Before

After

Wildfires

Wildfires and You

Being in the southeast, more often than not our normal idea of natural disaster falls into the category of heavy rainstorms and the winds they bring. When we think about wildfires, we may focus on the western part of the country. Surprisingly enough, these photos were taken in The Appalachian Mountains. Back in 2016, The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia suffered a wildfire that, according to The Weather Channel, needed 250 firemen to contain it. Something to consider in the upcoming fall months is the amount of outdoor fires that come with dry vegetation and an increase in bonfires.

What You Can Do
Here are some easy tips from National Geographic on how to prepare your home for rampant fires.

Remove flammable materials like firewood, trash, gas storage, and gas grills from your yard.
Close all open doors, vents, and windows to prevent a draft.
Shut off gas lines.
Any storage exposed vessels of storage such a bins, trash cans, or even pools should be filled with water.
Here to Help!
As much as you can prepare, some disasters are unavoidable. That is where we come in! Whether you live in Varnell or Fort O, SERVPRO of North Whitfield and Catoosa Counties is prepared to help you recover after any disaster.