How SERVPRO’s Dependable Disaster Response Reduces Stress in the Aftermath of a Disaster

5/4/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Waxahachie/Midlothian explains how its quick disaster response reduces stress for homeowners whose homes have experienced property damage.

The fire damage, storm damage, and water damage restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Waxahachie/Midlothian understand the stress that accompanies a property damage disaster. The disaster response teams witness the physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral signs of stress and anxiety in the homeowners and business owners they serve. When the SERVPRO team arrives to provide services, they begin the process of restoring damaged homes and damaged lives, relieving stress, and bringing hope to communities in need.

Disaster Warning Signs

Each disaster has its own set of warning signs. A house fire is often preceded by a loud bang, the acrid smell of smoke, the pop and crack of flames, or the piercing cry of a chorus of smoke detectors. Tornado warning sirens, weather service phone alerts, a howling wind, blinding lightning bolts, loud claps of thunder, and driving rain and hail signal an imminent storm damage disaster. Disasters that give no warning may prove to be the most challenging to face.

Symptoms of Traumatic Incident Stress

Victims of disasters may experience physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of stress. Some people experience stress immediately when a disaster occurs, while others experience delayed stress weeks or months later.

Physical Issues

Physical symptoms of stress include chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe pain, or shock. Disaster victims may also experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, dizziness, headaches, thirst, clenching of the jaw, blurred vision, and general aches and pains.

Cognitive Stresses

Cognitive impairment in the midst of a traumatic disaster may lead to mental confusion, heightened or lowered alertness, disorientation, inability to concentrate, memory problems, difficulty identifying familiar objects or people, and nightmares.

Emotional Stresses

A tornado, a house fire, or a flood causing widespread damage in which ceilings collapse, floors buckle, and family heirlooms are destroyed evokes a powerful emotional response. The range of emotional symptoms of trauma incident stress includes anxiety, denial, grief, guilt, fear, irritability, depression, a feeling of being overwhelmed, and a sense of failure.

Behavioral Stresses

Victims may exhibit behaviors such as intense anger, withdrawal, loss of appetite, inability to sleep or rest, and constant pacing.

Three Steps to Reduce or Prevent Stress in the Event of a Disaster

Step #1: Create an Emergency Preparedness Plan.

The emergency preparedness plan should cover all facets of survival and escape. Gather food, water, batteries, a first aid kit, LED flashlights for everyone, important documentation, solar battery chargers, and other essential items in preparation for a property damage disaster, such as a tornado or other severe weather event.

Step #2: Practice the emergency escape plan.

Disciplined training is the key to a safe and calm response during and after a traumatic disaster. Waxahachie and Midlothian are close to the Red River Valley, which is the tornado alley of Texas.

Step #3: Partner with a dependable property damage restoration company.

In light of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impairment stemming from trauma incident stress outlined above, homeowners are urged to pre-qualify a property damage restoration company before a disaster of any size strikes. Make sure the damage restoration company’s contact information is in everyone’s phone or device. Take an extra measure of caution and give the information to local neighbors and friends. Extended family members or friends should also have the restoration company’s contact information in case the communication system for the area is down or damaged.

How Reliable, Compassionate Disaster Response Reduces Stress in the Aftermath of a Disaster

Because SERVPRO of Waxahachie/Midlothian partners with 1,700 other franchisees and the local large-loss division of SERVPRO, the damage restoration company responds in mass and in minutes when disaster strikes. How comforting it must be for a homeowner or business owner to see a convoy of green SERVPRO service trucks and tractor-trailers pull up to the damaged property. Imagine the confidence that washes over the residents of a flooded Waxahachie neighborhood as ten SERVPRO service vehicles disperse throughout the neighborhood to begin the inspection, assessment, and water damage restoration process hours before any other service companies arrive. It all started with the neighborhood community group that said, “We need solutions in place before we need solutions we don’t have.”

SERVPRO of Waxahachie/Midlothian has been serving the area since 2000, and the company is locally owned and backed by a nationwide system of qualified franchises. Being centrally located in Ellis County means that technicians are within a thirty-minute drive or less of any location in the community. The team of restoration experts specializes in residential, commercial, and large-scale disaster cleanup and restoration. To pre-qualify the leading storm and water damage restoration company in the area or for immediate disaster response needs, contact the office by phone at (972) 935-0827 or email acarey@SERVPRO10932.com.