After Hurricane Florence, SERVPRO of South Miami responded quickly to the USS North Carolina Battleship Welcome Center.

10/10/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO crew arriving at Dram Tree Boat Launch in Wilmington, NC, on September 18th. Photo courtesy of Miles Early

Experienced Commercial Storm Damage Restoration Team Arrives By Boat

The devastating winds of Hurricane Florence impacted the North Carolina coastline after days of anticipation. Hurricane Florence turned Wilmington, N.C., from a peninsula into an island. The city of Wilmington opened distribution centers for food and water shortly after the historic floods from the mighty Hurricane Florence.

The USS North Carolina Battleship Welcome Center suffered catastrophic damage to over 60% of the roof and exposed the interior spaces to torrential rains throughout the majority of the storm. The Chairman of the Battleship Commission (Mr. Chris Boney) contacted SERVPRO executives as soon as he became aware of the roof damage to the visitor center. SERVPRO immediately mobilized a team from South Florida lead by Miles Early (franchise owner) and Robby Buys (project manager) to quickly assess the situation and get crews and dehumidification equipment onsite to limit damages.

Our SERVPRO team made it as far north as Bolivia, NC, when flooded and impassible roads stopped us. Fully aware of the importance of the Battleship Memorial to the people of North Carolina, the team made the decision not to wait for roads to open, but rather to hire a charter boat and obtain Coast Guard approval to travel 30 miles up the Cape Fear River from Southport.

On September 18th, the SERVPRO of South Miami crew arrived at a public boat ramp adjacent to the Battleship with enough equipment and people to begin vital remediation efforts. Battleship staff transported the team and their equipment to the ship. SERVPRO’s quick and determined response to the Battleship, along with the valiant efforts of the Battleship Maintenance Staff, saved tens of thousands of dollars in damages and enabled the Battleship to recover from a devastating hurricane quickly.

Storms and inclement weather can be devastating to any business. Heavy rain, wind damage, and flooding can cause substantial damage in just a few minutes. SERVPRO of South Miami has the training, equipment, and experience to handle large commercial water or storm damage emergencies. Our team can respond quickly to manage the restoration project through to its completion.