily operations.

Whatever your recovery needs may be, and whatever your commercial property may require, trust SERVPRO to get the job done. Contact us today to get started on an Emergency Ready Plan or find out how we can serve your business.

Create a Disaster Plan for Your Business | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

If the day comes where your business is hit with an emergency, you can rest assured SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties will be there to help.

With all the small tasks it takes to run a business like staffing and payroll, economic and technological advancement, and marketing and social media, running a business is more than a full-time job. You’ve worked overtime to get your business up and running, and we want to do everything we can to make sure it stays that way.

Being so busy, many businesses are not prepared for what to do after disaster strikes. Often, just one disaster can push a business off the books for good. In fact, 40% of small businesses, according to FEMA, can’t reopen in the wake of a disaster that shuts down operations, and 25% of those that do reopen actually end up closing for good within a year.

So what do you do? How do you make sure that if disaster strikes, you’re able to reopen?

The answer is this: Have a plan. Three-quarters of small businesses in the US don’t have any plan in place. If that’s you, let us help you change that. We want to do everything we can to help you protect your business should the worst happen.

SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties helps businesses just like yours prepare by developing an Emergency Ready Plan with you. We help you by assessing your concerns and needs in regard to your location and industry.

We’ll go over everything from flood damage to data recovery, so that if the worst happens to your business, you will have a specific plan that will help minimize downtime and impact. You won’t have to wonder what to do or when to do it.

Don’t make recovery from disaster any tougher than it already is. Let SERVPRO set you up with an emergency plan. It could be the difference between your business surviving and shutting down for good.

When your business is ready to prioritize planning and safety to prevent extended downtime, contact SERVPRO to get the Emergency Ready Plan underway from the folks who know all there is to know about disaster and recovery.

Commercial Cleaning Solutions for Every Business | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

Are you ready to have the cleanest business in town? Contact SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties for all your cleaning needs.

By now you’re probably aware of the services SERVPRO provides in the area of cleanup and restoration for homeowners—everything from fire to mold, since you brought it up—but did you know that we provide the same services and more for business owners?

It’s the truth! We provide cleanup and recovery services from fire, flood, and disasters, plus more services designed specifically for businesses.

For example: We know that the way your business looks and feels is integral to your communication to potential clients and customers, and we’ve made it our passion to keep your facilities in their best shape.

Commercial Services For Businesses of Any Size

Let your focus be creating a great product experience for your clients, and let ours be helping your business sparkle for them. We make quick work of professional, ultra-grade cleaning and sanitation for businesses of every stripe, including:

Retail facilities, chain stores, malls and local specialty shops. Whether your business is one-of-a-kind or one of many, we’ll give you a clean to beam about.

Educational facilities at all levels, including athletic arenas. Studies have found that even regular cleaning by teachers and students only gets rid of half the bacteria, and it’s even more grim for surfaces that aren’t regularly cleaned.

Healthcare facilities, hospitals and assisted living centers. In areas where disease and the spread of germs must be kept absolutely in check, we provide the highest level of disinfection and cleaning services to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Hotels, resorts and convention centers. Hospitality and entertainment venues can rest easy knowing they’ve been made to shine, and their clients and customers can enjoy a pristine environment in which to rest, play or mingle.

Foodservice facilities, including dining and distribution centers. Where food is involved, cleanliness is crucial, and we’ll be there to make sure you’re doing your part to keep everything safe and avoid any bacterially compromising situations.

Property management, from small office buildings to multi-level commercial complexes. Your tenants will love the feeling and peace of mind that comes with a sparkling clean, sanitized space.

Workplaces lose an unbelievable $260 billion per year because of lost productivity due to sick days and workplace illness. Let us help you fight the good fight against office germs and come out on top, for the good of your people and your bottom line.

When you’re ready to have the cleanest business in town, we’re ready to help. Contact SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties to get the pros working on the cleaning so you can work on the work.

Providing a Higher Standard of Clean for Your Customers and Employees | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

6/21/2021 (Permalink)

If you’re business has sanitation and cleaning needs, get in touch with the SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties team.

With cities like Portland and other metropolitan areas that were once hotbeds of COVID-19 activity finally experiencing some reprieve, hopes are rising that what we once called “normal” is on the verge of returning, and business owners are part of that collective expectation.

But a now more contagion-conscious consumer is going to need your assurance as a business owner that their shopping experience will be as safe as it can be—and that doesn’t just stop with containing the coronavirus.

As your customers and employees return to physical locations to shop and to work, they need to know they’re entering a place where their safety is regarded as highly as the bottom line. They need to know your business is Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Get Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned

The Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program gives customers and employees the peace of mind they need when returning back to brick-and-mortar businesses by providing the ultimate level of sanitation.

Imagine the sensation of the cleanest your business or office has ever been. Now multiply that feeling, add in a blend of state-of-the-art biohazard procedures and technologies that go beyond traditional cleaning and janitorial services—and you’re beginning to see the full picture.

What makes this program so special? Let’s look at the three C’s of a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned:

Consult. Your business is unlike any other, so we’ll work with you to find the solutions your individual business requires. It helps that SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties is locally owned and operated, so we are already aware of many intricacies of our northwest corner of Oregon.

Clean. Once we know the specific needs of your building, we get about the task of cleaning—and cleaning well. We’ll be on site with proprietary, ultra-high-grade cleaning solutions and techniques you won’t get from anyone else. Your building will receive the highest level of cleaning available, a level that always meets or exceeds current CDC standards. And this level of clean will not only quell fears about COVID-19, but it will reduce the risk of many other viral and infectious illnesses among your customers and employees as well.

Certify. You can let your patrons know they’re stepping into a business or office that truly cares about their well being by displaying the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned badge in your front window or on your door. You’ll also have digital versions and other signifiers to make sure your customers know you’ve gone to the utmost care to show them you value their protection.

If you’re ready to get serious about sanitation and have your business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, get in touch today to get the best team in cleanup and restoration on your side.

Astoria Business Owners Can Depend on Our Team | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

3/18/2021 (Permalink)

If you need cleaning assistance at your business, we’re here. Contact SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties to learn more.

How much work have you put into making your Astoria business successful over the past year? If you’re like most business owners, the answer is “a lot.”

Navigating pandemic changes is a challenge business owners across the country are facing this year. You’ve probably spent a good portion of your time recently working through new ways to connect with your customers and deliver services in new ways.

Help and Support for Businesses

We’re here to assist business owners in our community––including those in Astoria and the surrounding areas. We believe a local business is vital to our economy. After all, we’re local business owners too. SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties is locally owned and operated.

Many businesses have already opened their doors again. And most have found new ways to work remotely or offer products and services digitally.

Others are prepared to reopen in some capacity. That might include offering takeout and delivery dining options or using social media to sell items and supplement lower foot traffic in your store location.

There’s help available from other resources as well. Some of your options include business loans and tips, advice and more from solid, trustworthy sources.

Regardless of how you and your employees have decided to move forward, we’re here to help you when you need us.

We’re available ²⁴⁄₇ to help you get your business “Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.” That means a team of experts will use the latest technology to ensure your business is safe for everyone.

Here’s how we do it:

First, we’ll consult with you about your needs.

Then we’ll clean your space. And we mean really clean it. Our teams use proprietary EPA-Approved Hospital-Grade cleaning solutions. Plus, we use cleaning and decontamination standards directly from the CDC.

Finally, our teams certify your space.

If you need cleaning assistance at your business, we’re here. We have crews who are available ²⁴⁄₇ in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our cleaning services and how we can help you.

Your Astoria Business Can Bounce Back After a Natural Disaster | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

2/24/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties knows the commercial restoration process inside and out.

Over the past year, business owners (and most everyone else) have seen firsthand how an unexpected disaster or event can impact their daily routines. Many members of our business community have risen to the occasion during the pandemic by looking for new solutions to problems and ways to continue providing services.

It’s a good idea to plan for more common types of natural disasters businesses can face—like fires, floods and severe storms.

We want to serve our local business community as best we can, so our team has put together some of the best advice we can offer to help you be prepared for a disaster and the commercial restoration process.

Moving Past a Disaster and Restoring Your Business

These tips can help you thrive after a natural disaster:

Understand the importance of your disaster plan. Disaster plans are vital. So make one before you need it when you can think clearly about the next steps you would need to take to keep your business operating. For example, you may want to consider moving your business to a backup location, if that’s an option for you.

Ensure you’re documenting everything. You’ll need to take plenty of photographs for your insurance company. They’ll want to see the extent of the damage before your cleanup process begins. Additionally, it’s a good idea to make an inventory of all the lost and damaged items.

Keep the stakeholders you depend on in the loop. You’ll want to find ways to reach your suppliers, your employees, your customers and your wider community. This can be easier than you might think, thanks to social media and email marketing lists.

Be sure you’re taking care of yourself. A natural disaster that impacts your business can make your financial future feel uncertain. Be sure you’re caring for your physical and emotional needs by eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and talking with people you trust.

Connect your employees with resources. Your employees will also be impacted if your business has to close or cut hours for restoration work. There are resources available to small business owners and their employees through organizations like the Small Business Administration (SBA).

If a fire, flood or any other cause damages your business, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available ²⁴⁄₇ in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help you.

Recovering as a Business Owner After a Disaster

11/6/2020 (Permalink)

Plan ahead and check your insurance policy coverage.

Recovering as a Business Owner After a Disaster | SERVPRO® of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills

It is so rewarding to build a business and succeed, but if a disaster comes through and causes damage, that is a frustrating incident that is entirely out of your hands. This can devastate businesses that are not prepared, which is why knowing what you would do in this type of situation is so important for the longevity of your business after an emergency.

Safety during a disaster is the most important thing, so we highly recommend starting with a plan that encompasses your evacuation procedure, communicating with employees and keeping your office stocked with emergency supplies. Once you do this, you can move into phase two of the planning, which involves determining how you will be able to quickly recover.

Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery for Your Business

Check your insurance coverage and call your restoration company. No two commercial insurance policies are the same, so it is wise to get in touch with your provider to make sure you have all the information necessary to file a claim if you are able to. Next, contact your commercial restoration company to get that process started. In many cases, they will be able to talk with your insurance company directly to keep things simple for you.

Get in touch with your customers quickly. Your customers will want to hear from you after a disaster, so sending out messages quickly is a great way to keep them in the loop on your timeline and how they will be able to support you through this time. It might be worth considering doing a special promotion with gift cards or other long-lasting items that they can purchase and use at a later date to assist you throughout the rebuilding process.

Make sure you are aware of the assistance offerings. There are many disaster assistance programs available to business owners, such as the Small Business Administration’s loan program, which can be used for restoration, disaster-related costs and even income due to losses from the damage. These loans are typically designed to be easy to qualify for and to repay to help business owners rebuild.

If your business has been damaged due to a disaster, we’re here to help. Contact us at any hour to report your damage or to learn more about our commercial restoration services.

Plan ahead and check you insurance policy coverage.