Recent Why SERVPRO Posts

First Responder Bowl

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks we respond, “Faster to any size disaster.” But there is one group of people who will always get there before we do. First responders. First responders are there when you need them the most and truly are the fastest to any emergency. They put their lives on the line every day to help their community and save lives. These people deserve the utmost respect and support, and that’s why we’re proud hosts of the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is played on December 28th, 2021, at the Gerald J. Stadium on SMU’s campus in Dallas, Texas and broadcasted live on ESPN. This game is meant to honor the brave people who show up first to any emergency ready to do what’s necessary to take care of people. So join us in saying thank you, and tune in this holiday season to check it out!

SERVPRO's Relationship with Insurance Companies

11/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks boasts a healthy relationship with many insurance companies and adjusters and here’s why!

We respond faster to any size disaster. When your home or business is damaged time is of the essence and being able to respond as fast as possible is key in preventing further damage to your property. We work directly with your insurance and keep a line of communication with both them and you to help ensure that things are taken care of as fast as possible.

Our team prides itself on our repair, not replace mentality, working diligently to do our best and repair anything that has been damaged. This helps keep costs lower, keeping both your wallet and your insurance company happy.

SERVPRO is a leader in the restoration industry. Our teams are highly trained with the latest certifications and state-of-the-art technology. We get the job done well with a reputation to back it. Which is why insurance companies like to use our services. They trust that we understand the scope of the job and will get it done right.

Damage to your home or business and dealing with insurance claims because of it is stressful at best. We understand that handling these issues with care and clarity is of utmost importance. If your property suffers from any damage requiring restoration efforts, please don’t hesitate to call us and ask how we can help.

SERVPRO Shares Fall Gutter Cleaning Tips

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Cleaning your gutters and downspouts can make all the difference this fall in helping to protect your home. SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks shares some tips when tending to your gutters:

  • To avoid blockage in your gutters, it is recommended that you clean them out twice a year. 
  • We also recommend inspecting your gutters and roof after big storms. If left unattended, gutters and downspouts will most likely clog up with debris, causing rain water to build up and potentially lead to water intrusions. 
  • It is important to secure downspouts so that they point away from your home, allowing water to flow in the correct direction. 
  • Make sure they are extended at least 2 feet away from the foundation, especially if your home has a basement.

If your home is affected with water damage, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks at 252-331-7889.

We Are an IICRC Certified Firm

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks, we believe in the importance of knowledge across all aspects of our employees. Whether you are out in the field handing the services first-hand, or in the office speaking on the phone with the customer, it is important that everyone is educated on our services. That's why our SERVPRO team takes classes throughout the year for our technicians and project managers to stay certified and up-to-date on industry standards.

IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Once you become IICRC certified in Water Damage Restoration, you have then pledged to perform services with skill, honestly and integrity to provide the consumer with the highest standard of care and expertise. Our SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer banks certified technicians and team members will always assist you with their knowledge and expertise in water damage restoration!

Call the SERVPRO Professionals If You Have Water Damage in Your Home

10/29/2020 (Permalink)

When water invades your Elizabeth City home, quick action needs to be taken in order to get matters under control and your life back to normal. When water is left to soak into and remain, the greater the water damage and the repair.

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks handles water damage with an inventory of equipment with large and powerful pumps that we can submerge enabling a quicker extraction of the floodwater. Our machinery will raise the interior temperature so that evaporation happens at a precise rate.

Our trained technicians and supervisors determine the best drying method to utilize to maintain the quality of the water damaged area and product. For instance if a wooden floor is dried out too quickly or with extreme temperatures, the floor can be ruined. Our goal is to restore, not replace. This is beneficial to not only the homeowner but to your insurance company too as it helps to save money.  

After the extractor has removed the water, smaller hand-held equipment is used to remove the remaining water found in crevices and baseboards. Once the water has been removed, the drying process begins for the remaining surface dampness and porous household items with the use of our desiccant machines and air movers. An Air Scrubber, our portable filtration system can be used to help clean the air of any contaminants such as dust, gasses, or chemicals in any area.

If your Outer Banks home floods, call us your local SERVPRO at 252-331-7889.

Exciting Franchise Growth

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

We have some exciting news to share! As of September 2020, we have joined forces with SERVPRO® of Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Tri-Cities Plus, located in Midlothian, Virginia. Independently owned and operated by Andrew and Theresa Bahen for 35 years, Disaster Recovery Team Bahen has earned an excellent reputation with homeowners, insurance companies, business owners, facility managers, local and state government agencies, and commercial property management teams. With over 1,700 Franchises in the U.S. and Canada, Team Bahen consistently ranks in the top 12 Franchises and was awarded Franchise of the Year in 2008. 

As one of the largest SERVPRO franchises on the East Coast, our combined experience, people, capacity, and equipment will uniquely qualify us to handle any sized job no matter how extensive the damage may be. Though we will now operate together as ONE TEAM, our goal with this expansion is to create a larger footprint to better serve our clients and community throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Your local SERVPRO® will now be composed of elite large-loss specialists, trained project managers, and technicians capable of handling any loss your home or facility may experience. We hope you have continued confidence in our abilities to serve your community as we strive to provide residents and business owners in your area with the fastest response times while doing great work every day. 

Thank you for your support and please continue to contact our team for all your mitigation, reconstruction, and restorations needs.

SERVPRO's Advanced Technology & Techniques

3/15/2020 (Permalink)

We use specialized and industry leading equipment to make it, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Elizabeth City/OBX provides a variety of specialized services to the area. Our franchise professionals are certified through The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). This allows us to provide peace of mind to our customers because they are able to trust that our franchise professionals are properly trained on how to properly and successfully use the equipment for restoration and cleaning. 

We use specialized and industry leading equipment to make it, “Like it never even happened.” Our moisture detection and measurement equipment allows us to detect, measure and monitor a properties moisture levels.  If water is in your home we have state of the art water extraction equipment that speeds the drying process by getting the water out of your home. Our industrial strength air movers and dehumidifiers are used to remove any remaining moisture from you home and prevents warping of your floors, walls and/or ceilings.


Water and fire damage often causes powerful odors. The machines we use remove airborne contaminants and control the air quality during the restoration and cleanup process. We also use OSHA-approved cleaning agents to clean and remove odors and/or contaminants from your home.

Before An Emergency, Collect and Protect Essential Documents

9/17/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks is #AlwaysHeretoHelp 252-331-7889.

Before An Emergency, Collect and Protect Essential Documents

Family Preparedness

When we advise people to collect and protect important paperwork, we are referring to any important documents and personal data that might serve as proof of your insurance or identity or instruct others on how to help you in an emergency.  This important paperwork includes an Emergency Action Plan, and medical, vital, and immunization records.

The Basics

Personal Id's to include: Passports, driver's licenses, social security cards, green cards

Copies of medical documents and advance directives should include: Health insurance card, vaccination records, living wills and power of attorney forms, birth & death certificates and adoption records

A current care plan for a child with special needs.

User manuals, models, and serial numbers, and contact information for the manufacturer of medical devices, like glucose meters and nebulizers.

Quick Tips

Keep an up to date list of all your prescription medications with dosage amounts, your eye prescription, your medical supply needs and any known allergies.

Save electronic copies of important papers in a password protected format to a flash drive or an external hard drive or a cloud-based service. You should store these items in a fire proof container or with a trusted friend or relative, or even a safety deposit box at a bank.

Pet owners make copies of your pet’s vet records like rabies certificate, prescriptions and a recent photo of your pet(s).

Whatever happens, we’ll be there with you and your community, every step of the way, in your journey back, “Like it never even happened.”

How to Prepare for a Storm & Protect Your Family

8/15/2019 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks if you have storm damage at 252-331-7889

SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks encourages everyone to remember the importance of disaster preparedness.  The key to disaster preparedness is having an emergency plan in place before the disaster hits.  These few simple steps can help make the difference in protecting and keeping your family safe and protecting your property from weather related damage.

Build a basic emergency supply kit stocked with enough water and food for a minimum of three days for you and for each of your family members, pets included.  Be mindful to include any necessary medications.  Recommended emergency supply kit items include:

  • Water (one gallon/per person/per day)
  • Three-day supply of non-perishable foods
  • Manual can opener
  • Battery or solar powered radio, preferably a NOAA weather radio
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • Whistle (to signal for help)
  • Dust masks or bandanas
  • Local map
  • Important documents, such as insurance policies, bank account information, passwords, and identifications
  • Matches (in a waterproof container) and/or lighter

Make a Family Emergency Plan.  A Disaster may not strike when you and your family are together at home.  Plan now for a meeting place and how you will contact each other.  Visit ready.gov to access a Family Emergency Plan template to help with your planning.

Stay Informed.  Know your flood zone for your property and your neighborhood and know the evacuation route should evacuation become necessary.  Listen to your local news and authorities for direction.

Prepare your property.  You may need to prepare your home for the impact of a storm or hurricane.  Covering all your windows in your home will help to protect it.  Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows; however, the second-best option is to board up the windows with plywood.  Tape will not prevent your windows from breaking.  Trim your trees and bushes that are around your home and clear any debris from rain spouts and gutters.  Secure outdoor furniture, trash receptacles, decorations and anything else not secured that could become projectile. 

Establish a SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile (ERP) for Your Business.  SERVPRO® developed the SERVPRO® Emergency READY Program to help business owners create an Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) for their facility, at no charge.  The business owner works with SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks to gather and document information that will become critical if a disaster strike.  Once the ERP is created, business owners have access to their own information 24/7 online and by using SERVPRO’s free smartphone app.  Contact us at 252-331-7889 to get set up.

SERVPRO® Employees Pay It Forward

5/29/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks Pays It Forward

Your local SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks wants its community to know that they can depend on them for emergencies and for community support. 

Our company and employees help to pay it forward with an annual event of collecting items such as clothing and personal hygiene for men, women, and children, non-perishable food, toys, books and blankets that begins in the summertime.  The items are donated, boxed and labeled by our SERVPRO® crew and set aside to be delivered to five (5) local charities in November.

The charities we have helped to support in the past have been Blankets for the Homeless, Chesapeake Humane Society, Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia, Children's Crisis Center of Hampton Roads, and The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Flood Insurance Spotlight

5/14/2019 (Permalink)

Water Damage Cleanup in Elizabeth City/Outer Banks

No one should have to learn the hard way that neither homeowner’s or renter’s insurance covers flood damage.

The Insurance Information Institute reported that our National insurance program is getting an overhaul.  On March 18, 2019, the Trump administration announced plans to reform the National Flood Insurance Program.  The program would begin to assess properties individually using variables such as hurricane rainfall, coastal surges and one’s proximity to large bodies of water rather than the current application of a single formula for an entire flood zone.  Since higher valued properties are more likely to hit the $250,000 insurance cap, lower valued homes are paying proportionately more than higher valued homes.  The new reform would eliminate the single formula system and drive flood risk into the private reinsurance and risk markets.  According to the Institute, FEMA will announce the new rates on April 1, 2020 and will implement the new system on October 1, 2020.

Your flood insurance policy can pay claims when there is no presidentially declared disaster.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers disaster grants that do not have to be paid back, but this amount is often much less than what is needed to recover.  According to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, if you have flood damage, and do not have flood insurance, there could be resources available to help you through the FEMA.  For info go to www.fema.gov.

If you suffer flood damage in Chesapeake, call your local SERVPRO® of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks at 252-331-7889.

Does Your Business Have a Contingency Plan?

4/23/2019 (Permalink)

Let Our SERVPRO® Be Your Local SERVPRO®

Hurricane season officially begins June 1.  Be Emergency Ready Elizabeth City and the Outer Banks.  Our app is a no-cost readiness plan that places your data on your mobile device for quick access during an emergency.  Download the Free App Here

The SERVPRO® Ready Plan is a tool for property managers and owners, both residential and commercial. By developing a SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile for your home or 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 home or business.

Commercial Storm Damage Restoration in Chesapeake.

Storms and inclement weather can bring wind damage, heavy rain, and flooding that can devastate any business in a matter of minutes. 

Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises at your business, call your local SERVPRO® and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

LET US HELP TO GET YOU STARTED WITH A FREE BUSINESS ASSESSMENT, CALL US AT 252-331-7889.