In Oregon this week, heavy rainfall on the order of 1 to 8 inches, coupled with recent snowfall, has caused widespread flooding in the Northwest portion of the state. It has become a one-two punch as conditions are repeating themselves and may cause additional flood damage to the area later this week.

In any case where snowfall is accompanied by rain, the possibility of flooding is increased, and home and business owners, especially those in low lying areas, should be aware of the threat and take steps to protect their properties, as well as have an evacuation plan in place.

If flood waters are expected, all loose or valuable items should be moved to an upper level, especially electrical devices or appliances.

If flooding appears imminent, plans should be in place for evacuation to higher ground. All utilities should be shut off at their source. Each family member should have their own evacuation “go bag” equipped with food, water, clothing, and money for an extended stay away from home.

Because snowfall usually makes travel difficult, and even dangerous, it becomes doubly important to monitor the local weather conditions, and be able to leave before travel becomes impossible.

Of course, proper flood insurance is also vital for protecting any home in the event of a flood. Because flood policies have a 30 day waiting period, it becomes important to obtain the coverage now, especially since the winter season has begun in earnest for many areas of the country.

Based in Cleveland, OH, RestorationLocal.com offers water damage repair and restoration services in more than 30 states, with new providers being added every week. Visit their website for additional information.

The Garth House in Texas, the location of a children’s advocacy non-profit organization, discovered this problem firsthand recently, when moisture was discovered beneath the flooring of the location following an extensive renovation project.

Following the renovation in 2010, employees began to notice cracked tile floors throughout the structure. The moisture problem was discovered when the flooring was torn up. Subsequent investigation revealed that the company responsible for the renovation had failed to properly install windows, as well as neglecting to install a moisture barrier in the walls, and failed to install plywood subflooring or any kind of subfloor ventilation system. The building has since been repaired by other contractors, and a lawsuit has been brought against the company that originally did the work. The case is still pending.

RestorationLocal.com strongly recommends that homeowners do their proper research before allowing anyone to perform work on their property. Hiring the wrong provider can often make serious problems even worse, easily doubling or tripling the repair bills before the problem is properly corrected.

Checking references, work history, the local Better Business Bureau….all should be done before hiring any contractor.

In the event of water damage, the same rules should be followed when selecting a company to repair the damage. Water restoration providers are a dime a dozen, but only industry certified companies should be hired to perform the work. Certification means same day service, industry standard procedures and equipment, as well as a guarantee on all work performed.

“Sears Home Services is a trusted resource for home improvement assistance, with attractive pricing and financing options for our customers,” said Stu Reed, SVP and president of Sears Home Services. “We want to provide our customers with everything they need to improve their homes with high-quality products and exclusive brands—plus the confidence of knowing the work is backed by a Sears warranty.”

To help customers get a fresh start, Sears experts will provide free in-home consultations, working within a specified budget and style to create virtual mock-ups and help identify various brands and options to meet each homeowner’s needs. Whether customers prefer a look that is traditional, contemporary, elegant or luxurious, Sears has the design choices to enhance the style and feel of any home. Sears Home Services consultants offer tips and special offers on a variety of home improvement projects that will help enrich the home.

Bath Remodeling

According to the National Association of Realtors, one of the best investments in a home is bathroom renovation. Remodeling a bathroom that’s more than 25 years old substantially increases the value of your home.[i] Whether it’s updating cabinets, lighting, tiling or countertops, or planning a total bathroom makeover, Sears experts can help with every step of the process. Or, for a few quick fixes that will update the overall look of your bathroom, do-it-yourselfer’s can install new bathroom accessories such as towel bars, the shower-curtain rod, robe hooks and the showerhead.

Kitchen Remodeling

The kitchen is the heart of the home. And kitchen renovations don’t need to be dramatic to be impactful—updates such as new countertops, cabinets, appliances or flooring all can dramatically improve the kitchen. Additionally, these improvements can also help yield increased functionality and space throughout the kitchen. For a simple refresh, homeowners can also give their kitchen a new look by replacing the hardware on cabinets, painting or updating fixtures. Sears experts can help with kitchen cabinet installation or refacing, kitchen countertop installation or a total kitchen makeover.

Flooring Installation

A great way to upgrade an area of your home and pull a room together is to install new floors. Whether it’s carpeting, tile, laminate, porcelain or ceramic tile, vinyl or hardwood flooring installation—Sears has quality home flooring. As always, a Sears project coordinator will help choose the right floors for each homeowner’s needs.

#1: FOAM
#2: DOME
#3: DRIP

FOAM: Insulate pipes exposed to the elements or cold drafts. For as little as $1 per 6’ of insulation, you can stop pipes from freezing and save energy. By keeping your water warmer, you reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water in the cold, winter months.

DOME: Place an insulating dome or other coverings on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing, expanding and causing a costly leak.

DRIP: Allow a slow drip from your faucets to reduce the buildup of pressure in the pipes. Even if the pipes freeze, the released pressure in the water system will reduce the likelihood of a rupture. If you are going out of town and suspect the temperature will drop, turn off the water and open all of the taps to drain the water system. This way pipes won’t freeze and you won’t return home to a mess.

Your local home improvement store will have all of the tools and expertise you will need to complete these steps. FOAM, DOME, DRIP your way to a safe winter season free of costly home repairs!

These and other winter preparedness tips are available from the FLASH Great Winter Weather Party, a fun, new family-friendly website and social media campaign, presented by FLASH, aimed at better preparing families and their homes for winter weather hazards. Visithttp://www.greatwinterweatherparty.org for more information.

Roofs should be inspected for any signs of damage. Missing or damaged shingles and flashing may provide access to the home by water, or melting ice, or snow runoff. Stains on the roof may provide evidence that water is able to gather there (also known as puddling), which may put undue strain on the roof and even cause it to run the risk of collapse.

Roofs should also be inspected from the inside of the attic. If there is any light visible, that means a break or a crack in the seal. The area should be resealed and caulked to prevent water from coming in.

Gutters and downspouts should be kept clean and free of obstructions. Once snow begins to melt, a great deal of water will be running through those gutters, so it is important that they be able to handle the flow. Overflowing gutters can send water flowing in all kinds of directions, and not always the desired ones. Downspouts should properly channel water away from the home.

If water damage is discovered, even if it appears to be a minor leak, then it should be repaired and dried up as quickly as possible. Water damage will not improve on its own; it must be properly repaired and all of the water cleaned up. If not, the leak will get worse over time, and left alone long enough, it will produce subsequent problems such as mold.

When snow is allowed to build up around these areas it can become compacted and freeze. This can cause damage that interferes with proper operation of the natural gas meter and gas appliances. Customers are advised to carefully remove snow by hand and not use a shovel or power snow removal equipment around these areas.

While most gas appliance fresh air intake and exhaust pipes are generally located on the sides of buildings, in manufactured or mobile homes they are most often located on the roof. Customers should use caution if they need to inspect these rooftop pipes.

“It’s important that customers keep meters, fresh air vents and exhaust pipes clear, particularly after weather that brings heavy snow and ice buildup,” said Garrick Rochow, vice president of energy delivery for the utility.  “Not only can snow and ice cause furnaces and appliances such as water heaters to stop operating, it can also cause potentially life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning to develop.”

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless and can be produced when appliances aren’t operating or venting properly. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning often mimic the flu and include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and stinging or burning of the eyes.  If any of these symptoms are experienced, or if you have an audible carbon monoxide detector and it alarms, leave the building or area and contact Consumers Energy, your local natural gas provider or 911.

The best defense against carbon monoxide poisoning is to install an audible alarm that will sound if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are present.

To help ensure the safety of meter readers, customers are also asked to keep their sidewalks, stairways and gate areas free of snow and ice buildup. A clear path to the meter and a meter that is clearly visible without a build-up of snow and ice will help make meters easier to read and reduce the need for estimating energy use.

“Preparing for old man winter means more than just pulling out your winter coats and gloves, especially if you own a home. Because a busted pipe on your property can be a real nightmare, preparation is key,” said Cervantes. The Wilhelm Insurance Agency agrees. Agents recommend taking the time now to clean or replace your home’s heating system before turning it on for the first time. Wilhelm agents also say to inspect storm doors and windows for cracked gaskets, seals, or glass and make the necessary repairs. In addition, here are some other tips –

1. Remove leaves, acorns, sticks, and other debris from gutters before the freeze.

2. Ensure that your snow blower and other snow removal equipment are in good working condition.

3. Survey the trees in your yard and around your home. Is snow covered branches would it endanger any part of your house or cars? If so, trim them back.

4. Examine the installation in your attics, crawl spaces, and basements.

5. During the winter set your interior temperature to at least 65 degrees, even when you will not be home.

6. Learn where shut-off valves are for all plumbing.

And last, but not least, take similar precautions for your vacation home. Make sure all pipes are drained and the toilet is empty so expanding ice cannot crack the porcelain. Furthermore, install a freeze alarm in your vacant home. Freeze alarms are an easy and inexpensive way to avoid what can be expensive damage. So says Home Security Store Vice-President Ralph Winn, who has over 38 years of experience in the security industry.

“Every freeze alarm varies slightly, but most operate on the same premise: it alerts you, usually via phone, when the temperature inside your home drops below (or nearly below) freezing. When you receive a pre-recorded voice message from the freeze alarm, you can then remotely respond and take immediate action to protect your home,” said Winn.

In addition, a more advanced freeze alarm may allow you to preset the temperature alerts according to your own preference, or send alerts to multiple phone lines.

“Often, a freeze alarm will double as a heat sensor as well, alerting you to high temperatures that may be hazardous to plants or pets if your air conditioning fails. Installation is typically no more difficult than plugging in a phone cable and maintenance usually requires 9-volt batteries,” said Winn.

Winn adds that some freeze alarm models allow you to check the battery charge, or call into the system to check the temperature in your home, cabin, or greenhouse – and that’s exactly what Dave Greene does, who leaves his New Hampshire home in the winter for warmer Florida four months out of the year.

As it happens, Greene is also President of Insurance24.com Inc. and advises his client base on how to protect their families and properties from accidents and disasters.

“I advise my New England clients, who leave their homes during the winter months, to shut off their water supply and install a freeze alarm,” said Greene. Greene practices what he preaches too. That’s why he calls his freeze alarm twice a day to check the temperature of his New Hampshire home all the way from Florida.

Remember, potential dangers of freezing temperatures are often times overlooked. Frozen pipes are known to burst, which can cause extensive water damage to both homes and businesses. Protect your property and your finances.

“One of the challenges of home ownership is that the potential for expensive repairs is always out there,” says Tom Rusin, Chief Executive Officer of HomeServe USA.  ”The fact that homeowners don’t know about their responsibilities in these situations serves to make unexpected and expensive repairs harder to handle.”

“Emergencies do happen and unfortunately, there’s very little someone can do to prevent them,” continues Rusin. “But homeowners can be prepared with a service repair plan that helps cover the cost of expensive water service line repairs.”

Typically the homeowner is responsible for the water service line from the curb or well casing all the way to the home, connecting to the water heater, sinks, showers and more. Temperature changes, shifting soil or the age of the line can all cause the line to become damaged. Many times this results in a loss of water pressure or a loss of water altogether. In other instances, the effects will not be noticed until there is a spike in the water bill due to an underground leak. Repairing a water service line can cost more than $2,000.

HomeServe will be offering its Water Service Line Protection Plan to homeowners via a no-obligation direct mail offer. This plan provides consumers thousands of dollars in coverage for a low monthly fee. When enrolled in the program, customers have access to a 24-hour emergency hotline that will dispatch a contractor to make any necessary repairs.

HomeServe has established a network of local, licensed and qualified contractors to serve the area. Contractors are screened and assessed before joining the HomeServe network and making repairs at the customer’s home.

“Our mission is simple,” concludes Rusin, “To educate homeowners about their responsibilities and offer a solution that protects them from the hassle and expense of unexpected home repairs.”

“One of the challenges of home ownership is that the potential for expensive repairs is always out there,” says Tom Rusin, Chief Executive Officer of Home Emergency Insurance Solutions.  ”The fact that homeowners don’t know about their responsibilities in these situations serves to make unexpected and expensive repairs harder to handle.”

“Emergencies do happen and unfortunately, there’s very little someone can do to prevent them,” continues Rusin. “But homeowners can be prepared with a service repair plan that helps cover the cost of expensive water service line repairs.”

Typically the homeowner is responsible for the water service line from the curb or well casing all the way to the home, connecting to the water heater, sinks, showers and more. Temperature changes, shifting soil or the age of the line can all cause the line to become damaged. Many times this results in a loss of water pressure or a loss of water altogether. In other instances, the effects will not be noticed until there is a spike in the water bill due to an underground leak. Repairing a water service line can cost more than $2,000.

Home Emergency Insurance Solutions will be offering its Water Service Line Protection Plan to homeowners via a no-obligation direct mail offer. This plan provides consumers thousands of dollars in coverage for a low monthly fee. When enrolled in the program, customers have access to a 24-hour emergency hotline that will dispatch a contractor to make any necessary repairs.

Home Emergency Insurance Solutions has established a network of local, licensed and qualified contractors to serve the area. Contractors are screened and assessed before joining the Home Emergency Insurance Solutions network and making repairs at the customer’s home.

“Our mission is simple,” concludes Rusin, “To educate homeowners about their responsibilities and offer a solution that protects them from the hassle and expense of unexpected home repairs.”

The Midwest is likely to bear the brunt of the storms, with this year’s La Nina effect driving storms across the region, including the Great Lakes area. Whereas New York was the major recipient of severe winter weather last year, this winter’s big city target is most likely to be Chicago, which endured a monster blizzard in 2011 and could face an even greater threat in 2012.

Severe blasts of Arctic air are expected to cross the northern Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes from December through the end of January or early February. Most meteorologists are expecting some “heavy hitter” snow events during the same time period.

Ice is predicted to be a major problem in the lower Mississippi Valley, affecting large areas of both Mississippi and Alabama. This follows on the heels of severe tornado damage that ravaged the same region last spring. Ice may also be the predominant problem across the Carolinas and Georgia.

About the only area which may emerge relatively unscathed is the southwestern portion of the country, with Texas not expected to be able to pull out of its severe drought condition due to less than expected average precipitation.

The Western portion of the US may experience the widest swings in weather conditions during the coming winter season, with above normal warmth across much of the area during December and January, giving way to cold fronts affecting much of the state of California. The “Pineapple Express”, a phenomena which pulls in a strong persistent flow of tropical moisture from the Hawaiian Islands to the West Coast, could develop for a time this winter, bringing with it excessive rainfall as well as severe snow events.

Any case of above average rainfall, excess snow, or melting ice, may result in flooding of homes or businesses, leaving behind considerable water damage. RestorationLocal.com is one of the leading providers of water damage repair and restoration services in the US, with providers in all 50 states, 24/7 availability, and same day emergency service.

Water damage from any source can cause serious problems, and if left untreated, will pave the way for long term issues that can cause additional damage and increase the cost of repairs. Homeowners are advised to act quickly to secure professional assistance in the event of any damage related to winter weather.

RestorationLocal.com is certified by the Clean Trust (IICRC) and Restoration Industry Association (RIA) and a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.