Recovering Emotionally After a Fire

4/4/2016 (Permalink)

Losing your home, or having your home damaged by a fire, can involve not only the loss of your home, but other items valued such as photo albums, important documents and treasured items. Your home is your place and security and safety. After a fire, your since of security can be lost.

Losing a home can cause significant emotional distress. Here are some self-care strategies that may help:

It is common for people to experience several stages of adjustment including shock, anger, depression and hopelessness. Ultimately, however, people can reach a stage of acceptance and become able to move beyond disbelief, bitterness and sadness. Positive feelings can begin to re-emerge as the focus shifts towards the future. Safety, security and comfort are regained, and life moves forward once again.

For children, they can react in a variety of ways including anxiety, nightmares and sleep disorders. Children are influenced by how their caregivers are dealing with crisis. It is important to be a positive role model. Be open to their thoughts and concerns. Let them keep to their usual routine as much as possible.

At SERVPRO of Franklin County, we understand how much of traumatic time this can be for you and your family. After the fire trucks leave, your home likely suffers from fire and smoke damage and extensive water damage from firefighting efforts. You may feel stressed, confused, and vulnerable, so you’ll need a caring expert to guide you through this crisis. We’ll treat you with respect and empathy, and we’ll always treat your home and belongings with care.

Every fire damage event is a little different, and requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same. Here is what you can expect:

Step 1: Emergency Contact
The restoration process begins when you call us. Our representative will ask questions regarding the fire damage event that will help us respond immediately with the appropriate equipment and resources.

Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
We carefully inspect and test adjoining rooms of your property to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, and soot damage. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action.

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof-Tarp Service
Fire damage can often compromise windows, walls, and roofs. To maintain security and to protect against further damage, we can board up missing windows and walls and place tarps on damaged roofs.

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)
The water removal process begins almost immediately and removes the majority of the water. We then use dehumidifiers and air movers to remove the remaining water and complete the drying process.

Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces
We use specialized equipment and techniques to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces.

Step 6: Cleaning and Sanitizing
We clean, sanitize, and disinfect all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to restore your belongings to pre-fire condition. We’re also trained to remove odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment.

Step 7: Restoration
Restoration is the final step—getting your home or business to its pre-fire condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

Have Questions About Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call Today – (636) 583-5200