Last Wednesday’s heavy rains forced the closing of some roads and the altering of some school bus routes, but caused little property damage and few long-term effects.
The up to six inches of rain forced the closing of South Main Street for a few hours Wednesday, and also flooded several roads in Arkansas County. DeWitt Public Schools closed early Wednesday because of the flood and concerns that buses might have trouble getting through safely.
One of the hardest hit areas was Humphrey. Last Wednesday, homes along U.S. 79 were surrounded by water, and Arkansas 152, the usual route from DeWitt to Humphrey, was under water at both ends for awhile.
Humphrey Elementary School secretary Gwen Vogler was trying on a pair of rubber boots at lunchtime Wednesday, as the school prepared to send students home early. Vogler’s husband brought her the boots “because I might need them” to get back into her house. When she left that morning, the water was up to her front step, but it later subsided without getting into the house. “It turned out I didn’t need the boots,” she said.
Vogler said that although a number of houses were surrounded by water, she didn’t know of any incidents of a significant amount of water getting in any of them. The biggest problem was that so many side roads were flooded and people couldn’t get out of their houses.
Most of Wednesday’s heavy rain receded fairly quickly, but it did exacerbate flooding in low-lying parts of the county.
Much of the White River National Wildlife Refuge is underwater, and in many places those souls foolhardy enough to launch boats into the swollen White River are doing it 100 yards to 500 yards closer to shore than they were several months agi.
At the Potlatch Conservation Education Center at Cook’s Lake, workers had to lengthen restraining poles on a floating boat dock to keep it from escaping its morrings and heading downstream, director Don McSwain said.
In Tichnor, Bayou LaGrue and several other streams that drain into the White River have overflowed their banks, mainly because the White is backed up. (It is backed up at least partly because the Mississippi River is backed up.)
However, in at least a couple of places, long-time Webber resident Royce McGaugh says, the flooding is exacerbated by uncontrolled beaver populations.
“You see that?” McGaugh pointed to flooding along Woodrow T. Road southeast of Tichnor Saturday. That’s not flood water; that’s beaver water. That’s backed up by a beaver dam.”
For the DeWitt Public Schools, however, the flooding has been a “nightmare,” assistant superintendent Johnnie Johnson said. The problems have been especially bad in the Tichnor-Nady area, which has not gotten a lot of rain, but is getting considerable backup from the creeks, lakes and rivers.
“We had some places we can’t get to,” Johnson said. “We have had to reroute some buses.”
By Monday morning things had improved, but Johnson was still out on the roads, checking out the situation. “Everything went pretty good this morning,” he said. Some roads only have a few inches of water, but Johnson said the district isn’t taking chances. “We’re not putting bus drivers and kids in that kind of [a situation].”
In the Ethel-St.Charles area, the district has designated the Ethel store as a drop-off point “if we need it.” However, as of Monday morning, Ethel and St. Charles were in pretty good shape, Johnson said.
The Arkansas County Road Department has worked overtime fixing bridges and pipes washed out by the flooding. They have restored most of them; however, as of Tuesday, several roads in the county remain closed:
North End Closings
Alcorn-Gill Road — 1,320 ft. closed on north end from pavement to Newton Road.
Bayless Lane — 1,320 ft closed.
J.R. Johnson Road — 600 ft. closed.
Marsh Lane — 200 ft. closed.
Temple Road — 1,320 ft. closed.
South End Closings
Anderson Bay Lane — 1,000 ft. closed.
Ben Purdy Road — 900 ft. closed, 30 ft. washout.
Bell Road — 3,960 ft. closed, east of concrete bridge at Mill Bayou.
Cox Cypress Road — 1,500 ft closed east of Gill Lane for 1,000 ft., then after Grand Lake Lane for 200 ft.
Gander Street Road — 1,000 ft. closed at Gar Bayou.
Hayes Lake Lane — 7,500 ft. closed.
Jacks Bay Road — 2,640 ft. closed.
Nady Road — 7,500 ft., lower end closed.
Refuge Road — 1,320 ft. closed before flat cars.
Sheperd Point Lane — 1,320 ft. closed.
Sollars Road — 1,320 ft. closed south of Robert Bullock Road at Mill Bayou.
Stamps Drier Road — 300 ft. closed, bridge out below Drier Road
Boyd Miller Road — 1,320 ft. closed.
Hwy. 17, Ethel — closed at twin bridges.
Hwy. 144, Gillett — closed at Bayou Meto Flood Gates.
It’s still too early to tell if there will be any long-term effects from the flood. Arkansas County Extension agent Carly Prislovsky said the floods could “have a little effect on wheat that has been under water for two days.” But it looks like the setback will just be a short one.
“[Farmers] are starting to plant today,” she said Monday. The delay might even turn out to have an unexpected benefit, since a freeze was predicted for Monday night.
“This may turn out to help,” Prislovsky said, since the crops will not be far enough along for a freeze to cause much damage.
Katrina wind-water issue goes to state Supreme Court
The Mississippi Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether Katrina’s wind damage is covered when tidal surge contributes to the loss.
Attorneys filed the appeal Thursday in Corban vs. USAA Insurance Agency. USAA covered only $39,972 of damage to the Long Beach home of Magruder S. and Margaret Corban, whose policy exceeded $1 million in total coverage. Their home near the waterfront was a near-total loss, although portions remained standing.
The insurance agency cited policy language, called an “anti-concurrent cause clause,” that is interpreted to say wind damage is not covered when excluded tidal surge contributes “concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.”
In denying coverage, the insurance agency cited policy language, called an “anti-concurrent cause clause,” that says water is excluded from coverage “regardless of any other cause or event contributing concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.” The homeowners maintain wind damage that occurred hours before the tide surged ashore should be covered.
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld anti-concurrent language in Nationwide and State Farm policies, based on how the appellate court believes the state Supreme Court would rule. Because insurance contracts are governed by states, the state Supreme Court has authority over how the contract is interpreted.
“The court finds that such review will resolve issues of general importance in the administration of justice relative to critical legal issues present in Hurricane Katrina litigation,” Circuit Court Judge Lisa Dodson wrote in approving the appeal, which will be decided before the case proceeds.
Attorneys Judy Guice and Richard T. “Flip” Phillips, and the law firm of Corban, Gunn & Van Cleave, filed the lawsuit and appeal on behalf of the policyholders.
NYC will lower reservoirs to cut flood risk on Delaware
New York City has agreed to release more water from its trio of reservoirs in the Catskills in an effort to reduce the risk of flooding in communities downstream along the Delaware River.
In a statement this morning, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced that up to eight billion gallons of water will be released from the Neversink, Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs through this month.
Rendell had sent a letter on April 2 to New York City and the other Delaware River basin states - New Jersey, New York and Delaware - asking that they agree to a plan to temporarily lower the levels of the three man-made lakes, which were full to the brim and spilling. He wrote that he thought such action would be “prudent,” considering the forecasts for heavy rain in the near future.
The governor “believes that it is certainly a wiser course. . .to take preventive action rather than wait for proof that might come in the form of a damaging and costly flood,” his spokesman, Chuck Ardo, said at the time.
Today, Rendell said that the water releases will continue until the end of this month “even if the reservoirs go below 100 percent of capacity.” He added that “this plan also ensures that drinking water supplies will not be threatened for New York City, Philadelphia and Bucks County. With continued normal rainfall, we think the reservoirs will be full on May 1 as we enter the period of increased use.”
To protect drinking supplies, Rendell continued, “we will re-evaluate the releases each week. . . Should we enter a period of below-normal rainfall, the releases can be stopped.”
Three major floods between 2004 and 2006 caused several deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage along the Delaware River. The reservoirs were at or near capacity just before all three floods, sending billions of gallons down the river.
The plan announced today does not provide what thousands of flood victims and their advocates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have long demanded: permanently lowered levels, which would create “voids,” storage capacity for storm water run-off.
Their initial reviews of the agreement were tempered by concern that May could be a wetter month, with a greater flood threat, than April.
“It’s some movement,” Jeff Zimmerman, an attorney for a number of the activist groups, said of the plan. “It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but not a lot.”
Zimmerman estimated that the 8 billion gallons to be released amount to 3 percent of the reservoirs’ capacity.
Prior to his April 2 letter, Rendell had not acknowledged any possible connection between the reservoirs and flooding downstream.
In his statement this morning, Rendell said, “While we can’t scientifically quantify the benefits lowering these reservoirs will have, continuing to make releases beyond when the reservoirs are at full capacity, as they are now, is a commonsense approach that will provide an added measure of comfort to residents downstream.”
A city man escaped a fire in his home yesterday morning when a space heater ignited a pile of clothes nearby.
City fire crews were dispatched to 1233 Willow St. at 8:51 a.m. for reports of a structure fire.
Evie Rodriguez, who lives in the home with his father, said he was sleeping in a room in the attic of the 21/2-story house when he awakened after feeling heat. He said he saw smoke and flames inside the room.
Rodriguez said he tried to beat down the flames with a pillow, but that his efforts were useless.
“I got up and started running like crazy,” Rodriguez said later while standing across the street and watching as firefighters tossed damaged belongings from the attic.
City Fire Commissioner Barry Fisher said there were no smoke detectors in the house.
“He was very lucky,” Fisher said.
Rodriguez’s father wasn’t home; he’s currently in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez said.
Fisher said the blaze started as a result of clothes that were piled up around a space heater. The space heater was next to a futon that Rodriguez used as a bed, Fisher said.
Fisher said firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the attic. Damages were estimated at $10,000, Fisher said. The first and second floors sustained smoke and water damage, he said.
Leaning out the attic window in the front of the home, firefighters threw out several large plastic containers that had been partially melted by the blaze. The containers were filled with clothing and other items.
Eric Weaver of Harrisburg, who is renovating the house next door at 1235 Willow St., turned onto Willow Street shortly after the fire was reported and saw fire trucks blocking the street.
“I thought it was at my house at first,” Weaver said.
Weaver’s home, which he plans to sell after renovations are completed, sustained smoke and water damage.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) has issued home safety guidelines to aid Kentuckians left with water damage in their homes due to large amounts of water run-off and flooding throughout the state.
One of the biggest public health concerns linked to water damage in the home is mold, fungi that can be found indoors and out. Molds grow best in warm, damp and humid conditions and spread by making spores.
“Though mold is almost always present in the air, it grows best in damp areas where humidity levels are high,” said Guy Delius, acting director of the public health protection and safety division in DPH. “The recent, heavy rains experienced throughout the state caused flooding in several areas, and many homes experienced water damage.
This is a concern for homeowners, not only because of damage to their home, but it also could lead to a mold problem if left untreated.”
To recognize the signs of mold, look for discolored walls possibly showing water damage, or green or black spots apparent on walls.
Mold also has a musty, earthy smell, or a foul stench.
“Allergy sufferers are those who are usually affected the most by mold exposure. Symptoms usually include nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes, wheezing or skin irritation,” said William Hacker, M.D., DPH commissioner and CHFS acting undersecretary for health. “More severe reactions may include fever or shortness of breath. Those who have medical concerns regarding mold exposure should contact their health care provider.”
To decrease exposure and reduce mold in the home, DPH recommends that homeowners keep the humidity level of the home between 40 and 60 percent.
The use of an air conditioner or dehumidifier may be used to achieve a lower level of humidity. Always use exhaust fans when showering and cooking. Mold inhibitors for paint are also available from home improvement stores.
For cleaning a small area affected by mold, most homeowners may clean up the mold problem themselves.
DPH officials recommend the use of protective glasses or goggles for the eyes. Also wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves and wear clothing that can be washed afterwards.
If there is a heavy mold growth area, you may wish to use a basic respirator or suitable mask to prevent breathing the spores.
Other recommendations include:
- Ensure that the area is well ventilated before beginning.
- Remove all previously soaked porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and are not able to be cleaned and dried.
- Disinfect hard surfaces; a solution may be mixed of 1 cup of household bleach with 1 gallon of water.
- Contact a mold remediation consultant for severe mold cases.
To prevent mold from coming back, DPH recommends implementing mold prevention efforts in the home. For flooding damage, ensure that the home is properly cleaned and dried out by using the aforementioned steps. For small spots, make sure to remove the source of moisture.
“Mold cannot grow without a source of water or moisture,” said Delius. “By removing the water source, the homeowner can ensure that the mold growth should not return.”
If mold growth persists, the homeowner may want to contact a mold remediation professional for more advice. The source of the problem can also be moisture that is hidden in the home.
There’s plenty of concern — with good reason — about air pollution. But many people are unaware that indoor pollution can be just as bad as, or even worse than, the outdoor kind.
Studies of human exposure to air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels.
Paradoxically, laws designed to improve energy efficiency and outside pollution don’t improve indoor air quality. Tightly sealed homes constructed in the last couple decades to reduce drafts have diminished the use of fossil fuels, but if a house can’t “breathe,” it also can’t dilute pollutants contained in building and decorating products.
While pollutants can affect people differently, the EPA warns of immediate effects including irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Long-term effects can include respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer, according to the EPA.
Potential sources of indoor air pollution include central heating, cooling and dehumidification systems; household cleaning and maintenance products; outdoor sources such as pesticides; biological contaminants such as animal dander, mold and cockroaches; dry-cleaned clothing; tobacco smoke; formaldehyde from fabrics, pressed wood products and insulation; styrene found in adhesives, foam, lubricants, plastics carpets and insulation; and paint-strippers and removers.
While this is not particularly good news, awareness is the first step to a more healthful indoor environment. Your best defense against indoor air pollution is a strong offense.
First, identify and control sources of pollution to reduce and prevent indoor air contamination. This can range from changing housecleaning products to airing out freshly dry-cleaned clothing to tossing out formaldehyde-containing furniture.
Proper ventilation — the mixing of indoor air with outdoor air — can revitalize the air in your home and protect your health. Adequately sized exhaust fans should be used wherever moisture and combustion are present in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen. A bath fan, for example, will help to dissipate chloroform gas, which is a byproduct of chlorinated water. It also will remove excessive moisture that can lead to mold which can produce yet more health hazards.
Since cigarette smoke is one of the single greatest contributors to indoor air pollution, smoking indoors is a no-no. Similarly, fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances (water heaters, furnaces, stoves, etc.) should be properly adjusted and vented to the exterior. Doing so will both prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning and improve the efficiency of the appliance.
Do-it-yourself test kits are available for many indoor air pollutants such as lead or radon.
Other indoor pollutants such as asbestos require professional testing.
The rule of thumb for lead and asbestos is that they are best left alone if in good shape and not peeling or crumbling.
Asbestos or lead should not be scraped or sanded and should be removed only by a professional abatement contractor with the proper equipment.
Moreover, testing should be performed after the abatement process to ensure the air quality is safe.
Many residents are still cleaning up from our recent round of storms.
Many people are working to get rid of flood waters that ended up in their homes. While some they wait for the water to recede, others are hiring disaster restoration teams to move in.
One Green Country restoration company received more than 200 calls for help in just 3 days.
Fred Narvaes with Burggraf Restoration says, “The water causes damage not only to their belongings but to their walls not only to their belongings but to their walls and especially inside their walls which has to be addressed.”
Depending on how high the water rose in some peoples homes, disaster teams say it could take anywhere between 2 and ten days to dry out with professional equipment.
A Greensboro couple says their home is making them sick. A hidden water leak rotted the home’s wood foundation. The problem is making it hard for the family to breathe.
The slow leak caused $8,500 in damages to their home. The entire floor needs to be replaced and for a retired couple living on a fixed income, they just can’t afford it.
“The hallway bathroom has been constantly leaking onto the joist underneath the house,” said Mary Harrison. “We were not expecting this.”
Two years ago, Joe Harrison became very ill.
“It felt like I had swallowed something and it kind of choked me up,” said Harrison. Joe was hospitalized for 12 days while he recovered.
It wasn’t until the couple pulled up their carpet that they saw the damage.
“You can tell there’s got to be some sort of germs coming from underneath here,” said Mary Harrison.
Doctors diagnosed Joe with congestive obstructive pulmonary disease. He takes 12 pills a day.
“Since having this illness my husband’s medical bills went from $125 dollars to $6,500 out of pocket money from us. We knew it was impossible to do both things so we were looking for help,” said Harrison.
After trying to figure how to pay for both medication and the home repairs, the Harrison’s finally got some relief.
“I think Mary and Joe did the right things. This was something that was not visible to them at all and we’re going to be able to help them,” said Kathy Carpenter, a relator with the Greensboro Relator’s Foundation.
“The Foundation came to our rescue because at that point we did not have $8,000 to do this work,” said Harrison.
“This is our retirement home,” she said. “You don’t expect your home to make you sick. That’s the one place you want to go for refuge.”
A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it’s red, you know you have a problem.
If you have trouble breathing in your home, hire a certified inspector or plumber to look for possible water leaks. A weak floor is a good indication your foundation is rotting. And don’t assume every cough or sneeze is allergy related. You may experience the same symptoms if you have excess moisture in your home.
For $10, the Guilford County Agricultural Extension will submit 5 samples to the NC State University lab for analysis. With a Q-Tip, swab sections of your home you suspect may have mold or rotted wood. Place them separately in plastic bags. Drop them off with a check at the Extension office on Burlington Road in Greensboro. For more information call them at 336-375-5876.
The Navy’s Seamanship and Navigational Training Vessel, HMNZS KAHU, suffered water damage in an incident at the Devonport Naval Base this morning.
At approximately 0725 an alarm was triggered onboard the ship which was berthed on the Stanley Bay side of the Devonport Naval Base. Naval duty personnel were immediately dispatched to the ship and found that flooding had occurred in a number of compartments.
The source of the leak has been narrowed down to a valve in the generator room.
Ship and engineering personnel are now onboard KAHU assessing the damage.
No contaminants or fuel have leaked from the ship.
A full investigation into the cause of the flooding has commenced. HMNZS KAHU will be brought out of the water tomorrow to allow a full assessment of the ship.
A jury Tuesday awarded $3.6 million after the firm refused to pay for water damage to his home
A jury Tuesday awarded $3.6 million to a Marine captain serving in Iraq after concluding that a nationwide company that specializes in insuring military personnel tried to cheat him out of coverage for water damage to his Oceanside home.
The San Diego County Superior Court jury found that the United Services Automobile Assn.’s Casualty Insurance Co. had attempted to defraud John Colombero in its handling of his 2004 claim.
Colombero was awarded $84,000 to fix the water damage, $50,000 for emotional damages and $3.5 million in punitive damages.
Ricardo Echeverria, the attorney representing Colombero, said the case “showed a pattern and practice of looking for ways to deny coverage.”
The most telling piece of evidence, Echeverria said, was that the experts the insurance company used to examine Colombero’s claim were the same ones it had used in hundreds of other cases. In almost all those cases, he said, the damage was not covered.
In Colombero’s case, the issue was whether the water came from burst pipes, a situation covered by the policy, or from bad drainage or defects, which the company asserted was not the cause.
The Los Angeles firm of Daniels, Fine, Israel and Schonbuch, which is representing the insurance company, did not respond to a request for comment.
Echeverria said he expects an appeal.
Colombero, wearing civilian clothes, testified early in the trial — but he deployed to Iraq on his third tour days before the verdict. He is assigned to a reconnaissance battalion.
After the verdict, he talked to jurors by phone to thank them.
“He just hopes this doesn’t happen to another Marine,” Echeverria said.
Jurors had not been informed during the trial that Colombero was deploying to Iraq.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Nugent had ruled that they could not be told lest that make them more sympathetic to his case.
Texas-based United Services Automobile Assn., which was founded by Army officers in 1922, specializes in insurance, banking and brokerage services for active-duty and retired military personnel.
Fitch Ratings, the credit research firm, said the insurance company “dominates the market for military or military-related consumers.” The company is a “reciprocal” insurance exchange and pays dividends to members. Its website says it has 6 million members.
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1 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:53 pm
County flooding widespread, but damage is slight
Last Wednesday’s heavy rains forced the closing of some roads and the altering of some school bus routes, but caused little property damage and few long-term effects.
The up to six inches of rain forced the closing of South Main Street for a few hours Wednesday, and also flooded several roads in Arkansas County. DeWitt Public Schools closed early Wednesday because of the flood and concerns that buses might have trouble getting through safely.
One of the hardest hit areas was Humphrey. Last Wednesday, homes along U.S. 79 were surrounded by water, and Arkansas 152, the usual route from DeWitt to Humphrey, was under water at both ends for awhile.
Humphrey Elementary School secretary Gwen Vogler was trying on a pair of rubber boots at lunchtime Wednesday, as the school prepared to send students home early. Vogler’s husband brought her the boots “because I might need them” to get back into her house. When she left that morning, the water was up to her front step, but it later subsided without getting into the house. “It turned out I didn’t need the boots,” she said.
Vogler said that although a number of houses were surrounded by water, she didn’t know of any incidents of a significant amount of water getting in any of them. The biggest problem was that so many side roads were flooded and people couldn’t get out of their houses.
Most of Wednesday’s heavy rain receded fairly quickly, but it did exacerbate flooding in low-lying parts of the county.
Much of the White River National Wildlife Refuge is underwater, and in many places those souls foolhardy enough to launch boats into the swollen White River are doing it 100 yards to 500 yards closer to shore than they were several months agi.
At the Potlatch Conservation Education Center at Cook’s Lake, workers had to lengthen restraining poles on a floating boat dock to keep it from escaping its morrings and heading downstream, director Don McSwain said.
In Tichnor, Bayou LaGrue and several other streams that drain into the White River have overflowed their banks, mainly because the White is backed up. (It is backed up at least partly because the Mississippi River is backed up.)
However, in at least a couple of places, long-time Webber resident Royce McGaugh says, the flooding is exacerbated by uncontrolled beaver populations.
“You see that?” McGaugh pointed to flooding along Woodrow T. Road southeast of Tichnor Saturday. That’s not flood water; that’s beaver water. That’s backed up by a beaver dam.”
For the DeWitt Public Schools, however, the flooding has been a “nightmare,” assistant superintendent Johnnie Johnson said. The problems have been especially bad in the Tichnor-Nady area, which has not gotten a lot of rain, but is getting considerable backup from the creeks, lakes and rivers.
“We had some places we can’t get to,” Johnson said. “We have had to reroute some buses.”
By Monday morning things had improved, but Johnson was still out on the roads, checking out the situation. “Everything went pretty good this morning,” he said. Some roads only have a few inches of water, but Johnson said the district isn’t taking chances. “We’re not putting bus drivers and kids in that kind of [a situation].”
In the Ethel-St.Charles area, the district has designated the Ethel store as a drop-off point “if we need it.” However, as of Monday morning, Ethel and St. Charles were in pretty good shape, Johnson said.
The Arkansas County Road Department has worked overtime fixing bridges and pipes washed out by the flooding. They have restored most of them; however, as of Tuesday, several roads in the county remain closed:
North End Closings
Alcorn-Gill Road — 1,320 ft. closed on north end from pavement to Newton Road.
Bayless Lane — 1,320 ft closed.
J.R. Johnson Road — 600 ft. closed.
Marsh Lane — 200 ft. closed.
Temple Road — 1,320 ft. closed.
South End Closings
Anderson Bay Lane — 1,000 ft. closed.
Ben Purdy Road — 900 ft. closed, 30 ft. washout.
Bell Road — 3,960 ft. closed, east of concrete bridge at Mill Bayou.
Cox Cypress Road — 1,500 ft closed east of Gill Lane for 1,000 ft., then after Grand Lake Lane for 200 ft.
Gander Street Road — 1,000 ft. closed at Gar Bayou.
Hayes Lake Lane — 7,500 ft. closed.
Jacks Bay Road — 2,640 ft. closed.
Nady Road — 7,500 ft., lower end closed.
Refuge Road — 1,320 ft. closed before flat cars.
Sheperd Point Lane — 1,320 ft. closed.
Sollars Road — 1,320 ft. closed south of Robert Bullock Road at Mill Bayou.
Stamps Drier Road — 300 ft. closed, bridge out below Drier Road
Boyd Miller Road — 1,320 ft. closed.
Hwy. 17, Ethel — closed at twin bridges.
Hwy. 144, Gillett — closed at Bayou Meto Flood Gates.
It’s still too early to tell if there will be any long-term effects from the flood. Arkansas County Extension agent Carly Prislovsky said the floods could “have a little effect on wheat that has been under water for two days.” But it looks like the setback will just be a short one.
“[Farmers] are starting to plant today,” she said Monday. The delay might even turn out to have an unexpected benefit, since a freeze was predicted for Monday night.
“This may turn out to help,” Prislovsky said, since the crops will not be far enough along for a freeze to cause much damage.
2 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Katrina wind-water issue goes to state Supreme Court
The Mississippi Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether Katrina’s wind damage is covered when tidal surge contributes to the loss.
Attorneys filed the appeal Thursday in Corban vs. USAA Insurance Agency. USAA covered only $39,972 of damage to the Long Beach home of Magruder S. and Margaret Corban, whose policy exceeded $1 million in total coverage. Their home near the waterfront was a near-total loss, although portions remained standing.
The insurance agency cited policy language, called an “anti-concurrent cause clause,” that is interpreted to say wind damage is not covered when excluded tidal surge contributes “concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.”
In denying coverage, the insurance agency cited policy language, called an “anti-concurrent cause clause,” that says water is excluded from coverage “regardless of any other cause or event contributing concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.” The homeowners maintain wind damage that occurred hours before the tide surged ashore should be covered.
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld anti-concurrent language in Nationwide and State Farm policies, based on how the appellate court believes the state Supreme Court would rule. Because insurance contracts are governed by states, the state Supreme Court has authority over how the contract is interpreted.
“The court finds that such review will resolve issues of general importance in the administration of justice relative to critical legal issues present in Hurricane Katrina litigation,” Circuit Court Judge Lisa Dodson wrote in approving the appeal, which will be decided before the case proceeds.
Attorneys Judy Guice and Richard T. “Flip” Phillips, and the law firm of Corban, Gunn & Van Cleave, filed the lawsuit and appeal on behalf of the policyholders.
3 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:54 pm
NYC will lower reservoirs to cut flood risk on Delaware
New York City has agreed to release more water from its trio of reservoirs in the Catskills in an effort to reduce the risk of flooding in communities downstream along the Delaware River.
In a statement this morning, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced that up to eight billion gallons of water will be released from the Neversink, Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs through this month.
Rendell had sent a letter on April 2 to New York City and the other Delaware River basin states - New Jersey, New York and Delaware - asking that they agree to a plan to temporarily lower the levels of the three man-made lakes, which were full to the brim and spilling. He wrote that he thought such action would be “prudent,” considering the forecasts for heavy rain in the near future.
The governor “believes that it is certainly a wiser course. . .to take preventive action rather than wait for proof that might come in the form of a damaging and costly flood,” his spokesman, Chuck Ardo, said at the time.
Today, Rendell said that the water releases will continue until the end of this month “even if the reservoirs go below 100 percent of capacity.” He added that “this plan also ensures that drinking water supplies will not be threatened for New York City, Philadelphia and Bucks County. With continued normal rainfall, we think the reservoirs will be full on May 1 as we enter the period of increased use.”
To protect drinking supplies, Rendell continued, “we will re-evaluate the releases each week. . . Should we enter a period of below-normal rainfall, the releases can be stopped.”
Three major floods between 2004 and 2006 caused several deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage along the Delaware River. The reservoirs were at or near capacity just before all three floods, sending billions of gallons down the river.
The plan announced today does not provide what thousands of flood victims and their advocates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have long demanded: permanently lowered levels, which would create “voids,” storage capacity for storm water run-off.
Their initial reviews of the agreement were tempered by concern that May could be a wetter month, with a greater flood threat, than April.
“It’s some movement,” Jeff Zimmerman, an attorney for a number of the activist groups, said of the plan. “It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but not a lot.”
Zimmerman estimated that the 8 billion gallons to be released amount to 3 percent of the reservoirs’ capacity.
Prior to his April 2 letter, Rendell had not acknowledged any possible connection between the reservoirs and flooding downstream.
In his statement this morning, Rendell said, “While we can’t scientifically quantify the benefits lowering these reservoirs will have, continuing to make releases beyond when the reservoirs are at full capacity, as they are now, is a commonsense approach that will provide an added measure of comfort to residents downstream.”
4 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Sleeping man lucky to escape house fire
A city man escaped a fire in his home yesterday morning when a space heater ignited a pile of clothes nearby.
City fire crews were dispatched to 1233 Willow St. at 8:51 a.m. for reports of a structure fire.
Evie Rodriguez, who lives in the home with his father, said he was sleeping in a room in the attic of the 21/2-story house when he awakened after feeling heat. He said he saw smoke and flames inside the room.
Rodriguez said he tried to beat down the flames with a pillow, but that his efforts were useless.
“I got up and started running like crazy,” Rodriguez said later while standing across the street and watching as firefighters tossed damaged belongings from the attic.
City Fire Commissioner Barry Fisher said there were no smoke detectors in the house.
“He was very lucky,” Fisher said.
Rodriguez’s father wasn’t home; he’s currently in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez said.
Fisher said the blaze started as a result of clothes that were piled up around a space heater. The space heater was next to a futon that Rodriguez used as a bed, Fisher said.
Fisher said firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the attic. Damages were estimated at $10,000, Fisher said. The first and second floors sustained smoke and water damage, he said.
Leaning out the attic window in the front of the home, firefighters threw out several large plastic containers that had been partially melted by the blaze. The containers were filled with clothing and other items.
Eric Weaver of Harrisburg, who is renovating the house next door at 1235 Willow St., turned onto Willow Street shortly after the fire was reported and saw fire trucks blocking the street.
“I thought it was at my house at first,” Weaver said.
Weaver’s home, which he plans to sell after renovations are completed, sustained smoke and water damage.
5 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Flooding Creates Home Safety Concerns
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) has issued home safety guidelines to aid Kentuckians left with water damage in their homes due to large amounts of water run-off and flooding throughout the state.
One of the biggest public health concerns linked to water damage in the home is mold, fungi that can be found indoors and out. Molds grow best in warm, damp and humid conditions and spread by making spores.
“Though mold is almost always present in the air, it grows best in damp areas where humidity levels are high,” said Guy Delius, acting director of the public health protection and safety division in DPH. “The recent, heavy rains experienced throughout the state caused flooding in several areas, and many homes experienced water damage.
This is a concern for homeowners, not only because of damage to their home, but it also could lead to a mold problem if left untreated.”
To recognize the signs of mold, look for discolored walls possibly showing water damage, or green or black spots apparent on walls.
Mold also has a musty, earthy smell, or a foul stench.
“Allergy sufferers are those who are usually affected the most by mold exposure. Symptoms usually include nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes, wheezing or skin irritation,” said William Hacker, M.D., DPH commissioner and CHFS acting undersecretary for health. “More severe reactions may include fever or shortness of breath. Those who have medical concerns regarding mold exposure should contact their health care provider.”
To decrease exposure and reduce mold in the home, DPH recommends that homeowners keep the humidity level of the home between 40 and 60 percent.
The use of an air conditioner or dehumidifier may be used to achieve a lower level of humidity. Always use exhaust fans when showering and cooking. Mold inhibitors for paint are also available from home improvement stores.
For cleaning a small area affected by mold, most homeowners may clean up the mold problem themselves.
DPH officials recommend the use of protective glasses or goggles for the eyes. Also wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves and wear clothing that can be washed afterwards.
If there is a heavy mold growth area, you may wish to use a basic respirator or suitable mask to prevent breathing the spores.
Other recommendations include:
- Ensure that the area is well ventilated before beginning.
- Remove all previously soaked porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and are not able to be cleaned and dried.
- Disinfect hard surfaces; a solution may be mixed of 1 cup of household bleach with 1 gallon of water.
- Contact a mold remediation consultant for severe mold cases.
To prevent mold from coming back, DPH recommends implementing mold prevention efforts in the home. For flooding damage, ensure that the home is properly cleaned and dried out by using the aforementioned steps. For small spots, make sure to remove the source of moisture.
“Mold cannot grow without a source of water or moisture,” said Delius. “By removing the water source, the homeowner can ensure that the mold growth should not return.”
If mold growth persists, the homeowner may want to contact a mold remediation professional for more advice. The source of the problem can also be moisture that is hidden in the home.
6 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Mold problems: Is your home making you sick?
There’s plenty of concern — with good reason — about air pollution. But many people are unaware that indoor pollution can be just as bad as, or even worse than, the outdoor kind.
Studies of human exposure to air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels.
Paradoxically, laws designed to improve energy efficiency and outside pollution don’t improve indoor air quality. Tightly sealed homes constructed in the last couple decades to reduce drafts have diminished the use of fossil fuels, but if a house can’t “breathe,” it also can’t dilute pollutants contained in building and decorating products.
While pollutants can affect people differently, the EPA warns of immediate effects including irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Long-term effects can include respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer, according to the EPA.
Potential sources of indoor air pollution include central heating, cooling and dehumidification systems; household cleaning and maintenance products; outdoor sources such as pesticides; biological contaminants such as animal dander, mold and cockroaches; dry-cleaned clothing; tobacco smoke; formaldehyde from fabrics, pressed wood products and insulation; styrene found in adhesives, foam, lubricants, plastics carpets and insulation; and paint-strippers and removers.
While this is not particularly good news, awareness is the first step to a more healthful indoor environment. Your best defense against indoor air pollution is a strong offense.
First, identify and control sources of pollution to reduce and prevent indoor air contamination. This can range from changing housecleaning products to airing out freshly dry-cleaned clothing to tossing out formaldehyde-containing furniture.
Proper ventilation — the mixing of indoor air with outdoor air — can revitalize the air in your home and protect your health. Adequately sized exhaust fans should be used wherever moisture and combustion are present in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen. A bath fan, for example, will help to dissipate chloroform gas, which is a byproduct of chlorinated water. It also will remove excessive moisture that can lead to mold which can produce yet more health hazards.
Since cigarette smoke is one of the single greatest contributors to indoor air pollution, smoking indoors is a no-no. Similarly, fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances (water heaters, furnaces, stoves, etc.) should be properly adjusted and vented to the exterior. Doing so will both prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning and improve the efficiency of the appliance.
Do-it-yourself test kits are available for many indoor air pollutants such as lead or radon.
Other indoor pollutants such as asbestos require professional testing.
The rule of thumb for lead and asbestos is that they are best left alone if in good shape and not peeling or crumbling.
Asbestos or lead should not be scraped or sanded and should be removed only by a professional abatement contractor with the proper equipment.
Moreover, testing should be performed after the abatement process to ensure the air quality is safe.
7 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Residents clean up after recent storms
Many residents are still cleaning up from our recent round of storms.
Many people are working to get rid of flood waters that ended up in their homes. While some they wait for the water to recede, others are hiring disaster restoration teams to move in.
One Green Country restoration company received more than 200 calls for help in just 3 days.
Fred Narvaes with Burggraf Restoration says, “The water causes damage not only to their belongings but to their walls not only to their belongings but to their walls and especially inside their walls which has to be addressed.”
Depending on how high the water rose in some peoples homes, disaster teams say it could take anywhere between 2 and ten days to dry out with professional equipment.
8 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hidden Water Leak Causes Damage, Illness
A Greensboro couple says their home is making them sick. A hidden water leak rotted the home’s wood foundation. The problem is making it hard for the family to breathe.
The slow leak caused $8,500 in damages to their home. The entire floor needs to be replaced and for a retired couple living on a fixed income, they just can’t afford it.
“The hallway bathroom has been constantly leaking onto the joist underneath the house,” said Mary Harrison. “We were not expecting this.”
Two years ago, Joe Harrison became very ill.
“It felt like I had swallowed something and it kind of choked me up,” said Harrison. Joe was hospitalized for 12 days while he recovered.
It wasn’t until the couple pulled up their carpet that they saw the damage.
“You can tell there’s got to be some sort of germs coming from underneath here,” said Mary Harrison.
Doctors diagnosed Joe with congestive obstructive pulmonary disease. He takes 12 pills a day.
“Since having this illness my husband’s medical bills went from $125 dollars to $6,500 out of pocket money from us. We knew it was impossible to do both things so we were looking for help,” said Harrison.
After trying to figure how to pay for both medication and the home repairs, the Harrison’s finally got some relief.
“I think Mary and Joe did the right things. This was something that was not visible to them at all and we’re going to be able to help them,” said Kathy Carpenter, a relator with the Greensboro Relator’s Foundation.
“The Foundation came to our rescue because at that point we did not have $8,000 to do this work,” said Harrison.
“This is our retirement home,” she said. “You don’t expect your home to make you sick. That’s the one place you want to go for refuge.”
A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it’s red, you know you have a problem.
If you have trouble breathing in your home, hire a certified inspector or plumber to look for possible water leaks. A weak floor is a good indication your foundation is rotting. And don’t assume every cough or sneeze is allergy related. You may experience the same symptoms if you have excess moisture in your home.
For $10, the Guilford County Agricultural Extension will submit 5 samples to the NC State University lab for analysis. With a Q-Tip, swab sections of your home you suspect may have mold or rotted wood. Place them separately in plastic bags. Drop them off with a check at the Extension office on Burlington Road in Greensboro. For more information call them at 336-375-5876.
9 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Water damage suffered onboard Navy ship
The Navy’s Seamanship and Navigational Training Vessel, HMNZS KAHU, suffered water damage in an incident at the Devonport Naval Base this morning.
At approximately 0725 an alarm was triggered onboard the ship which was berthed on the Stanley Bay side of the Devonport Naval Base. Naval duty personnel were immediately dispatched to the ship and found that flooding had occurred in a number of compartments.
The source of the leak has been narrowed down to a valve in the generator room.
Ship and engineering personnel are now onboard KAHU assessing the damage.
No contaminants or fuel have leaked from the ship.
A full investigation into the cause of the flooding has commenced. HMNZS KAHU will be brought out of the water tomorrow to allow a full assessment of the ship.
10 Water Damage // Apr 18, 2008 at 9:08 pm
A jury Tuesday awarded $3.6 million after the firm refused to pay for water damage to his home
A jury Tuesday awarded $3.6 million to a Marine captain serving in Iraq after concluding that a nationwide company that specializes in insuring military personnel tried to cheat him out of coverage for water damage to his Oceanside home.
The San Diego County Superior Court jury found that the United Services Automobile Assn.’s Casualty Insurance Co. had attempted to defraud John Colombero in its handling of his 2004 claim.
Colombero was awarded $84,000 to fix the water damage, $50,000 for emotional damages and $3.5 million in punitive damages.
Ricardo Echeverria, the attorney representing Colombero, said the case “showed a pattern and practice of looking for ways to deny coverage.”
The most telling piece of evidence, Echeverria said, was that the experts the insurance company used to examine Colombero’s claim were the same ones it had used in hundreds of other cases. In almost all those cases, he said, the damage was not covered.
In Colombero’s case, the issue was whether the water came from burst pipes, a situation covered by the policy, or from bad drainage or defects, which the company asserted was not the cause.
The Los Angeles firm of Daniels, Fine, Israel and Schonbuch, which is representing the insurance company, did not respond to a request for comment.
Echeverria said he expects an appeal.
Colombero, wearing civilian clothes, testified early in the trial — but he deployed to Iraq on his third tour days before the verdict. He is assigned to a reconnaissance battalion.
After the verdict, he talked to jurors by phone to thank them.
“He just hopes this doesn’t happen to another Marine,” Echeverria said.
Jurors had not been informed during the trial that Colombero was deploying to Iraq.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Nugent had ruled that they could not be told lest that make them more sympathetic to his case.
Texas-based United Services Automobile Assn., which was founded by Army officers in 1922, specializes in insurance, banking and brokerage services for active-duty and retired military personnel.
Fitch Ratings, the credit research firm, said the insurance company “dominates the market for military or military-related consumers.” The company is a “reciprocal” insurance exchange and pays dividends to members. Its website says it has 6 million members.
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