How Most Americans Are Still Not Ready For Immediate Disaster Restoration
Most Americans know that they may need to deal with disaster restoration services in one form or another, be it water damage restoration, fire damage, storm damage, mold removal, or more. However, according to the survey, 71% feel that they are not prepared to handle the situation appropriately.
The survey saw that almost 70% of Americans have already lived through a disaster in some form as an owner or a renter, despite which they have not prepared adequately. These disasters range from man-made disasters such as electrical fires, fuel explosions, plumbing leakage, or natural causes, including storms, earthquakes, floods, and more.
Let’s take a closer look at some statistics and what you can do to prepare for immediate disaster restoration.
Disaster Restoration For Residential Properties
Only 46% of Americans have actually created an emergency preparedness plan, and even less have actually practiced it. Millennials are much more aware of the need for disaster restoration than any other generation, followed by Generation X.
Baby Boomers, on the other hand, believe in a DIY approach. Most of them suggest that they can take care of a disaster independently. With 40% of people in the US still believing they are un- or under-prepared for a disaster, the NFPA and FEMA have laid out extensive plans for immediate disaster restoration and emergency management.
Unfortunately, while the NFPA considers residential properties first, FEMA’s priority is critical infrastructure and government buildings. In case of a mass-scale disaster such as the need for storm damage restoration, earthquake, hurricanes, and more, the NFPA and fire departments as a whole become overburdened.
They can’t take care of everyone in an emergency immediately. Furthermore, damage restoration crews are often overloaded in case of these mass-scale disasters, and a first-come-first-served basis is implemented.
People who aren’t prepared for the disaster may end up having to deal with subpar restoration companies since the good ones may already be booked. This means added frustration, increased costs, and the work done may not be reliable.
Disaster Restoration For Commercial Properties
In the case of mass-scale disasters, commercial properties only become a priority if the disaster struck during business hours and people are actually trapped inside. As for commercial property disaster restoration, their level of service also remains on a first-come-first-served basis.
Compared to residential properties, American companies fare much better when it comes to emergency preparedness and disaster restoration. This is because of the strict OSHA and NFPA policies codes and standards they need to adhere to.
Every company needs to have a disaster preparedness plan with the goal of the evacuation of occupants. In case of an emergency, employee and occupant life is considered to be the most valuable asset, with evacuation being the primary objective.
Organizations should test their emergency plans out regularly to ensure that all employees are aware of protocol and that the plan works.
2021 remained a rather difficult year for the world – not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic but also because of the extreme weather events throughout the year. 2022 is expected to continue this trend as the atmosphere changes and the number of anomalies increases.
This is the right time to plan for emergencies if you aren’t already, and if you are, you should consider testing your plan out, whether this includes a practice run or simply calling your local disaster restoration company and asking them about their readiness.
Americans Know They Need to Be Prepared
It is no secret that the world around us is changing, and the frequency of natural and man-made disasters is slowly increasing. However, one of the most prevalent reasons why Americans fail to create an emergency and an immediate disaster restoration plan is that ‘they don’t think about home maintenance and improvement as much.’
Being backed by insurance, most homeowners feel that if an emergency comes, they will find professionals to tackle the challenges. However, people are now starting to realize that not every company is what it claims to be and are therefore turning towards tried and trusted restoration crews.
As long as there are individual disasters, i.e., the demand for these services is less than the current supply in the market, homeowners are able to sustain their current lifestyle of not being ready. But when mass-disaster(s) strikes, such as a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, there will be a shortage of quality crews. This is when being ready would have paid off. As people understand that, their level of readiness also increases.
911 Restoration is spread across the US and has branches in every major city of the country. If you need help with disaster restoration of any type, give 911 Restoration of Central Illinois a call, and we’ll gladly help you address your concerns cost-effectively and reliably.
