Heavy Snows Will Increase Flooding Along the Mississippi River
February 22, 2011
The National Weather Service says that the potential for spring snow melt flooding continues to be greater than normal along the Mississippi River this season. Based on the current conditions, there is a very high chance that moderate to major category spring floods could occur this spring. It is estimated that the worst of the flooding will occur starting about the third week of March through the middle of April.
A very large swatch of the United States is at risk of moderate to major flooding. The area at risk stretches from northern Montana through the western portion of Wisconsin, following the Mississippi River southward to Missouri, so says the flood experts at the National Weather Service. Late late week the agency released its springtime flood prognosis for this region and will release a national spring flood prognosis in mid-March.
This is the third year in a row that the agency has predicted heavy flooding along the Red River, which forms the state line between the eastern portion of North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. If the forecasters are correct, the main stem of the Mississippi River is at risk for substantial flooding. In Fargo, North Dakota, experts are saying that the city and surrounding area has over a 90 percent chance of being flooded as they believe that the Red River will overflow its banks. Officials in Fargo are already busy building a temporary dike. The folks in Grand Forks also face a greater than 90 percent chance of being inundated by flood waters. Flooding is likely to occur in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. Not welcome news for residents who dealt with flooding in areas like Des Moines and Omaha just last year.
The ground in most of the North-Central U.S. is frozen, saturated with water and covered with snow. Forecasts are calling for more than average precipitation through the end of February and below normal temperatures. As the temperatures rise and the snow begins to melt in March and April, the soaked soil and frozen ground will aide run-off which quickly cause creeks and rivers to rise and breach their banks.
FEMA is working closely with states in the area to make sure everything that can be done is completed before the warming trend begins. Residents in the affected areas are being reminded that it is necessary for them to plan and prepare for floods and to put together emergency kits “just in case” they are needed.
Smoke Damage Runs Deeper than you Think
February 3, 2011
A fire in your home can have been completely devastating – to the extent that it destroys everything you own. On the other hand, a fire contained to a single room or garage may not render your home completely unlivable. In such a case, your house may be structurally sound yet still suffer from significant water and smoke damage.
Repairing water damage is something most of us in the U.S. are familiar with. We’ve all experienced water issues due to broken plumbing or intense storms. While water damage suffered in the process of putting the fire is more extensive, the process of cleaning up and repairing is similar to that of dealing with the damage left by a broken pipe. The hard part of cleaning up after a fire is repairing smoke damage.
Regardless of where in your house the fire occurred, smoke undoubtedly filled the entire structure and saturated everything in the house. Even with the windows open and the house completely ventilated, things like draperies, furniture, clothing, and carpets will retain the odor of smoke unless dealt with properly. Repairing smoke damage is more than simply washing the items; the odors need to be neutralized.
Before cleaning smoke damaged items, you must first use an odor neutralizer. Failing to do might possibly cause the smoke molecules to be embedded in the material, making them very difficult to remove once the item has been cleaned and dried. It’s best to consult a professional fire and restoration service for help about neutralizing smoke odors.
The paint and wallpaper in your home will also suffer some degree of smoke damage. Unfortunately, simply applying a coat of primer will neutralize odors. The only proven method is to use an ozone generator which can be rented from a local construction supply company. Depending on the extent of the fire, it can take up to a week to completely rid the house of smoke odor.
Depending on the extent of the fire, repairing water and smoke damage may be a task too big for you to handle. Your home owner’s insurance should provide adequate funds for hiring a fire restoration service. These services specialize in restoring your home to the condition it was in before the fire. A good fire restoration service can do such a good job that one would never know a fire occurred in the first place.
