Paramount Disaster Recovery Expert Urges Property Owners to Prepare Emergency Response and plans

July 29, 2010 - PRLog -- First came Hurricane Katrina and many more followed, then L.A.'s massive Station Fire, followed by the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes. In between, tornados, floods and massive snowstorms have caused the loss of lives and massive property damage. According to scientists who study global warming, these are just a few of the natural disasters predicted in the years ahead. While we may not be able to stop disasters from occurring, disaster recovery expert Steve Slepcevic says better preparation will help us survive and recover.

Steve Slepcevic is president and founder of Paramount Disaster Recovery, Inc., a leading nationwide disaster response and recovery contracting company. Since 1989, Paramount has completed over 2,000 disaster restoration projects nationally. The company's team includes licensed contractors, certified industrial hygienists, structural engineers, and architects who are able to identify structural and hazardous material problems that insurance claim adjusters may overlook due to lack of training, experience or licensing.

Since the best approach is in offsetting damage, Steve Slepcevic recommends a few simple steps to help properties withstand the onslaught of extreme weather. This includes a periodic roof inspection and the clearing of scuppers and gutters to avoid roof collapse before winter approaches. He notes, "There are over 3,000 roof collapses each year in the U.S., resulting in over 20 deaths and a widespread disruption of business operations."

Preparation of a Family Communication Plan is key to surviving any disaster. Says Steve Slepcevic ,"In the plan, list who to contact in the event of an emergency and ways to do so should normal communications be disrupted or family members get separated. In addition, each family member should have a 5-day Disaster Kit for their vehicle with food, water, clothing and additional emergency supplies."

Additionally, he recommends that every family draw up an Emergency Evacuation Plan with a location to meet outside the city limits, should roads become inaccessible or their home become uninhabitable. They should also designate an emergency phone number for messages to be left every 4 to 8 hours, as needed.

Paramount Disaster Recovery offers nationwide classes with a team of experts for preparing, responding to and recovering from disasters. The Disaster Preparedness Summit (www.disastersummit.org) holds public events and can also be booked for private education events, nationwide, specifically tailored for large commercial companies.

In the event of a disaster, Steve Slepcevic recommends a "Post Disaster Plan" to deal with destruction or damage to one's property. He states, "Most people assume that their insurance company will take care of them, but owning an insurance policy is very different from having a disaster recovery plan. When you are standing in the rubble of your home, the last thing you need is to be arguing with an insurance adjuster about what your insurance does or doesn't cover."

He points out that when filing a claim for damage, it is essential for property owners to get help from professionals who understand the insurance language so the claim is presented properly. For this, he recommends a public adjuster or an attorney. Having help in documenting the damage, complete with the proper terminology, significantly increases insurance company settlements and will often speed up its processing.

"Our purpose, as disaster recovery experts, is to help minimize the business interruption, relieve some of the stress, and when possible, the degree of financial and personal property loss by helping property owners through the reconstruction process as their general contractor."

Paramount's Disaster Recovery, Inc. is headquartered in Southern California with affiliate locations independently owned and operated throughout the world. Paramount operates its own specially trained Emergency Response Team, known as Paramount's Team TRAID™, ready for immediate deployment, nationwide, with 24 hour emergency response service, consulting and complete reconstruction .

# # #

Steve Slepcevic founded Paramount Disaster Recovery Inc. in 1989 and serves as its president and chief executive officer. Through his diligence in serving the clients of Paramount.