Administrative Professional Day!

4/24/2019 (Permalink)

Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day

Administrative Professionals Day and Administrative Professionals Week are widely observed in many workplaces in the United States and other countries around the world. Many employers and supervisors arrange events to show their appreciation of the work carried out by administrative professionals, to highlight their importance to the organization and to enhance their work-related skills.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/administrative-professionals-day

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year for all of you restoration needs. Let us make you feel "Like it never even happened." 

Jesus is the Reason

4/19/2019 (Permalink)

Remember Jesus is the Reason

Many people in different countries celebrate the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, and death on the Friday before Easter Sunday.  This is an observance that involves people fasting and praying. Many church services are held in the afternoon, usually around noon or midday to 3pm, to remember the hours when Jesus hung on the cross. Many churches also observe the day by re-enacting the procession of the cross as in the ritual of the Stations of the Cross, which depicts the final hours of Jesus’ life.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/good-friday

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie  is here for all of your restoration needs

2019 Annual State of the City

3/12/2019 (Permalink)

Grand Prairie's 2019 Annual State of the City.

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie's SMR Kathy Anderson had the privilege to attend Grand Prairie's Annual City. Our Chamber is the first step in building business relationships in Grand Prairie. Almost 400 in attendance there was a dinner and silent auction for charity! Kathy also won on her bid to spend the day with a Grand Prairie K9. You will see in the pictures Mayor Ron Jensen alongside his family, Chief of Police Steve Dye, and Fire Chief Robert Fite, as well a preview from the  silent auction.

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here 24/7 365 for all of your restoration needs.  

Weather Summary

12/10/2018 (Permalink)

Freezing temperatures are likely Tuesday and Wednesday

11/12/2018 (Permalink)

Taste of Winter Moves Into North Texas 

North Texas will get a taste of winter weather over the next few days with rain, a strong north wind, falling temperatures and the likelihood of a freeze both Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

A cold front moved through North Texas Sunday night, opening the door for the cold Canadian air to move into the area.

• UPDATEDFreeze Warning in Effect Monday Night

After a cold, wet and windy trip to work and school Monday morning, rain is expected to continue throughout the day. Allow for extra time on your commute.

The roads will NOT be slippery or icy as the temperature will be well above freezing. With widespread rain moving through Dallas-Fort Worth during the heart of the morning rush, the rain will have a impact all by itself.

The rain will begin tapering off after the noon hour. As the temperature falls into the mid-30s by Monday afternoon, some light flurries may mix in before all the precipitation comes to an end.

The strong north wind will continue. That will pull wind chill values down into the upper teens and lower 20s for Monday evening and Monday night. A FREEZE WARNING is in effect for Monday night/Tuesday morning. Most of North Texas will see air temperatures drop into the mid to upper 20s by sunrise Tuesday. 

Dress in layers, be aware of the wind chill factor, remove any wet clothing as soon as possible and limit time outdoors. MedStar said don't ignore shivering. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.

Sunshine returns by mid morning on Tuesday. But with that clear sky and the lighter wind Tuesday night, we will be even colder Wednesday morning. One bit of good news … with that hard freeze, that should take care of a large part of the mosquito population. The rest of the week will be sunny, but it will be slow to warm up.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/weather/stories/Taste-of-Winter-Moving-Into-North-Texas-500243751.html

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here for all of your restoration needs

3 cold fronts this week

11/7/2018 (Permalink)

3 cold fronts this week will leave Dallas-Fort Worth in the 30s by the weekend

A series of cold fronts this week will take Dallas-Fort Worth from warm weather Monday to nearly freezing temperatures by week’s end.

Temperatures hit 81 degrees at DFW International Airport on Monday, but by Friday morning North Texas could see lows in the mid-40s.

That’s November for you,” KXAS-TV (NBC5) meteorologist Grant Johnston said. “November is notorious for big temperature swings.”

The first cold front made its way through North Texas on Monday, but it didn't make much of an impact — Johnston called it "weak." The next two cold fronts will be progressively stronger. 

Here’s what you can expect this week:

Election Day — 75/57, mostly sunny

Voters won’t be able to use bad weather as an excuse to not get to the polls. High temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s on Tuesday. 

Rain isn't expected during the day, but NBC5 meteorologist Samantha Davies said isolated showers could pop up during the late evening hours and after midnight.

Wednesday — 63/57

The second cold front of the week will move through North Texas on Wednesday and bring a chance of rain. Wednesday’s rain isn’t expected to be very widespread, Johnston said. Forecast models show a better chance of rain early in the morning, then clearing out in the afternoon.

Thursday — 56/52, showers likely

Rain chances will increase Thursday and become more widespread, Johnston said. No severe weather is expected in Dallas-Fort Worth, but a few scattered thunderstorms are possible. 

Friday — 52/42, windy and cold

The third and final front of the week will be the strongest, plunging low temperatures into the mid-40s. Friday’s high is forecast at 52 degrees, but Johnston said, “We might be lucky to get to 50.”

The front could be strong enough to give areas along the Red River the potential for frost, according to the National Weather Service.  

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2018/11/05/3-cold-fronts-week-will-leave-dallas-fort-worth-30s-weekend

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here 24/7 365, for all of your restoration needs

Reduce flood damage to your home

10/12/2018 (Permalink)

While flooding can occur at any time of year, the spring is a particularly troublesome time of year as snow and ice melts and seasonal rains begin. IBHS suggests the following improvement projects to help protect property against potential flood damage. 

Flooding and flash flooding are a leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Floods are also the most common weather-related cause of property damage in the nation. During Hurricane Sandy, many property owners were caught off guard by the risk that flooding posed as the storm came ashore. This misunderstanding of their flood risk led to many deaths and injuries. Homes were washed away, and businesses were heavily damaged by flood waters. Ultimately, Sandy resulted in $6.7 billion in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payouts as of July 2013, second only to Hurricane Katrina’s $16.3 billion in payouts in August 2005, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Understand Your Flood Risk

Updated Flood Maps

A flood map (sometimes referred to as a floodplain map or FEMA flood map) can be used to identify floodplain location and flood zones. IBHS encourages residents to learn about the flooding risk of their properties and take steps to reduce that risk. The best place to start is by finding out what flood zone, from high to low risk, your property is in. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with each municipality to create and update flood maps that show the flood zone for each part of the community. You can look up your property on the local flood map by visiting FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center or contacting your city or county government. Your insurance agent or mortgage lender may also be able to assist.

Floods maps are redrawn by FEMA to reflect new information and recommendations. In fact, many communities are currently receiving new, more detailed flood maps as part of an ongoing flood map modernization effort by FEMA. Consult your city or county building department to determine if your local maps have been or will soon be updated. If an update has recently been completed or is ongoing, it is recommended that you review the maps to see if the redrawing has affected the flood zone for your property.

Additional information on looking up your property on flood maps and the meaning of the flood zone designations is available at FloodSmart.gov. It is important to note that there are many times when a building can experience flood damage—even if it is not located within a high-risk flood area on the flood map. Therefore, it is best to get an understanding of the flood zone of your entire surrounding area to fully understand your risk.

Know Your Base Flood Elevation

Once you know what flood zone your property is in, it is important to find out what the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is for your property. The BFE is the elevation at which your building has a one percent chance of flooding annually. You can find the BFE for your property listed on many flood maps, especially newer ones, or by contacting your local building department, or hiring a licensed surveyor. After identifying the BFE for your property, you need to determine whether the elevation of your building’s lowest floor is above or below the published BFE for your property. If your building is below the BFE for the area, you should consider elevating your structure to reduce the chances it will flood. IBHS recommends that buildings be at least 3 feet above the BFE to account for higher-than-expected flooding levels.

Flood Insurance

Once you know what your risk is, you also should consider purchasing flood insurance, especially if you find you are in, or near, a high-risk flood zone (Special Flood Hazard Area). Flood insurance is provided through the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and can be purchased through private insurance agents and companies. If you have a federally backed mortgage, be aware that your lender may require you to purchase flood insurance if you are in or near a high-risk flood zone.

https://disastersafety.org/flood/reduce-flood-damage-to-homes/

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here 24/7 for all of your restoration needs

11 jobs that go into overdrive when a natural disaster strikes

10/5/2018 (Permalink)

11 jobs that go into overdrive when a natural disaster strikes

With Hurricane Florence set to deliver a devastating blow to the Carolinas beginning late Thursday morning through the weekend, residents there are bracing for the worst. But while many homeowners are boarding up windows and stocking up on food and water, thousands of workers across a number of industries are in overdrive, helping to serve, protect, save, restore and relieve the communities that will be affected by the storm.

• Hospitality workers

Airline personnel

Emergency responders

Restoration specialists

Disaster relief workers 

Forensic weather experts

*Self-storage unit owners

 *Tree-removal experts

Auto mechanics

Hardware-store employees

Grocers

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/13/8-jobs-that-go-into-overdrive-after-a-natural-disaster.html

SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here 24/7 365 for all of your restoration needs

Effects of Flooding

9/26/2018 (Permalink)

Effects of flooding

Floods can have devastating consequences and can have effects on the economy, environment and people.

Economic
During floods (especially flash floods), roads, bridges, farms, houses and automobiles are destroyed. People become homeless. Additionally, the government deploys firemen, police and other emergency apparatuses to help the affected. All these come at a heavy cost to people and the government. It usually takes years for affected communities to be re-built and business to come back to normalcy. 
Did you know that the cost of all floodings in the USA in 2011 was $8,640,031,956 (approx 8.5B USD) — http://www.nws.noaa.gov/hic/

Environment
The environment also suffers when floods happen. Chemicals and other hazardous substances end up in the water and eventually contaminate the water bodies that floods end up in. In 2011, a huge tsunami hit Japan, and sea water flooded a part of the coastline. The flooding caused massive leakage in nuclear plants and has since caused high radiation in that area. Authorities in Japan fear that Fukushima radiation levels are 18 times higher than even thought.

Additionally, flooding causes kills animals, and others insects are introduced to affected areas, distorting the natural balance of the ecosystem.

People and animals
Many people and animals have died in flash floods. Many more are injured and others made homeless. Water supply and electricity are disrupted and people struggle and suffer as a result. In addition to this, flooding brings a lot of diseases and infections including military fever, pneumonic plague, dermatopathia and dysentery. Sometimes insects and snakes make their ways to the area and cause a lot of havoc.

...But... 
There is also something good about floods, especially those that occur in floodplains and farm fields. Floodwaters carry lots of nutrients that are deposited in the plains. Farmers love such soils, as they are perfect for cultivating some kinds of crops.

http://eschooltoday.com/natural-disasters/floods/effects-of-flooding.html

 SERVPRO of Grand Prairie is here for all of your restoration needs

Lunar Eclipse tonight

7/27/2018 (Permalink)

The blood moon lunar eclipse is here (and so is Mars)

The longest total lunar eclipse of the century arrives Friday night, showcasing a blood moon for most of the Eastern Hemisphere. Coincidentally, Mars is also at its brightest, putting two bright red objects in our sky.

SPRING TIME IS HERE... LET'S CONSERVE OUR WATER USAGE

4/14/2017 (Permalink)

With spring time falling into summer and the heat increasing daily let's remember to conserve our water usage.

Did you know that 50% of water used outdoors is wasted from inefficient watering methods.

The City of Arlington has teamed up with an irrigation company and is offering 100 free irrigation system check ups to Arlington homeowners.

Registration: http://www.arlington-tx.gov/water/water-conservation/free-sprinkler-system-check-up/

Watering outdoors is not allowed between 10am and 6pm.

Water Conservation Tips for inside the home:

Practice Water Saving Techniques:

• Scrape food from plates instead of rinsing.
• Operate automatic dish washers only when full.
• Don't use running water to thaw meat, defrost food in the refrigerator.
• Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl, don't let water run.
• Capture tap water while waiting for hot water.
• DO NOT IGNORE WATER APPLIANCE LEAKS

Adopt A Street Program

3/9/2015 (Permalink)

SERVPRO North Arlington, South Arlington, & Grand Prairie has adopted a street in Mansfield.  We are going to pick up trash monthly on a 1 mile stretch to help keep our city clea