The word ‘natural’ gets a lot of traction in the media; in fact, you probably see ads every day for natural ingredients, natural fibers, and natural cold remedies, across all forms of media. But not everything that’s natural produces positive results.
Take “Natural Disasters” (yes, we’re using a capital N for this one!): Completely devastating to experience and to clean up. In fact, in a research article published in 2014, called “Natural hazards in Ontario, Canada: an analysis for resilience building,” researchers found that the province of Ontario experienced 160 natural disasters between the years 1900-2013. This data revealed that Ontarians endure about 1.5 events each year. This doesn’t seem like much, but even one catastrophic windstorm or winter storm can have short and long-term effects. Many families will face a sense of displacement or loss following evacuation, especially if their home and belongings have been damaged.
Fostering Resilience in the Community
The study references one of the desired outcomes behind all our restoration projects: resilience building. At Miller, we specialize in clean up and restoration in the aftermath of man-made and natural disaster, but we want to do more than just repair the appearance of your home or business: we want to encourage a sense of resilience.
Our commitment to resilience in the event of disaster means that we’re on call for you 24/7. That means that our emergency services will be there to guide you through disaster no matter what time of the day. Here at Miller, we know that natural disasters don’t work 9-5, Monday to Friday: they can strike any time of the day, at any time of the year. And, when you’re faced with the overwhelming task of restoring your home, we’re here waiting for you when you need us.
So, what is it that constitutes a natural disaster? Big, imposing threats like a tsunami or a volcano might spring to mind, but, according to the study, each of the following is classified as a natural disaster:
· Floods
· Severe thunderstorms
· Wildfires
· Tornadoes
· Winter storms
This non-exhaustive list of natural disasters reminds us that, while we’re very lucky to experience much milder forms of disaster in Niagara than other parts of Canada and the rest of the world, disaster can also take the form of seemingly every day storms and weather.
We’re constantly monitoring weather patterns to keep ourselves prepared for even the most temperamental of storms, and to make sure that we have the proper equipment and enough stock to handle anything that comes our way. We face the chaos by staying organized! Every member of the Miller team undergoes regular training to prepare them for diverse and time-sensitive clean-ups.
How Do You Plan for Disaster?
Disaster planning might sound counterintuitive, but, as previously pointed out, natural disasters will undoubtedly affect critical infrastructure. Planning ahead doesn’t just mean we know how to conquer the mould that’s invaded your house, it means that we work with the community, and rely on our expertise, to come up with comprehensive ways to keep Niagara’s residents safe, and to move forward even in the face of disaster.
We’re here for you around the clock, but don’t wait for the worst case-scenario: get in touch with us today to safeguard yourself against disaster! Miller DKI offers its clients a free disaster planning checklist. Use this list to develop an emergency plan of your own or use it to supplement your existing safety measures. Call us today to get peace of mind for tomorrow.