Resources
Practical guides on water damage, fire, mold, storms, and home safety — written by Rochester's trusted restoration experts.
83 articles across 12 topics
Latest article
If your phone lit up during Rochester’s July 18 severe storms, you were not alone. Here is what flash flood warnings and Wireless Emergency Alerts actually mean, and what to do before the next round of thunderstorms.
29 articles
Expert guides on water damage prevention, restoration, insurance claims, and emergency response.
Peak cooling season in Rochester means air conditioners run for hours on humid afternoons. Every unit that cools your home also wrings moisture out of the air. That condensate normally drains…
Every restoration technician knows the rule of thumb: mold can begin growing on wet building materials within 24 to 48 hours. In Rochester summers, that window shrinks because ambient humidity keeps…
After a summer leak, the first instinct is to buy the biggest dehumidifier at the hardware store. That instinct is partly right—humidity control matters—but capacity, airflow design, and measurement…
Key Takeaways Address Water Damage Promptly: Water damage doesn’t resolve itself and can lead to more severe structural and health issues if it's not handled quickly and properly. Mold Growth Risks:…
Water damage can sneak up on you, often at the very worst of times. Sometimes it’s obvious, like when your basement floods after a storm, but other times, it’s subtle—a dark spot on the ceiling, a…
Water damage can be quite a headache for any homeowner. Pipes can burst, roofs may leak, and the aftermath of heavy storms can wreak havoc in ways we often don’t anticipate. It’s understandable that…
10 articles
Flooded basement cleanup, ceiling water damage, commercial water damage causes, and prevention tips.
Flash floods do not politely knock. They find window wells, foundation cracks, failed sumps, and overloaded drains. Here is how water enters Rochester homes and what damage shows up next.
One intense storm can idle a production line. This playbook covers how flash floods hit factories and warehouses, what fails first, and how commercial restoration gets you shipping again.
Rochester summers bring heat, humidity, and sudden thunderstorms that can drop an inch of rain in under an hour. When that water has nowhere to go—clogged gutters, saturated clay soil, a struggling…
Summer thunderstorms test every Rochester roof. Wind-driven rain finds failed flashing, aging shingles, and clogged gutters. By the next morning you may see a tan or yellow ring on drywall—sometimes…
Finger Lakes and Rochester basements rely on sump pumps whenever clay soils saturate. Summer storms deliver the perfect failure test: high inflow plus brief power outages. A pump that worked fine in…
When any type of water damage occurs in a home or business, it can be devastating. The professionals at Rock Emergency in Rochester, NY understand and we are here to help you through the whole…
11 articles
Mold inspection, black mold symptoms, remediation guidance, and where to check for mold in your home.
Rochester summers are famous for lake-effect humidity. When overnight lows stay warm and dew points climb, basements and crawl spaces stop drying between rain events. That persistent moisture is…
Many Rochester-area homes—especially additions, ranches, and older rural properties around the Finger Lakes—sit over crawl spaces. In a wet summer, that shallow under-floor zone becomes a humidity…
After summer flooding, many Rochester homeowners clean what they can see and declare victory. Weeks later, allergy symptoms spike or a musty smell returns on humid days. Hidden mold thrives in the…
Search results and flyers often promise cheap “black mold removal.” Homeowners then discover that scrubbing a stain did nothing for the wet drywall behind it—or that dust from demolition settled…
What is Mildew? Mildew. What is it? Most of us have experienced the problem with mildew probably at several points in our lives. It is the infamous smell of laundry forgotten in the washer, that…
What is Black Mold and Can it actually Kill You? What are the most common questions associated with Black Mold? In this comprehensive post, you'll learn; What Black Mold is and how to identify it.…
4 articles
Fire prevention, smoke damage recovery, puffbacks, and what to do after a house fire.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that an average of 361,500 home fires occur each year in the United States, resulting in $7.3 billion in property damage. This means a house fire…
New York is known for its crazy weather and days when all 4 seasons are experienced over the course of just a few hours. There are times when the heat doesn’t get turned back on until November, and…
Smoke damage from a fire can cause serious and costly damage throughout your home. In 2019 in the U. S. alone , there were $14.8 billion in losses. That's a 74.5% increase from 2010. If you've…
A house fire of any kind can be extremely scary. Fires are damaging in all different kinds of ways. Many people don’t realize how damaging a house fire of any kind can be. Every year, the week of…
7 articles
Hurricane preparedness, emergency response, disaster relief, and storm damage recovery.
If your phone lit up during Rochester’s July 18 severe storms, you were not alone. Here is what flash flood warnings and Wireless Emergency Alerts actually mean, and what to do before the next round of thunderstorms.
Table of Contents Emergency Evacuation Plan Before, During, and After Evacuation Preparing Your Emergency Kit Typical Weather Emergencies How Rock Emergency can Help Local and National Emergency…
Preparing for an emergency can be difficult, especially when you don’t know what to expect. The Rock Emergency Response Team can help you get a handle on what you should do in the event of weather…
the Atlantic hurricane season often brings “ near normal ,” government forecasters announced on Thursday, with the likelihood of nine to 15 named storms, and two to four major Category 3 hurricanes…
We are in the middle of the hurricane season now. It was less than 3 weeks ago that Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas and passed over the eastern seaboard of the U. S. Over the past few years, Labor…
Global warming, according to Wikipedia, is the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects. Thus far, multiple lines of scientific…
2 articles
Winter water damage prevention, pipe thawing, and cold-weather home protection.
You got the dreaded “Winter Storm Warning is in effect” alert, again . In the Rochester, NY area it is not uncommon to start getting those alerts as early as October and through March and sometimes…
Unfortunately, in upstate NY, frozen pipes are very common. When temps drop below freezing, we all do our best to keep our homes warm and dry. Oftentimes, we forget that the pipes can freeze,…
2 articles
Sewer backup flooding, biohazard cleanup, and health-safe remediation practices.
ROCHESTER, N. Y. (PRWEB) MARCH 05, 2020 The coronavirus has steadily been spreading over the past few months, claiming over 3,000 lives globally thus far. Coronavirus isn’t a new disease, but the…
Many people think that sewage comes just from the home, like what goes down the toilet. Showers, toilets, utility sinks are connected to a sewer drain which takes all the hazardous waste from your…
1 article
Asbestos types, where it's found, and safe removal guidance for homeowners.
Taking a Deep Dive... Into Asbestos? Asbestos is bad, we have all heard that at some point or another. We hear the commercials about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. But how much do we really…
4 articles
Workplace safety, OSHA compliance, and seasonal fire safety tips from Rock Emergency.
The 4th of July is one of the busiest times of the year for backyard gatherings, grilling, fireworks, and outdoor fires. A few simple precautions can reduce the chance of fire damage , smoke damage…
In an industry like ours, health and safety is a top priority. At Rock Emergency, the man responsible for minimizing our health and safety risks and ensuring that our technicians have optimal…
In the restoration industry, there are many risks that threaten the health and safety of our technicians and others who traverse the damaged/worksite. Health and job safety is a big consideration…
Thanksgiving holiday, what a great time to have family and friends over for the festivities. Apple and pumpkin pies, a few side dishes, and some vegetables. To complete your thanksgiving dinner…
2 articles
Practical tips for ice dams, hurricane damage, and protecting your property year-round.
With the National Hurricane Center warning that Dorian could inflict destructive storm surges and dangerous winds along the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, billions of dollars in…
Being a home or business owner definitely has its ups and downs. Every winter comes with the constant wonder of what the weather will be like. Some can be milder with a small amount of snow. Other…
2 articles
Rock Emergency milestones, team updates, and news from Rochester's restoration experts.
Stay up to date with Rock Emergency news, company updates, and field reports from our Rochester restoration teams. Browse our full blog for guides on water damage, mold, fire, and storm recovery.
“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” — James Cash Penney At Rock Emergency, we stay continuously focused and dedicated to self-improvement to make sure that…
9 articles
Seasonal messages, holiday safety tips, and community stories from the Rock Emergency family.
Happy Valentine’s Day! On this day of love, people across the globe are celebrating with candies, flowers, and all types of sentimental gifts for their loved ones. Here at Rock Emergency, we’d like…
Happy New Year! Thank you for all of your support and commitment to Rock Emergency in 2019. The past year was an extremely successful one for us and we plan to continue with the momentum in 2020.…
Happy New Year from the team at Rock Emergency! Rock Emergency is proud that you chose us in 2017 and over the years to be by your side in some of life’s more difficult moments. While we celebrate…
The holiday season is usually a time that inspires hope, joy, and cheers in many. It’s a time to enjoy the company of friends and family while creating new memories while adhering to traditions.…
One of the best and most exciting aspects of the holidays is the practice of gift-giving. Each holiday season, we gift our customers and ourselves with a brand new website, tailored to provide you…
Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays are soon to be upon us. This festive season provides a great opportunity to celebrate with family and friends and partake in delicious food, but it also…
