We have recently added a new series of videos explaining the special process of cleaning area rugs. Please visit our site at www.championcleaningsystems.com
You can watch how the experts will take special care of your area rugs.

Linda Minardi – Cleaning Department Manager

Larry Banach – Construction Department Manager

Thomas Stuart – Mitigation Crew

What many people fail to understand about Green building is that it is an environmental effort, both within the home and outside. The effort is to lessen the impact on energy & the environment while increasing the quality of life inside the home. Some efforts include better insulation, use of products with recycled content, use of items which do not give off volatile organic compounds, energy efficient appliances & lighting, etc. I encourage you to research the many options available to you to improve the quality of life within your home, one room at a time.

And, lest I forget, you may want to check with your insurance agent in the near future. Some (i.e. Chubb, Travelers, Fireman’s Fund, etc.) are now offering Green Upgrade policies which will allow you to upgrade to Green products if you experience a insurance loss to your home.

Jerry Quarles – Estimator

Before considering fighting any fire there are a few things that you should know.

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguishers must be (UL) Underwriters Laboratory approved.  UL is a testing laboratory that is nationally recognized.  They verify compliance with OSHA standards 29.CFR 1910.157(c)(2).  Once a Fire Extinguisher has passed all the tests they are given an alpha numeric classification based on the type and size of the fire it will extinguish.

Letter & Types of Fire

A: Wood, paper, cloth, trash, rubber, plastic, & other ordinary materials

B: Gasoline, grease, oil, paint and other flammable liquids

C: Live electrical equipment, wiring fuse boxes, or computer

D: Combustible Metals of magnesium, titanium, potassium, and sodium.

K: Kitchen - Oils and Fats

Choose the proper location(s) of your fire extinguisher

It is important that the correct type and size of an extinguisher is located near potential hazards.

Do not place a fire extinguisher in your hazard zone.

Example: A fire extinguisher placed right above a stove, would not be accessible if the stove were to catch on fire.

When not to Fight a Fire – Fight or Flee

Do not fight a fire if……

• The fire is spreading beyond the spot where it started.
• The fire is blocking your escape route.
• You don’t have an adequate fire extinguisher.
• The Fire is partially hidden behind a wall or ceiling, or can not be reached from a standing position
• Due to smoke and products of combustion, the fire can not be fought without respiratory protection.
• The radiated heat is easily felt on exposed skin making it difficult to approach within 10-15 feet of the fire (or the effective range of the extinguisher).
• One must crawl on the floor due to heat or smoke.
• Smoke is quickly filling the room, decreasing visibility.

How to Fight a Fire (P.A.S.S.)

1. The first thing you must do is call 911.                        

2. Inspect your extinguisher

     a. Make sure it’s the right classification

     b. Make sure it is full

 Follow the acronym P.A.S.S.

P: Pull the Pin

A: Aim – the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flames.

S: Squeeze – the trigger while holding the extinguisher upright

S: Sweep – the extinguisher from side to side covering the area of the fire with the extinguishing  agent.

When to leave the area immediately

Make sure you leave the area immediately when…

• Your path of escape is threatened.
• Your extinguisher runs out of agent.
• Your extinguisher is ineffective
• When you no longer are able to safely fight the fire. 

Cherrise Kelley – Human Resources / Administration / Receptionist

Two of the family’s four members have disabilities: father Jeremy and son Jacob. Jeremy Williams, 38, suffers from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The fatal condition affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It’s incurable and impacts behaviors like speech, swallowing and breathing. Jeremy has been the head football coach at Greenville High School for the past eight years and is currently the school’s athletic director as well. Jeremy has trouble walking and will soon be confined to a wheelchair, but he continues to coach his team, has only missed one practice to date, and led his team to an 11-0 season and into the playoffs last fall. His determination and motivation in the face of adversity has given hope and inspiration to the entire community.

Williams has a 6-year-old son, Jacob, who was born with spina bifida, an incomplete development of the spinal cord. The boy requires a wheelchair and treatments include surgery. The family also includes wife Jennifer, 38, and daughter Josie, 8.

Their old home had problems like a cracked and sinking foundation and mold-infected walls, according to a statement released by the show Sunday. Also, its small size wasn’t conducive to people with disabilities. But that will soon be a thing of the past because on Saturday the family will be hearing those famous words: “Move that bus!”

The Public Viewing Area & VIP Tent will be open from 8AM – 8PM from Tuesday 2/23 through Saturday 2/27. Parking for the shuttles to the site will be at Charles Moultrie Park 10695 Highway 116, Hamilton, GA 31811

Here is a list of items and skills needed if you would like to help out.

Summer Bishop – Marketing Support

Why do we drive on a parkway but park in a driveway?

How is there an interstate in Hawaii?

How do you trip over a cordless phone?

If you have answers to any of these questions just reply to the post!!!

Thomas Stuart – Mitigation Crew

Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states.

Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property.

Your home has a 26% chance of being damaged by a flood during the course of a 30-year mortgage in a high-risk area, compared to a 9% chance of fire.

New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff paths.

Being prepared for a flood can not only help keep your family safe, it can also help minimize potential flood damage and accelerate recovery efforts. Learn how to deal with a flood, both before and after it happens, right now.

Educate Yourself

After getting flood insurance, there are several things you can do to minimize losses in your home and ensure your family’s safety.

1. Safeguard your possessions.

Create a personal “flood file” containing information about all your possessions and keep it in a secure place, such as a safe deposit box or waterproof container. This file should have:

- A copy of your insurance policies with your agent’s contact information.

- A room-by-room inventory of your possessions, including receipts, photos, and videos.

- Copies of all other critical documents, including finance records or receipts of major purchases.

2. Prepare your house.

- First make sure your sump pump is working and then install a battery-operated backup, in case of a power failure. Installing a water alarm will also let you know if water is accumulating in your basement.

- Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.

- Anchor any fuel tanks.

- Raise your electrical components (switches, sockets, circuit breakers, and wiring) at least 12 inches above your home’s projected flood elevation.

- Place the furnace, water heater, washer, and dryer on cement blocks at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.

- Move furniture, valuables, and important documents to a safe place.

3. Develop a family emergency plan.

- Create a safety kit with drinking water, canned food, first aid, blankets, a radio, and a flashlight.

- Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone and teach your children how to dial 911.

- Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your family. Know safe routes from home, work, and school that are on higher ground.

- Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to be your emergency family contact.

- Have a plan to protect your pets.

Source: www.floodsmart.gov

As always, the Champion team is committed to doing everything in our power to continue to provide outstanding service to our clients during this year’s storm season. If you have any questions please feel free to call our office at 770-253-6070. We also have collected an abundance of valuable resources available on our Information Center at www.championcsi.com.

1. How much rapidly moving water can knock a person down?
A. 3 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 12 inches

The answer is B. It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving water to bring you down.

2. Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994 dropped how many inches of rain on Americus, Georgia in a span of 24 hours causing rivers to burst their banks and flood the area?
A. 21 inches
B. 32 inches
C. 44 inches

The answer is A. 21 inches

3. How high was the wall of water that hit Shadyside, Ohio, in a flash flood on June 14, 1990?
A. 10-15 feet
B. 15-20 feet
C. 25-30 feet

The answer is B. 15-20 feet. After thunderstorms drenched Southeastern Ohio that day, three tributaries of the Ohio River flooded and sent a wall of water into Shadyside, killing 26 people.

4. This “Great” flood occurred in 1993 and caused a very well known river to flood and cause massive damage in the Midwest. What is the name of this river?
A. Snake River
B. Chattahoochee River
C. Mississippi River

The answer is C. The Mississippi River. This flood is one of the worst of all time. The Mississippi River broke through many dikes and walls after months of rain. The floodwaters stayed in some streets for 2 months or more.

5. What’s a muddy flood?
A. a flood caused by runoff on farmland
B. a flood caused by a landslide
C. a flood with a lot of mud in it

The answer is A. Muddy floods happen when heavy storms on cropland cause a great deal of runoff. They’ve increased in some areas because of new home construction and the planting of erosion-sensitive crops.

6. In 1976 the Teton Dam failed and caused the loss of 14 lives with the flood it caused. What state was this doomed dam built in?
A. Wyoming
B. Idaho
C. Utah

The answer is B. The dam was located in Idaho and the dam was doomed when seepage started to wear away the bottom of it. The dam was never rebuilt.

7. Which of these can cause floods?
A. Heavy rain
B. Snow melt
C. Ice jams
D. All of the above

The answer is D. Most floods are caused by heavy rain but some of the worst floods ever have been caused by rapid snow melt. Ice jams can cause major flooding problems also.

8. What caused the famous 1889 flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania?
A. Sudden ice melt in the Allegheny Mountains
B. Hurricane Clara
C. Broken dam

The answer is C. On May 31, 1889, after days of torrential rain, the South Fork Dam burst near Johnstown, sending the waters of Lake Conemaugh roaring downhill. The flash flood killed more than 2,000 people in a matter of minutes.

9. What should you do if a flash flood is approaching you?
A. Climb to higher ground any way you can
B. Run as fast as you can
C. Go limp and let the flood waters carry you

The answer is A. You should  climb to higher ground out of the path of the flood.

10. What percentage of the city of New Orleans was flooded after Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
A. 30 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 80 percent

The answer is C. Because of the failure of the city’s levee system, 80 percent of New Orleans flooded.