Tropical Storm Beryl’s downpours and wind gusts over the Memorial Day weekend signaled the start of a busy season for Marguerite and Michael Mumford.
They co-own Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida, a franchise of the Jacksonville-based national chain that handles property damage mitigation, reconstruction and remodeling.
Michael Mumford said calls have picked up after the weekend storm that caused, among other damage, flooding and tree limbs that crashed through bedroom ceilings.
Starting around 2 a.m. Monday, the company began receiving calls and ended up with almost 20. Tuesday, another 30 came in.
“We have been pretty busy around here the last few days. It can go on for months,” he said.
Crews meet early daily for a briefing and then head out around the area, often working late hours in the days after a storm. They take the cleaning supplies, industrial fans, dehumidifiers and other equipment used to restore a home to its pre-storm condition.
“We’re like house doctors. When your house gets sick, we come in and fix it,” he said.
Kitchen fires and smoke damage are other reasons people use their services, but with hurricane season starting Friday and lasting through November, the potential increases for customers.
“It was a wake-up call for a lot of people,” Mumford said of Beryl.
Mumford said ridding household items or those of personal value of smoke, mold and water damage is sometimes met with skepticism from customers, but he said the results are real.
“They are often surprised,” he said.
Mumford said insurance often covers the services Paul Davis provides and he recommends that homeowners and renters have their paperwork in order for potential claims, just in case of an emergency.
“We help people get their lives back together,” he said.
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