Recent General Posts
Franchise Announcement
3/9/2016 (Permalink)
Peter and Gina Barbera, the new owners of SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton
SERVPRO Industries, Inc. is proud to announce the new owners of SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton. Peter and Gina Barbera took ownership of SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton February 22, 2016. Previously, Peter worked in the financial industry in various roles including project management and trading services. Gina was a school teacher for the NYC Board of Education. Peter and Gina are New Jersey natives and live here with their family. The couple is excited to expand the SERVPRO brand, a leader in the restoration industry, across the Southern and Central New Jersey area.
SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton was originally opened in 2005 by Mike and Megan Geria, and has served the Bordentown/Pemberton area for 11 years.
"Gina and I are looking forward to providing the highest level of service to our customers, and continue to serve this great community," said Peter. "I also want to thank both Mike and Megan for their dedicated service to local SERVPRO customers over the past 11 years."
SERVPRO is a leader in commercial and residential cleaning services. From residential fire, smoke and water damage restoration, to large commercial disaster response, SERVPRO is the approved vendor for most leading insurance companies including Allstate, State Farm, and more. SERVPRO is proud to offer our Emergency READY Program (ERP), providing residents and business owners the tools they need to assess their readiness and take preparedness steps before a disaster strikes.
Locally, SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton serves the communities of Bordentown, Browns Mills, Columbus, Jobstown, Springfield, Pemberton, Cookstown, Chesterfield, Florence, Princeton, Wrightstown, Fort Dix, Trenton, and surrounding areas.
For more information on the services offered by SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton, contact Angelique Flynn, Marketing Manager at #609-894-8555 or aflynn@SERVPRObordentown.com. You can also find SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/SERVPRO.bordentown.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week
5/21/2015 (Permalink)
#HurricanePrep
ready.gov/hurricanes
National Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 24th – May 30th, is approaching, along with the start of the 2015 Hurricane Season. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers a multitude of tips to prepare individuals, families, and communities for whatever may happen this hurricane season. Please take a look at the following links to prepare yourself and the ones you love.
- Follow these Twitter accounts during Hurricane preparedness week for more info:
- Download the FEMA smartphone app and enter your location for NWS weather alerts
- Visit National Hurricane Center mobile friendly site: www.hurricanes.go
- National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare
- For tips and information about hurricanes, visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes
@Readygov
@PrepareAthon
@FEMA
@Citizen_Corps
@NHC_Pacific @NWS
@NHC_Atlantic
@CDCemergency
@SERVPRO9260
Refer to this blog throughout Hurricane Season for further information.
Business & Personal Preparedness
4/14/2015 (Permalink)
SERVPRO Ready App
In honor of National Preparedness Month, our September blog is about Business Preparedness: why and how you should prepare; and personal preparedness: how to pack your Go Bag and sheltering in place.
Up to 50% of businesses never reopen after being affected by a natural or human-made disaster. Despite this statistic, 62% of businesses don’t have an emergency plan in place! Your customers expect delivery of their products or services on time, regardless of your situation. And larger businesses want to insure that their supply chain is not interrupted by a disaster either. Insurance is only a partial solution. It does not cover all losses and it will NOT replace customers. News travels fast and perceptions often differ from reality. It is up to you to plan now for a disaster to avoid some of these pitfalls. Many risks cannot be insured, but some risks can be reduced by investing in loss prevention programs, protection systems, and equipment.
According to FEMA’s Business Program Management, ” A preparedness policy that is consistent with the mission and vision of the business should be written and disseminated by management. The policy should define roles and responsibilities. It should authorize selected employees to develop the program and keep it current. The policy should also define the goals and objectives of the program. Typical goals of the preparedness program include:
- Protect the safety of employees, visitors, contractors and others at risk from hazards at the facility. Plan for persons with disabilities and functional needs.
- Maintain customer service by minimizing interruptions or disruptions of business operations
- Protect facilities, physical assets and electronic information
- Prevent environmental contamination
- Protect the organization’s brand, image and reputation”
A word on environmental contamination—many times, smaller businesses without a plan in place will attempt to handle the work on their building on their own. Depending on the damage and the building in question, it may be safer and more cost effective to hire a professional company to help you. Why? Well, for starters, a cleanup company like SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton has the knowledge of environmental laws and regulations that you may be ignorant of. Our crew can dispose of potentially hazardous materials in a safe and compliant manner. For additional information on this topic, refer to Insurance Institue of Business and Home Safety or Preparedness Planning for your Business
In order to prepare personally for a disaster, you should start by creating a Family Disaster Plan. To get started, contact your local emergency management office and your local chapter of the American Red Cross. Find out which disasters are likely to occur in your area by using the interactive map at: Know Your Hazards. Meet with your family and plan how you will stay in contact if separated by disaster. Because many disasters occur with little or no warning, you need to have a plan for what to do before you have instructions from authorities. Assess your situation. Decide to stay or change locations. If you are not in immediate danger, you should stay where you are and get more information before taking your next steps.
There are 3 types of sheltering, and different types are appropriate for different disasters. You can shelter in place, shelter for an extended stay, or enter a community shelter. When you shelter in place, you are sealing a room as a way to protect yourself from contaminants in the air for a short period of time. You should identify an internal room in your home or work, and store specific items such as snacks and water, a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, and pre-cut plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal off vents and doors and windows. If you are sheltering for an extended stay, you may need to store enough supplies for 2 weeks. If you are using a community shelter, you should bring your 3-day disaster supply kit with you.
So what goes in your kit? Depending on the length of time you will be gone, the time of year of the event, and how many people and pets you have with you, your kit might change. The items recommended for your basic kit are:
- 3 day supply of non-perishable food
- 3 day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
- Portable, battery powered radio and extra batteris
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual.
- Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
- Matches and waterproof container
- Extra clothing (think warmth if in a cold climate)
- Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
- Photocopies of credit and identification cards
- Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries.
- Items for infants and items for pets.
Just as important as putting your supplies together is maintaining them so they are safe when you are ready to use them.
- Keep canned foods in a cool dry place.
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
- Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented, or corroded.
- Change stored food and water supplies every 6 months. Write the date on the containers.
- Keep items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers.
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family needs change.
I recommend keeping a Go Bag in your car, and one in your house, as you will never know where you will be when a disaster hits. If you need help preparing your home or business for disasters, call us at 609-894-8555. We can help you create a plan for your building and tag your shut offs when necessary. And if something does go wrong, call us to help make it like it never even happened!
Business & Personal Preparedness
9/8/2014 (Permalink)
SERVPRO Ready App
In honor of National Preparedness Month, our September blog is about Business Preparedness: why and how you should prepare; and personal preparedness: how to pack your Go Bag and sheltering in place.
Up to 50% of businesses never reopen after being affected by a natural or human-made disaster. Despite this statistic, 62% of businesses don’t have an emergency plan in place! Your customers expect delivery of their products or services on time, regardless of your situation. And larger businesses want to insure that their supply chain is not interrupted by a disaster either. Insurance is only a partial solution. It does not cover all losses and it will NOT replace customers. News travels fast and perceptions often differ from reality. It is up to you to plan now for a disaster to avoid some of these pitfalls. Many risks cannot be insured, but some risks can be reduced by investing in loss prevention programs, protection systems, and equipment.
According to FEMA’s Business Program Management, ” A preparedness policy that is consistent with the mission and vision of the business should be written and disseminated by management. The policy should define roles and responsibilities. It should authorize selected employees to develop the program and keep it current. The policy should also define the goals and objectives of the program. Typical goals of the preparedness program include:
- Protect the safety of employees, visitors, contractors and others at risk from hazards at the facility. Plan for persons with disabilities and functional needs.
- Maintain customer service by minimizing interruptions or disruptions of business operations
- Protect facilities, physical assets and electronic information
- Prevent environmental contamination
- Protect the organization’s brand, image and reputation”
A word on environmental contamination—many times, smaller businesses without a plan in place will attempt to handle the work on their building on their own. Depending on the damage and the building in question, it may be safer and more cost effective to hire a professional company to help you. Why? Well, for starters, a cleanup company like SERVPRO of Bordentown/Pemberton has the knowledge of environmental laws and regulations that you may be ignorant of. Our crew can dispose of potentially hazardous materials in a safe and compliant manner. For additional information on this topic, refer to Insurance Institue of Business and Home Safety or Preparedness Planning for your Business
In order to prepare personally for a disaster, you should start by creating a Family Disaster Plan. To get started, contact your local emergency management office and your local chapter of the American Red Cross. Find out which disasters are likely to occur in your area by using the interactive map at: Know Your Hazards. Meet with your family and plan how you will stay in contact if separated by disaster. Because many disasters occur with little or no warning, you need to have a plan for what to do before you have instructions from authorities. Assess your situation. Decide to stay or change locations. If you are not in immediate danger, you should stay where you are and get more information before taking your next steps.
There are 3 types of sheltering, and different types are appropriate for different disasters. You can shelter in place, shelter for an extended stay, or enter a community shelter. When you shelter in place, you are sealing a room as a way to protect yourself from contaminants in the air for a short period of time. You should identify an internal room in your home or work, and store specific items such as snacks and water, a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, and pre-cut plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal off vents and doors and windows. If you are sheltering for an extended stay, you may need to store enough supplies for 2 weeks. If you are using a community shelter, you should bring your 3-day disaster supply kit with you.
So what goes in your kit? Depending on the length of time you will be gone, the time of year of the event, and how many people and pets you have with you, your kit might change. The items recommended for your basic kit are:
- 3 day supply of non-perishable food
- 3 day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
- Portable, battery powered radio and extra batteris
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual.
- Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
- Matches and waterproof container
- Extra clothing (think warmth if in a cold climate)
- Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
- Photocopies of credit and identification cards
- Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries.
- Items for infants and items for pets.
Just as important as putting your supplies together is maintaining them so they are safe when you are ready to use them.
- Keep canned foods in a cool dry place.
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
- Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented, or corroded.
- Change stored food and water supplies every 6 months. Write the date on the containers.
- Keep items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers.
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family needs change.
I recommend keeping a Go Bag in your car, and one in your house, as you will never know where you will be when a disaster hits. If you need help preparing your home or business for disasters, call us at 609-894-8555. We can help you create a plan for your building and tag your shut offs when necessary. And if something does go wrong, call us to help make it like it never even happened!
Call to Action
7/14/2014 (Permalink)
So far this summer, we’ve been experiencing some beautiful weather. With the occasional summer thunderstorm, and warm breezes, I am enjoying as much time outdoors as possible. Nevertheless, we are in the midst of Hurricane season, as evidenced by Hurricane Arthur during Fourth of July Weekend. It is important to remain aware of what that means for you, your family, and your business, even though there are no more named storms approaching at this time.
June and July account for only 14 percent of the Atlantic hurricane season’s named storms. Including 2014's Hurricane Arthur, only five July hurricanes have made landfall along the East Coast since 1950, none reaching Category 3 strength. That said, the primary season for major hurricanes is approaching, in August and September. The time to prepare is NOW.
The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage
As many as 50% of businesses close down following a disaster, according to the latest research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. And knowing you are "Ready for whatever happens" speaks trust to your clients and employees that in the event your business is affected by a disaster, they don’t necessarily have to be.
By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.
A no cost assessment of your facility.
This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost.
A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.
It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. But it will save a lot of time if ever needed.
A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.
This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action.
Establishes your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and close by.
Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
This saves time so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information.
Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance of an emergency so that during the emergency you are "Ready for whatever happens."
The ERP is also available for your home! For more information, or to schedule your assessment, please call our office at 609.894.8555 or email Angelique at aflynn9260@verizon.net.
If you would like to help your community in the event of a natural disaster, consider getting involved with your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site, and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.
If you join a CERT, you will receive basic-level training in the following areas:
- Emergency Preparedness
- Disaster Medical Operations
- Fire Suppression
- Light Search and Rescue Operations
- CERT Operations/Incident Command System
- Disaster Psychology
- Terrorism Awareness
- Disaster Simulation -- Skills Review
Total training is usually about 20 hours, scheduled in 2-4 hour modules, over a period of weeks or months, in order to address the scheduling needs of team members. It's held in the community or county where you live.
Training courses, student materials and equipment are provided free of charge.
If you are an individual looking to join a local CERT Team, contact your municipal emergency management coordinator to see if the program is already active in your community, or if a CERT program is being developed. To find the telephone number of the municipal emergency management office, look in the telephone directory, or contact your County CERT Coordinator(12k pdf). Or, call 1-877-CERT-411 (1-877-237-8411) to obtain information about teams forming in your area. Burlington County’s CERT program begins August 6, 2014. Email cert@co.burlington.nj.us for more information.
Stay tuned to this blog for timely information on how to be prepared for whatever happens!
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