Water damages can cause mold growth in your home or business, therefore it is important to have your water damage cleaned promptly and professionally.
Signs of the presence of excessive mold include:
The presence of visible mold.
Strong, musty odors.
Any evidence of past moisture problems that might have caused undetected mold growth.
Excessive humidity.
Excessive amounts of mold and certain types of mold may present health concerns. It is essential for the health of you and your family, as well as the protection of your property, to address the issue and arrange for professionals to conduct mold removal and mold remediation as soon as the presence of mold is identified.
If You See Signs of Mold, Contact SERVPRO
973-546-4977
973-383-2024
866-361-3400
Friday, November 30, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Preventing Mold Growth
As many New Jerseyans are being allowed back into their water-logged homes, they’re dealing with a new problem they many not have anticipated: mold.
But, there are a few simple steps homeowners can take to prevent thousands of dollars in structural damage.
“In order to grow, mold has to have moisture,” said Doug Hoffman, executive director of the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors. “It can get its moisture from an on-going water event, from material that has been soaked or from relative humidity in the air. Whatever steps can be taken to first stop the source of moisture, that has to be a major step in the right direction.”
“You never know what kind of mold you’re dealing with so you want to protect yourself by using a good mask and gloves,” said Hoffman. “Once you are protected, you need to remove standing water, wet carpets, rugs and personal belongings and start up some fans and heaters. If you can use heat along with the movement of air and dehumidification, it will dry out the area much, much quicker.”
When starting the cleaning process, you should never use bleach. “Bleach doesn’t actually kill the mold. It simply makes it go clear. When it comes back, it may be worse than it was before. We recommend highly that people use good enzyme cleaners that don’t have volatile organic compounds,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman offers the following tips:
1. Remove standing water-remove wet carpets, rugs, draperies, personal belongings (if possible) and exterior mulch against the foundation walls, etc., to allow the subflooring and foundation to dry.
2. Dry the structure out as quickly as possible-this is the most important thing you can do as structural mold will begin to form in the first 24-48 hours. Remove water-saturated sheetrock 18 inches above the highest watermark to increase structural drying.
3. Turn up the heat and use a dehumidifier-when drying out a structure and/or its contents, reduce the indoor humidity to less than 60% and use heat to speed the drying process. Hot, dry air dries things faster than cold moist air.
4. Circulate the air-turn on fans and dehumidifiers or open windows if there is no electricity to get air moving around to increase drying.
5. Don’t seal it up until its dry-siding, sheetrock, and flooring repairs should be done only after the substrates are completely dry. Only use plastic to prevent further water damage.
6. Don’t use bleach. It is an effective sanitizer but will not remove mold at its root. The mold will look like its gone but it won’t be.
7. Check your attic. Undetected roof leaks can become big structural mold problems later
8. Inspect windows on the outside of the structure-check for possible water seepage through the caulking/seals.
9. Remove all mold growth on building materials by mechanical means-such as sanding or complete removal.
10. Use sanitizers on any portion of the structure contaminated by sewage or flood waters.
But, there are a few simple steps homeowners can take to prevent thousands of dollars in structural damage.
“In order to grow, mold has to have moisture,” said Doug Hoffman, executive director of the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors. “It can get its moisture from an on-going water event, from material that has been soaked or from relative humidity in the air. Whatever steps can be taken to first stop the source of moisture, that has to be a major step in the right direction.”
“You never know what kind of mold you’re dealing with so you want to protect yourself by using a good mask and gloves,” said Hoffman. “Once you are protected, you need to remove standing water, wet carpets, rugs and personal belongings and start up some fans and heaters. If you can use heat along with the movement of air and dehumidification, it will dry out the area much, much quicker.”
When starting the cleaning process, you should never use bleach. “Bleach doesn’t actually kill the mold. It simply makes it go clear. When it comes back, it may be worse than it was before. We recommend highly that people use good enzyme cleaners that don’t have volatile organic compounds,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman offers the following tips:
1. Remove standing water-remove wet carpets, rugs, draperies, personal belongings (if possible) and exterior mulch against the foundation walls, etc., to allow the subflooring and foundation to dry.
2. Dry the structure out as quickly as possible-this is the most important thing you can do as structural mold will begin to form in the first 24-48 hours. Remove water-saturated sheetrock 18 inches above the highest watermark to increase structural drying.
3. Turn up the heat and use a dehumidifier-when drying out a structure and/or its contents, reduce the indoor humidity to less than 60% and use heat to speed the drying process. Hot, dry air dries things faster than cold moist air.
4. Circulate the air-turn on fans and dehumidifiers or open windows if there is no electricity to get air moving around to increase drying.
5. Don’t seal it up until its dry-siding, sheetrock, and flooring repairs should be done only after the substrates are completely dry. Only use plastic to prevent further water damage.
6. Don’t use bleach. It is an effective sanitizer but will not remove mold at its root. The mold will look like its gone but it won’t be.
7. Check your attic. Undetected roof leaks can become big structural mold problems later
8. Inspect windows on the outside of the structure-check for possible water seepage through the caulking/seals.
9. Remove all mold growth on building materials by mechanical means-such as sanding or complete removal.
10. Use sanitizers on any portion of the structure contaminated by sewage or flood waters.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Federal and State Resources Info
Below is a round-up of information for people looking to rebuild following Hurricane Sandy. Is there information you think should be added? E-mail jconnic@nj.com.
Federal aid
FEMA - For residents and business owners who have suffered damage, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance through the website or by calling 1-800-621-3362. FEMA also has a page dedicated to Hurricane Sandy recovery.
State resources
State of New Jersey - The state website has a Hurricane Sandy resource center with emergency hotlines, updates from the power companies and how you can volunteer.
NJ211 - NJ211 has set up a page dedicated to Hurricane Sandy information.
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management - NJOEM has a page dedicated to Hurricane Sandy recovery assistance. It also is Hurricane Sandy-related alerts regularly.
Unemployment benefits - Those who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Sandy can file for disaster unemployment benefits by visiting the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development website.
Housing options
American Red Cross - The American Red Cross has temporary shelters set up across New Jersey for people without a place to live. You can find a shelter by visiting the Red Cross website.
FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers housing options for those who lost their primary residence during Hurricane Sandy. You can apply for assistance via the agency's website.
SparkRelief.org - The organization provides a crowd-sourced map of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Visit SparkRelief.org for more information.
Federal aid
FEMA - For residents and business owners who have suffered damage, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance through the website or by calling 1-800-621-3362. FEMA also has a page dedicated to Hurricane Sandy recovery.
State resources
State of New Jersey - The state website has a Hurricane Sandy resource center with emergency hotlines, updates from the power companies and how you can volunteer.
NJ211 - NJ211 has set up a page dedicated to Hurricane Sandy information.
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management - NJOEM has a page dedicated to Hurricane Sandy recovery assistance. It also is Hurricane Sandy-related alerts regularly.
Unemployment benefits - Those who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Sandy can file for disaster unemployment benefits by visiting the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development website.
Housing options
American Red Cross - The American Red Cross has temporary shelters set up across New Jersey for people without a place to live. You can find a shelter by visiting the Red Cross website.
FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers housing options for those who lost their primary residence during Hurricane Sandy. You can apply for assistance via the agency's website.
SparkRelief.org - The organization provides a crowd-sourced map of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Visit SparkRelief.org for more information.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Inform! Business Insurance Alert
Insurance Coverage for Businesses Affected by Hurricane Sandy
by Perkins Coie on 11/1/2012
Many businesses throughout the United States—and possibly worldwide—may experience the effects of the devastating hurricane that hit the Eastern United States on October 29 and 30, 2012. Early estimation indicates that the storm caused upwards of $20 billion in property damage and another $10 billion to $30 billion in lost business. Numerous national and local businesses, ranging from telecommunications to financial industries, reported an interruption in their business operations due to Hurricane Sandy.
If your business suffered physical damage to tangible property, your property policies should indemnify you for that loss. Even greater than any such property loss, however, may be the loss of income that your business may experience. If your business does, in fact, experience a loss of income due to the hurricane, the business interruption, contingent business interruption or extra expense provisions of your property policy may reimburse you for such losses.
You should also keep in mind that your business may be entitled to additional coverage if it is named as an “additional insured” of a company affected by the recent events.
This Update outlines key issues for businesses considering submitting an insurance claim for property damage or loss of income due to the recent devastating storm and offers practical advice.
Real and Personal Property Damage
This Update focuses on coverage for loss of profits stemming from an interruption of business, but it is very likely that your company’s property policy covers damage to any real and/or personal property that Hurricane Sandy caused. Most property policies provide coverage for “all risks,” unless certain risks are expressly excluded. In that regard, a property policy may exclude coverage for certain aspects of a hurricane, such as flooding. It is crucial, therefore, to thoroughly review your property policies to ascertain the extent to which your company is covered for property damage that Hurricane Sandy caused.
Business Interruption Insurance Coverage
If Hurricane Sandy physically damaged your business’ facilities or equipment, any revenue that was lost due to an interruption of your business may be covered under the business interruption provision of your property policy. Business Interruption Coverage, also known as Business Income Insurance, reimburses the insured for the amount of revenue it would have received during the period of interruption had the covered event and the ensuing physical damage never occurred. This type of coverage is not sold as a separate policy, but rather typically is added as an additional grant of coverage in a property policy.
To recover a business interruption loss, the insured must prove that:
it sustained damage due to a covered loss;
there was an interruption of business (suspension of operations) caused by the property damage;
there was an actual loss of business income during the period of interruption; and
the loss of income was caused by the interruption of business and not some other factor(s).
One of the key areas of potential conflict with an insurer concerns what is known as the “period of interruption” or the “period of restoration.” Under most policies, these periods are defined as “the time of the direct physical damage to the time when, with due diligence and dispatch, the damage could be repaired or replaced and made ready for operations under the same or equivalent operating conditions that existed prior to such damage.” Simply put, the “period of interruption” or “period of restoration” is the amount of time it takes to get a business’ operations back to normal following physical damage to property or equipment. The period of time differs for each insured, but usually depends on the severity of the damage and the nature of the business’ operations. It is important to keep in mind that most policies cover only the time needed to resume production of goods and services, not necessarily the amount of time needed to achieve the level of success the business experienced prior to the covered event.
Contingent Business Interruption Insurance Coverage
If your business did not suffer any property damage because of Hurricane Sandy, but still experienced a slowdown or correction of operations because a supplier’s facilities or equipment were damaged by the hurricane, you may be entitled to reimbursement of lost profits under the policy’s contingent business interruption provision. Contingent business interruption coverage compensates the insured for lost revenue resulting from an interruption of business, stemming not from damage to its own property, but from damage to a customer’s or supplier’s property. For example, if your business depends upon goods produced by a manufacturer that had its operations interrupted by damage to its factory, any loss of income that you experience due to the failure of that manufacturer to supply you with the necessary goods may be covered under your business’ contingent business interruption provision.
However, in order for contingent business interruption to be covered, the type of peril and type of physical damage that the supplier suffered must be the same type of peril and damage covered under your company’s policy. In other words, your business’ insurance policy must provide coverage for hurricanes as well as for damage to property, such as buildings or production facilities.
Extra Expense and Contingent Extra Expense Insurance Coverage
A policy’s business interruption provision may also provide coverage for extra expenses. Extra expense insurance indemnifies the insured for costs in excess of normal operating expenses that the business incurs in order to continue operations while its damaged property is repaired or replaced. Such expenses typically include the cost to rent substitute facilities, move equipment and personal property, as well as overtime wages. Similarly, contingent extra expense insurance reimburses the insured for expenses that result from a contingent loss, such as a contingent business interruption loss.
Notice, Proof of Loss and Filing a Claim
Virtually all property insurance policies require the insured to perform certain duties within a specific period of time following a loss. For example, most policies require the insured to:
give a notice of claim as soon as practicable;
submit a proof of loss within 60-90 days of the loss; and
if necessary, file suit against the insurance company within 12-24 months of the loss.
Failure to comply with these technicalities and timelines may operate as a complete bar to coverage. If your business intends to submit a claim for business interruption and/or damage to real or personal property but is unable to meet the deadlines specified in the policy, you should contact the insurance carrier immediately and ask for an extension.
Potential Coverage as an Additional Insured
Finally, your business may be able to seek a separate avenue of coverage if it is named as an “additional insured” of a company affected by Hurricane Sandy. An additional insured is an entity that is added to another company’s policy by means of an endorsement. An additional insured may either enjoy the same benefits as the underlying policyholder or experience a restrictive form of coverage.
The endorsement section of an affected company’s policy will either specifically name your business as an additional insured or provide a general blanket description that pertains to your company.
Conclusion
The devastating hurricane that struck the Eastern United States on October 29 and 30, 2012 may continue to challenge all residents impacted by it for years to come.
Businesses with operations in the path of the storm may have suffered significant property damage and an interruption of business. Businesses nationwide—and even worldwide—also may have suffered contingent business interruption losses due to the inability to obtain supplies, among other things, from business in the Eastern United States that suffered direct physical property damage. If your company experiences a loss in revenue, it may be entitled to indemnification under the business interruption, contingent business interruption or extra expense provisions of its property insurance policy. In order to secure coverage, it is important that your company submit a timely notice of claim and proof of loss and, if necessary, initiate any legal action against your insurance carrier within the specified period of time.
Your business should also explore whether it is an “additional insured” of an affected company impacted by Hurricane Sandy. If so, it may be entitled to further indemnification.
Please see the checklist that outlines the steps an insured should take to ensure maximum coverage under its policy’s business interruption, contingent business interruption and extra expense provisions.
Additional Information
This Update provides only a general summary of issues related to insurance coverage for property damage or loss of income due to Hurricane Sandy. You can find additional discussions of recent developments, cases, laws, regulations and rule proposals of interest to businesses on our website.
by Perkins Coie on 11/1/2012
Many businesses throughout the United States—and possibly worldwide—may experience the effects of the devastating hurricane that hit the Eastern United States on October 29 and 30, 2012. Early estimation indicates that the storm caused upwards of $20 billion in property damage and another $10 billion to $30 billion in lost business. Numerous national and local businesses, ranging from telecommunications to financial industries, reported an interruption in their business operations due to Hurricane Sandy.
If your business suffered physical damage to tangible property, your property policies should indemnify you for that loss. Even greater than any such property loss, however, may be the loss of income that your business may experience. If your business does, in fact, experience a loss of income due to the hurricane, the business interruption, contingent business interruption or extra expense provisions of your property policy may reimburse you for such losses.
You should also keep in mind that your business may be entitled to additional coverage if it is named as an “additional insured” of a company affected by the recent events.
This Update outlines key issues for businesses considering submitting an insurance claim for property damage or loss of income due to the recent devastating storm and offers practical advice.
Real and Personal Property Damage
This Update focuses on coverage for loss of profits stemming from an interruption of business, but it is very likely that your company’s property policy covers damage to any real and/or personal property that Hurricane Sandy caused. Most property policies provide coverage for “all risks,” unless certain risks are expressly excluded. In that regard, a property policy may exclude coverage for certain aspects of a hurricane, such as flooding. It is crucial, therefore, to thoroughly review your property policies to ascertain the extent to which your company is covered for property damage that Hurricane Sandy caused.
Business Interruption Insurance Coverage
If Hurricane Sandy physically damaged your business’ facilities or equipment, any revenue that was lost due to an interruption of your business may be covered under the business interruption provision of your property policy. Business Interruption Coverage, also known as Business Income Insurance, reimburses the insured for the amount of revenue it would have received during the period of interruption had the covered event and the ensuing physical damage never occurred. This type of coverage is not sold as a separate policy, but rather typically is added as an additional grant of coverage in a property policy.
To recover a business interruption loss, the insured must prove that:
it sustained damage due to a covered loss;
there was an interruption of business (suspension of operations) caused by the property damage;
there was an actual loss of business income during the period of interruption; and
the loss of income was caused by the interruption of business and not some other factor(s).
One of the key areas of potential conflict with an insurer concerns what is known as the “period of interruption” or the “period of restoration.” Under most policies, these periods are defined as “the time of the direct physical damage to the time when, with due diligence and dispatch, the damage could be repaired or replaced and made ready for operations under the same or equivalent operating conditions that existed prior to such damage.” Simply put, the “period of interruption” or “period of restoration” is the amount of time it takes to get a business’ operations back to normal following physical damage to property or equipment. The period of time differs for each insured, but usually depends on the severity of the damage and the nature of the business’ operations. It is important to keep in mind that most policies cover only the time needed to resume production of goods and services, not necessarily the amount of time needed to achieve the level of success the business experienced prior to the covered event.
Contingent Business Interruption Insurance Coverage
If your business did not suffer any property damage because of Hurricane Sandy, but still experienced a slowdown or correction of operations because a supplier’s facilities or equipment were damaged by the hurricane, you may be entitled to reimbursement of lost profits under the policy’s contingent business interruption provision. Contingent business interruption coverage compensates the insured for lost revenue resulting from an interruption of business, stemming not from damage to its own property, but from damage to a customer’s or supplier’s property. For example, if your business depends upon goods produced by a manufacturer that had its operations interrupted by damage to its factory, any loss of income that you experience due to the failure of that manufacturer to supply you with the necessary goods may be covered under your business’ contingent business interruption provision.
However, in order for contingent business interruption to be covered, the type of peril and type of physical damage that the supplier suffered must be the same type of peril and damage covered under your company’s policy. In other words, your business’ insurance policy must provide coverage for hurricanes as well as for damage to property, such as buildings or production facilities.
Extra Expense and Contingent Extra Expense Insurance Coverage
A policy’s business interruption provision may also provide coverage for extra expenses. Extra expense insurance indemnifies the insured for costs in excess of normal operating expenses that the business incurs in order to continue operations while its damaged property is repaired or replaced. Such expenses typically include the cost to rent substitute facilities, move equipment and personal property, as well as overtime wages. Similarly, contingent extra expense insurance reimburses the insured for expenses that result from a contingent loss, such as a contingent business interruption loss.
Notice, Proof of Loss and Filing a Claim
Virtually all property insurance policies require the insured to perform certain duties within a specific period of time following a loss. For example, most policies require the insured to:
give a notice of claim as soon as practicable;
submit a proof of loss within 60-90 days of the loss; and
if necessary, file suit against the insurance company within 12-24 months of the loss.
Failure to comply with these technicalities and timelines may operate as a complete bar to coverage. If your business intends to submit a claim for business interruption and/or damage to real or personal property but is unable to meet the deadlines specified in the policy, you should contact the insurance carrier immediately and ask for an extension.
Potential Coverage as an Additional Insured
Finally, your business may be able to seek a separate avenue of coverage if it is named as an “additional insured” of a company affected by Hurricane Sandy. An additional insured is an entity that is added to another company’s policy by means of an endorsement. An additional insured may either enjoy the same benefits as the underlying policyholder or experience a restrictive form of coverage.
The endorsement section of an affected company’s policy will either specifically name your business as an additional insured or provide a general blanket description that pertains to your company.
Conclusion
The devastating hurricane that struck the Eastern United States on October 29 and 30, 2012 may continue to challenge all residents impacted by it for years to come.
Businesses with operations in the path of the storm may have suffered significant property damage and an interruption of business. Businesses nationwide—and even worldwide—also may have suffered contingent business interruption losses due to the inability to obtain supplies, among other things, from business in the Eastern United States that suffered direct physical property damage. If your company experiences a loss in revenue, it may be entitled to indemnification under the business interruption, contingent business interruption or extra expense provisions of its property insurance policy. In order to secure coverage, it is important that your company submit a timely notice of claim and proof of loss and, if necessary, initiate any legal action against your insurance carrier within the specified period of time.
Your business should also explore whether it is an “additional insured” of an affected company impacted by Hurricane Sandy. If so, it may be entitled to further indemnification.
Please see the checklist that outlines the steps an insured should take to ensure maximum coverage under its policy’s business interruption, contingent business interruption and extra expense provisions.
Additional Information
This Update provides only a general summary of issues related to insurance coverage for property damage or loss of income due to Hurricane Sandy. You can find additional discussions of recent developments, cases, laws, regulations and rule proposals of interest to businesses on our website.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Filing a Claim after Sandy
As New Jersey attempts to recover from one of the worst natural disasters in American history, insurers will be put to the test. The better weather over the past couple of days has allowed homeowners some time to notice and examine the damage to their property caused by Hurricane Sandy.
“This is the time for insurers to fulfill their promise to policyholders,” said Jim Whittle, American Insurance Association’s assistant general counsel.
Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company established a 24-hour phone line for policyholders looking to make a claim (1-800-54-STORM). Damage can also be reported online, which may only be an option for those who have not lost power.
“The best bet is to call as soon as you see that you have damage, and get into the system as soon as possible,” explained Allstate Spokesman Danny Jovic.
He also advised New Jersey residents to take note of their policy numbers and create an updated home inventory by walking through their house with a video recorder or camera.
State Farm Spokesman Dave Phillips added, “If you need to make temporary repairs to help further prevent damage to your home, save receipts.”
In many cases, those repairs are reimbursable.
State Farm policyholders can file their claims by calling 1-800-SF-CLAIM.
Jovic and Phillips agreed it is too soon to estimate how long the entire process may take from claim to repair. The most severe cases will likely be addressed first.
Phillips noted, “In a lot of instances, some of the areas are inaccessible. Even if you do have minor damage, getting to you may be an issue.”
AIA offers the following tips for homeowners following a hurricane:
Contact your insurer immediately after the storm to report all loses and damages.
Keep all recovery-related receipts including meals and lodging, which might be covered under the “additional living expenses” portion of your insurance policy.
Prepare a list of all damaged property, and if possible, photograph or video the damaged items.
Return claim forms as soon as possible to your insurer.
Work closely and stay in regular touch with your insurer to get the best and quickest results.
Build stronger next time and ask your contractor about adding features that would increase the building’s disaster-resistance.
Ask questions if you are unclear about your policy.
“This is the time for insurers to fulfill their promise to policyholders,” said Jim Whittle, American Insurance Association’s assistant general counsel.
Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company established a 24-hour phone line for policyholders looking to make a claim (1-800-54-STORM). Damage can also be reported online, which may only be an option for those who have not lost power.
“The best bet is to call as soon as you see that you have damage, and get into the system as soon as possible,” explained Allstate Spokesman Danny Jovic.
He also advised New Jersey residents to take note of their policy numbers and create an updated home inventory by walking through their house with a video recorder or camera.
State Farm Spokesman Dave Phillips added, “If you need to make temporary repairs to help further prevent damage to your home, save receipts.”
In many cases, those repairs are reimbursable.
State Farm policyholders can file their claims by calling 1-800-SF-CLAIM.
Jovic and Phillips agreed it is too soon to estimate how long the entire process may take from claim to repair. The most severe cases will likely be addressed first.
Phillips noted, “In a lot of instances, some of the areas are inaccessible. Even if you do have minor damage, getting to you may be an issue.”
AIA offers the following tips for homeowners following a hurricane:
Contact your insurer immediately after the storm to report all loses and damages.
Keep all recovery-related receipts including meals and lodging, which might be covered under the “additional living expenses” portion of your insurance policy.
Prepare a list of all damaged property, and if possible, photograph or video the damaged items.
Return claim forms as soon as possible to your insurer.
Work closely and stay in regular touch with your insurer to get the best and quickest results.
Build stronger next time and ask your contractor about adding features that would increase the building’s disaster-resistance.
Ask questions if you are unclear about your policy.
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