Folks in North Carolina are now bracing for the wrath of Irene which is the first major hurricane of the season. The massive storm system was swirling through the Bahamas this morning, packing winds of 114 miles per hour with storm surges and heavy downpours of rain. If Irene does proceed on the course forecasters expect, it could dump many inches of rain on the New York area which will most likely challenge or break local and state-wide records. Trees could become uprooted by winds when the ground is soaked which could cause major problems for a great many home and business owners.

Hurricane Irene is now a Category 3 storm and it is expected to intensify further over the next few days before making landfall in the United States on the weekend. The National Weather Center in Miami is warning of an “extremely dangerous” storm surge as the massive system gains strength before hitting the East Coast.

Everyone on the East Coast should be keeping an eye on this first major hurricane of 2011 because thus far it has fooled forecasters as it as veered off its expected course. The path of the storm is plodding toward a possible strike on the New York area which means that property owners should take stock and ready their land, businesses and homes. It is wise to know your community’s emergency plan and to stock up on a few essentials. Also, if you happen to live in a flood prone area or on the coastline, consider sealing off your basement and installing storm shutters (new or homemade) on the outside of your structure. A Category 2 or above strength hurricane can flood thousands of basements in just one community and can also wreak havoc on roofs and on above-ground tanks on properties. It also can turn toys and other things left in yards into missiles which could shatter windows, doors and even kill.

Its often a good idea to make sure you get good service you should use someone that is accredited through something like the Better Business Bureau. There are lots of water damage restoration services that will have had enough pride in their work to gain BBB accreditation, a good water damage restoration company will often have 24hr emergency services. The quicker you can get hold of them the quicker they can be on site. They will have specialist water removal equipment to minimize the problems caused and prevent further damage to your home or office.

Where there is a chance of toxic contamination you should use a company that is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency for dealing with materials such as lead. Poisoning from lead paint is a major problem so make sure the company you call can deal with this sort of problem where possible.

Another problem that can occur if water damage is not properly dealt with is mold. This can be an out of sight problem such as behind walls, so you need to make sure your water damage restoration team can deal with it. Good teams will be members of NAMP (The National Association of Mold Professionals). They can identify where different types of mold can strike and deal with it accordingly.

Some of the worst and most hazardous damage can come from sewage problems so it’s vital whoever you call can deal with it properly. The clean up and disinfection process is not a pleasant undertaking but it’s crucial to get this done quickly to prevent the risk of disease. Make sure your chosen professional has The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Hopefully you will never need any of the qualities of a good water restoration services provider but it’s wise to know what to look for. When it comes do your home or your business, you’ve a lot of money and emotion invested in it so make sure the restoration team you chose respects that.

Flash flooding is the number one killer in a thunderstorm. Flash floods kill more people than lightning, wind, hail and tornadoes. The heavy rain that fell on the Boston area was a result of a cold front that moved into the area early Saturday. The front is now out in the Pacific ocean and the threat of flash flooding is over. However, the lingering humidity with a soon-approaching weather system will most likely lead to the chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms.

Saturday’s flash flooding left Somerville, Massachusetts’ police department underwater. The flood prompted the department to shut its doors so it could start to clean up the mess. Three to four feet of flood water infiltrated the police department at the public service department building police headquarters. The weekend rains caused problems throughout Somerville as it flooded homes, roadways and left vehicles stranded and submerged in deep water. The Somerville police had eighteen of its vehicles and eight motorcycles water damaged by the flash flood but they had to set their problems aside so that they could address the problems of the town residents.

Somerville residents were asked to put non-emergency issues on hold until the police vehicles were cleaned and put back into operation. Of course if someone needs help, they should call 911 so that help can be summoned. It is believed that three of the police vehicles have become totaled due to the water damage sustained. The auxiliary fire department also took a big hit by the rains as some of the equipment was lost and the fire fighters will have to replace some of the gear themselves.

Flash flood warnings were issued for four counties in the eastern portion of the state of Massachusetts. There were many reports of vehicles getting stuck in flood water and video footage obtained from CNN affiliate WHDH showed cars sitting under a Somerville area overpass fully submerged in water. The tunnel filled with eighteen feet of water, which prompted drivers to be rescued from their vehicles. To add insult to injury, the water was heavily mixed with raw sewage which made life miserable for both victims and rescuers.

Jarvis Property Restoration first responders played a pivotal role in helping to assist with flood cleanup in the New England area following devastating flooding to Rhode Island and Boston in early March of this year. Jarvis presently has fourteen work crews and several semi-trucks of equipment in the Nashville area and has additional work crew’s en-route to assist with cleanup efforts. Jarvis water damage technicians are certified through the IICRC and utilize state of the art restoration equipment to extract flood waters and begin the process of drying out a property.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen called for a state of emergency over the weekend in order to pull in resources from the National Guard. The severe rain caused flash flooding, forcing hundreds of people to need emergency evacuation from homes and vehicles. Rain storms pounded the state with as much as fourteen inches of rain in certain areas washing away numerous roads throughout Tennessee. The governor has closed all government offices and schools on Monday, and has urged for businesses and municipalities to close to help ensure public safety. Many rivers were not expected to crest until late on Monday and the potential for rain later in the week will make cleanup efforts more challenging.

Jarvis Property Restoration has worked extensively in disaster relief, specifically in FEMA declared emergency zones. In the summer of 2008, Jarvis managed 1600 workers to clean and repair over thirty government buildings in Cedar Rapids, Iowa following a devastating flood from the Cedar River. Jarvis Property Restoration was founded in 1979 by Sheryl and Bill Jarvis in Detroit, Michigan. Jarvis presently has offices in Michigan, Iowa and Florida and maintains numerous response hubs across the United States to respond to unexpected disasters. Jarvis has set up a local relief number (615) 301-1077 for Tennessee area homeowners, businesses and government agencies that are in need of water damage restoration services.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick who had already declared a state of emergency, says that roadways will flood and basements will fill with water. The latest big nor’easterner could bring up to 7 more inches of rain. The ground in the greater Boston area is already saturated and unable to absorb any more moisture. Sandbagging is taking place by residents and business owners all across the area who are hoping to stay dry.

A flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service which is expected to last through this afternoon for the greater part of southern New England. Pumps are busy at work removing water from several dams to prepare for the addition of more rain water. Commuters traveling area highways are taking alternate routes to and from work as roadways have become washed out-making them impassible.

Residents throughout many of Boston’s neighborhoods are once again hunkering down in preparation for the new storm that is slowly making its way up the East Coast. Boston area residents are urged not to drive their vehicles or walk through flood water. They are also being told not to try to take a canoe or kayak out for recreational purposes as fast moving, deep and dirty water is nothing to be taken lightly.

President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration Monday for seven Massachusetts counties as National Guard troops were being mobilized to help flooded communities. People are being asked to prepare for flooding by gathering medication and other essentials that may be needed in the event that an evacuation is necessary.

While there is little that can be done to control Mother Nature, people can move valuables in their homes up to higher ground and take other precautionary measures such as clearing downspouts and gutters to prepare for the wrath of these heavy spring rainstorms. Sandbags are being made available throughout the greater Boston area and makeshift evacuation relief centers are being put into place to provide shelter to residents forced to evacuate.

Patrick has ordered state agencies to step into action and said that displaced residents have been re-located to shelters in those communities getting the worst of the storm damage. Declaring a state of emergency is a much needed step to make sure the state gets all of the federal aid it is entitled to. For now, flood waters must reside before a full assessment can be made. There was much fear that the Waltham Moody Street Dam would burst under the tremendous pressure, but soon relief came when the rains finally subsided.

Many of Massachusetts’ rivers were in the critical flood stage and numerous counties were under flood watch and warnings. Many schools were forced to close down and numerous workers were sent home. The strong winds and driving rains downed trees and power lines as river banks could no longer hold their own-sending muddy water rushing into yards and homes. Flooding is the most costly type of emergency that the state of Massachusetts faces each year, but this giant storm was not expected and left most people in its path dazed and terrified.

For those living in the storm damage area, it is good to remember to watch and listen for reports related to localized flooding as small streams in low-lying areas can swell quickly over their banks if another rain moves through the area. It is a good idea to minimize the chance of having basements flooded by elevating utilities and materials that could be prone to basement flooding. Know the evacuation procedures and listen to local public officials so that the appropriate emergency action is taken if need be.

Flash flood waters move swiftly and can sweep away vehicles, uproot trees, knock down buildings and destroy bridges. Just six inches of fast moving water can knock you completely off your feet so if you are forced to walk through a flood area, use a walking stick to be sure you are on solid ground at all times. If you have discovered water has entered your home, It is highly advisable that you do not turn on your home’s electricity to check for damage as a spark could cause a fire if there should happen to be a gas leak. Take care to clean everything in your home that has gotten wet as floodwater often picks up sewage and run-off from streets and factories. Throw away anything you have doubts about and locate your insurance company as soon as possible.