Helping Elderly Loved Ones Prepare for Disaster | SERVPRO® of The Lower Shore

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

A growing number of Americans have elderly relatives living in their homes. A recent study found that the number of families has risen by 14% over the past several years.
While many of these families are enjoying the benefits of having a grandparent in the home, adding an elderly family member means you have to keep special considerations in mind when you’re preparing your family to deal with emergencies like severe thunderstorms and other types of natural disasters.
No one likes to think about their home or community being impacted by a natural disaster. But millions of families every year find themselves in that position. That’s why it’s good to be as prepared as you can be for emergencies.
You’ll want to prepare a traditional emergency kit for your family, too. But taking these extra precautions for elderly family members living in your home can help them feel safer and more comfortable during an emergency.
Planning for Emergencies
Here are some tips experts recommend for family members helping an elderly loved one prepare for disaster situations.
Consider his or her unique needs. If your loved one needs a wheelchair, glasses, or other personal care items, they need to be accounted for in your emergency kit. When packing your emergency kit, be sure your loved one has at least a week’s worth of medication available. This will help him or her maintain good health during a disaster.
Locate the appropriate emergency shelters. You’ll want to call ahead and learn where accessible facilities are for your elderly loved one, so that he or she is able to get the care needed in the aftermath of an emergency.
Be sure there’s adequate food and water in your emergency kit. This is important for every single member of your family, but you’ll want to be sure any special dietary needs are met. For example, if your loved one is living with diabetes, you’ll want to be sure he or she has both the medication needed and food that will work for dietary needs.
If a fire, flood or any other cause damage to your home, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We are available 24⁄7 in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help you.

SERVPRO Personal Emergency Assistance Bags

11/11/2016 (Permalink)

Chief of the Ocean Pines VFD Steve Grunewald (left) and Deputy Chief Bill Bounds (right) recently accepted SERVPRO Personal Emergency Assistance Bags

Hebron, MD- Robb Sartorio, owner of SERVPRO’s three Eastern Shore franchises, has announced the distribution of over 500 Personal Emergency Assistance Bags to area police, fire, and EMS agencies. The program was initiated over two years ago and provides personal care items to individuals in need following a variety of emergency situations.

According to Sartorio, “The Personal Emergency Assistance Bag project has been a tremendous opportunity for SERVPRO to partner with Eastern Shore emergency services providers. We provide the bags without charge to local providers and they can be distributed to victims at the scene of an emergency regardless of the circumstances.”

EMS Captain K. J. Marvel and Lieutenant Barbie Utz at the Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department recently distributed four bags to a family following a tragic house fire. The family of four adults and several children were grateful to have the items provided.

“We saw a need for the family that was burned out of their home,” stated Ridgely VFD Ambulance. Captain K. J. Marvel. “The bags have just the right contents needed by fire and accident victims following their emergency.”

The bags contain a variety of items designed to assist the victim in the time immediately following an emergency. In addition to personal care products, there are some additional items such as diapers, a coloring book and crayons, a journal for documenting important conversations, and many other items. The bags are offered without charge to all police, fire, and EMS agencies on the Eastern Shore.

According to Kevin Knussman, SERVPRO Marketing Representative, every agency offered the bags accepted them and they are available in all eight Eastern Shore counties.

SERVPRO franchises provide a complete and full range of restoration services. Emergency services are available 24 hours/7 days a week. The local SERVPRO number is (410) 749-2221 or (410) 822-6442.

SERVPRO provides restoration services to home or commercial structures caused by:

•Water Damage

•Fire and smoke Damage

•Disaster, storm and flood damage

•Mold Damage

SERVPRO also provides crime scene and biohazard clean-up services as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.

Press Release - SERVPRO Supports the United Way

10/26/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO at the RPS ISG, International employees celebrate the 5th Annual Frisbee Golf Tournament.

October 15, 2016 (Salisbury, MD)

Imagination Library Scores at RPS ISG International’s 5th Annual Disc Golf Tournament

RPS ISG International recently held their 5th Annual Disc Golf Tournament raising a record $14,315 to benefit United Way’s Imagination Library Program. 36 teams from local businesses competed to raise funds for the program, providing free, home-delivered books each month to local children from birth to age five. Event sponsors included Chubb Insurance, XL Catlin Insurance, CareFirst BlueCrossBlueShield, PNC Bank, Beazley Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Travelers Insurance, CNA Insurance, Hanover Insurance Group, HISCOX Insurance and The Hartford. Tournament teams included employees from 1880 Bank, Affordable Business Solutions, Amedisys Home Health Care, APPI Energy, BesTemps, Black Diamond Catering, Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Deaf Independent Living Association, Delco Packaging, Delmarva Media Group, Dorchester County Public Schools, Egide USA, Hebron Savings Bank, Interstate Container, Intercoastal Trading, LWRC, One Beacon Insurance, PNC Bank, Pohanka of Salisbury, SERVPRO, TGM Group, LLC, Tri Gas & Oil, USLI Insurance, Vantage Point Solutions Group, WBOC/Draper Holdings, Wellspring Insurance Network, and Xenith Bank.

Dean Goodwin, Marketing Manager of RPS ISG International and event coordinator of the tournament shared, “This year was the most successful disc golf tournament to date! It’s heartwarming to see our business community come together to ensure the kindergarten readiness of children on the Lower Shore."

The Imagination Library Literacy Program is administered by the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore, and to date has distributed over 81,000 books to nearly 4,000 children in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties since its inception in 2012. The proceeds of the tournament will provide over 6,600 books to local children. United Way Executive Director Kathleen Mommé stated, “We continue to be amazed at the leadership RPS ISG International provides each year with this event. Thanks to their creative support, local children and their parents will have the materials they need to foster a love of reading and learning.”

About United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore:

Now in its 72nd year, United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore continues to be the largest non-governmental source of funding for 74 critical programs in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. United Way helps Eastern Shore residents obtain Educational Success by reducing the achievement gap between low and middle income students, Financial Stability by advancing the economic security of families and individuals in our community, and Good Health by improving access to and awareness of local health and wellness services. In 2016, United Way provided nearly $1.4 million to community programs and helped to change the lives of over 77,000 individuals. For more information, visit www.unitedway4us.org.

National Night Out

8/4/2016 (Permalink)

Samantha and Dani at this year's National Night Out

This year SERVPRO participated in National Night Out.  National Night Out is an annual community building event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camadarine to help make out neighborhoods a safer, better place to live.