September is National Preparedness Month
September is designated as National Preparedness Month by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. We have said it before and we will say it again. There is no time like the present to prepare your business and home for disaster.
Like we have also previously mentioned, the 2022 Hurricane Season has been relatively calm so far. However, it currently seems to be picking up with several named storms in the Atlantic, as well as one named storm in the Pacific.
Guarantee Restoration Services has been the leading property damage restoration company along the Gulf Coast since our inception in 1974. Part of being a leader is employing the newest most advanced technologies available to service our partners in need.
While our team is available when you need us most, what if we were there before you needed us? That’s where our pre-loss planning services come in. First, there is the Matterport™ imaging system. In addition, we use Ready Action Plan (RAP) through our partners at Restoration Affiliates. Below, we will explain how these capabilities work.
Before flash flooding, fire or hurricanes occur, it is vital to document your business or home. If you have property damage, this alleviates the claims process. If the pre-loss condition of your is properly documented, it eliminates any question of what condition equipment or other contents was in prior to a loss.
No matter the size of the loss, our team at GRS has one goal – to get your property and business back to normal operations ASAP. On the other hand, your insurance adjuster’s focus is to submit your claim correctly to make sure they meet the expectations of their insurance policies. Our solution to this is Matterport™!
How Matterport™ Works
The Matterport™ 3D Imaging System uses lasers to calculate the size and scope of your commercial building or home. One of our HDR, panoramic cameras captures every element of your property for pre-loss state. A GRS team member starts at the front of the building or home. From there, we move throughout the space, only three to six feet at a time.
To put its capabilities into perspective, a 2,000 square foot home would take about 30 minutes to scan. On the other hand, a larger commercial building can take anywhere from 2-3 hours to complete. After the scan is finished, they are uploaded to the cloud on Matterport’s safe and secure sever. You can access the scans from any device and at any time. You can see the scan in three different views: Doll House, Inside and Floor Plan.
Finally, here are some the key benefits of using Matterport™:
- 3D Scanning allows remote insurance professionals the ability to better understand the damage with a 360-degree, panoramic capture of the loss.
- The “Mattertags” in the system allow remote, real-time information on equipment and site conditions to those who need accurate information on the status of a job speedily.
- This technology delivers faster reporting on job progress, which keeps you aware of progress.
- Provides accurate room measurements to within 1% margin of error, so our technicians and project managers can utilize the right tools and materials from the beginning.
- Ability to print high definition photos to fully capture the details in each room.
Ready Action Plan™ with Restoration Affiliates
Our team uses this Matterport™ technology in combination with our Ready Action Plan™ (RAP) web application. We have partnered with Restoration Affiliates to create a straightforward and user-friendly technology resolution. It is an effective way to have all of your property and content assets documented and better maintained for any future damage or emergencies.
For more information on how Matterport™ and RAP can assist in fully restoring business or home, give Guarantee Restoration a call today at 1-800-349-HELP (4357) or email info@247GRS.com.
Developing an EAP
To conclude, while we encourage you to look at our Matterport™ and RAP technologies, there is also something you should do for your business. Prior to a disaster happens, you should implement an Emergency Action Plan, or EAP. These plans are essential to ensure employee safety from fire, water and other property emergencies. You can find many EAP templates online. Make sure you ask for input from your employees and management team. They may have insight into adding something you did not think of. If you have multiple branches or offices, each location should have its own emergency action plan.
Your businesses’ emergency action plan should at least have some or all of the following ideas:
- A chosen method for reporting fire, water damage or other emergencies.
- A standardized evacuation policy and procedure.
- Emergency escape procedures and route assignments (for different departments or office areas), such as floor plans, workplace maps, and clearly identified safe areas.
- Names, titles, departments and telephone numbers of individuals both within and outside your company to contact for additional information or explanation of duties and responsibilities.
- Procedures for employees who must remain present to perform or shut down critical plant operations, operate fire extinguishers, or perform other essential services that cannot be shut down for every emergency alarm prior to evacuating.
- Rescue and medical duties for any workers designated to perform them.
It is extremely imperative to have an EAP created ahead of time. Oftentimes, an unclear evacuation can result in misunderstanding, injury and additional property damage.
While we can’t stop natural disasters from occurring, we can prepare ourselves for the worst. National Preparedness Month was initiated to bring awareness of the importance of disaster preparation. Our team at Guarantee Restoration Services has many individuals who are trained in Matterport™ and RAP, but we can also give you suggestions on formalizing an EAP. As always, please remember, our team is available 24/7, which is not just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE.
