Feature image above: COO Payton Smith, left, and CEO Britt Stewart (File photos)
Central Arkansas has been battered by severe weather this year, including ice storms, floods, tornadoes and fire-risk conditions.
That has left many Arkansans dealing with home damage.
Leaders at Metro Disaster Specialists in North Little Rock have been busy working to help restore both residential and commercial places after the storms.
“It was multiple days of heavy rain,” CEO Britt Stewart said of the flash flooding in April. “After that, we had that storm come through with straight-line winds. I think we had close to 30 houses that had trees on them.”
Stewart said flooding can contribute to trees falling because the ground becomes oversaturated with rain water.
If a tree or limb does fall on a home, the home owner first needs to contact someone who can remove the tree, and Metro can give recommendations for companies to work with for that step of the process, he said.
Next, Metro’s team will come in and assess the damage, working with the insurance companies to estimate the price of restoration for the home owner. Metro’s professionals then complete the restoration job precisely and efficiently, including repairs.
“Something that goes hand in hand [with storm damage] is water damage because typically when a storm comes through, wind-driven rain comes through and affects the structure,” said Payton Smith, chief operating officer.
If a home is flooded, Smith said the Metro Disaster Specialists team will come in and set up drying equipment, do mitigation, and move items and furniture into another room or a storage facility.
Stewart also asked that people be aware that electricity can get damaged during a storm and pose a risk for electrocution, which is why it is important to have a knowledgeable and trusted team onsite once damage occurs.
While damage is sometimes inevitable and unavoidable, there are ways homeowners can avoid certain catastrophes.
Smith said he recommends trimming tree limbs that hang over homes or power lines to help try to avoid damage.
Marketing Director Meredith Pierce said families should stay weather aware to keep themselves safe.
Meredith Pierce, marketing director
Especially for something like fire or flood damage, it is a good idea to have a full video of the home and its contents taken beforehand, Smith said. Once the damage occurs, be sure to take many photos, as well.
Metro Disaster Specialists is different from many other companies because it is full service, he added. Any damage that needs fixed, the team can handle.
“We’ve worked from small closets in a house to a whole house,” Smith said.
He urged homeowners to have a trusted contractor and not go with a “fly-by-night” company that may come into the area after a large disaster occurs. That avoids having to have a second company come in if the first company does not complete the restoration well.
Pierce said even if someone is worried about the cost of damages, they should not wait too long to have the damages fixed, since problems could become worse.
Metro Disaster Specialists estimators work with insurance companies to agree on the scope of work.
“The estimator works with the homeowner and insurance company to develop the scope of repair, and then, once that scope is developed, we put a price to it with insurance standard pricing,” Smith said.
The team’s best advice after tragedy strikes is to work with someone who is trustworthy and will do the job correctly.
“Have a company that genuinely cares,” Smith said. “A lot of times, people have never been through something like this before. It’s the most vulnerable moment of their whole life.”
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