1st Response - 740-345-4911

It can happen ..... and did

2014-06-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

I realize that this has nothing do with our business, but, there is a message here, for ALL to hear.

I am so saddened by this senseless, needless accident here in our own county. Five young lives, three ended, and two who will never forget the incident, there lives, in a way, were also taken. Five lives, looking forward to a Summer and all the Summer activities ..... probably excessive speed, on a long straight stretch on a county road, the cause. If you have children, show them this photograph, show them that it can happen, and tell them the consequences.

Johnstown is a lovely little central Ohio community, a very close-knit community, one with porches, still lining streets. I have passed through that town, in the evening, and noticed people walking down the sidewalks, sitting on their porches, waving and greeting. It is that kind of a community, and I am sure the entire community is saddened by this tragic accident. Let your kids and your family know that if CAN happen, to anyone, in a split-second ......

LICKING COUNTY, Ohio - Ohio State Highway Patrol says three people are dead and two people are injured after a single car accident in Licking County. According to police, a silver Mitsubishi Diamante carrying five people smashed into a tree and split in two just after 1 PM on Hardscrabble Road, near Alexandria. All three passengers in the back seat of the vehicle - two females and one male - were partially ejected during the crash and killed.

They were not wearing seatbelts.

Police say the victims were, 17-year-old Michael Hoskinson, 15-year-old Chyenne Spurgeon and 15-year-old Linzie Bell. Two occupants in the driver's and passenger seat were injured in the crash, but survived. Their condition is unknown. All of the car's occupants were between 15 and 17-years-old.

Investigators say skid marks just before the impact may indicate either the driver applied the brakes or he was traveling so fast he was trying to regain control of the car before it struck the tree.

Police say speed was a factor in the crash.

That time of year ....

2014-02-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

We are nearing that time of year, the Gutter Cleaning Season. Baseball's Spring Training is underway, and means that Spring is not too far behind.

Gain access to the roof with a ladder. Don't lean the ladder against a downspout or gutter, which can easily bend or break. Remove leaves and twigs from gutters by hand or with a large spoon, a gutter scoop or a small garden trowel.

Wet down caked-on dirt, which can be difficult to remove without damaging the gutter itself, then remove it with the gutter scoop or trowel. Put debris in a bucket or plastic trash bag placed on the roof or ladder. If you use a bag, you can just drop it when it's full.

Check that the downspouts aren't clogged. Use water to unclog your downspouts by placing a garden hose in the opening. But be gentle at first; downspouts aren't designed to withstand the same pressure as a house drain. If a plugged downspout can't be cleared with a hose, use a small plumber's snake or an unbent clothes hanger. Again, be gentle. Gutters are not as strong as house pipes.

Alternatively, use a leaf blower to clean the gutters; however, remember that you'll be high up, often in awkward postures, and carrying a good-sized machine that not only is awkward to use but also can blind you with dust.

Use the hose to flush the gutters with water after cleaning. (This is also the best time to find out if there are any leaks in the system.)

Mold

2013-08-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

"I found mold growing in my home, how do I test the mold?"

Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.

Call the mold specialists at 1st Response if you suspect you have a mold problem (740) 345-4911 or visit our website at www.ohio1st-response.com

Biohazard clean up

2013-05-29T08:19:00.001-07:00

Most homeowner's insurance policies cover biohazard clean up.

Contact the professionals at

1st Response

for your needs.

Personal service 24/7/365.

(740) 345-4911

Water Damage

2013-05-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

Damage Assessment

First Response will do a full assessment and can lower the risk of additional damages and save on restoration costs. We can help prevent your water loss from developing into more serious health problems such as mold-related illnesses.

We have the training and technology to assess the problem thoroughly. By utilizing specially designed probes and electronic moisture meters, we can detect the presence of moisture inside a wall or underneath a carpet without serious demolition or disturbance to the surface.

Biohazard Decontamination Unit,

2013-05-22T07:50:00.004-07:00

Our Newly expanded services,

Biohazard Decontamination Unit,

is under way!

While we pray none of you are ever exposed to this situation,

these services can be provided with compassion and detail

by the staff at 1st Response.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 740-345-4911

info@ohio1st-response.com.

Biohazard Decontamination Unit

2013-04-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Our Newly expanded services, Biohazard Decontamination Unit, is under way!

While we pray none of you are ever exposed to this situation, these services can be provided with compassion and detail by the staff at 1st Response.

If you need crime scene clean-up guidance, have questions about your payment options, which crime scene clean up procedures your current insurance policy covers or require our cleanup services immediately, don't hesitate to call 1st Response at: 888-233-4321.

· Your regular cleaning or janitorial service has not been properly certified OR equipped to handle biohazardous waste such as blood or bodily fluids, and does not have a legally accepted mechanism in place to dispose of the recovered bio-hazard waste.

· Federal Regulation 29-CFR-1910.1030 states that no employee can be placed in a position to be exposed to a blood spill without first:

1. Bloodborne pathogen (BBP) training.

2. A written BBP exposure control plan.

3. Proper training on the correct usage of personal protective Equipment.

4. Hepatits B vaccine, exposure evaluation follow-up.

5. Proper method to store and dispose of biohazardous waste.

Body protection is required for employees who face potential bodily injury of any kind that cannot be eliminated through engineering, work practice or administrative controls while performing their jobs.

Exposure to blood and other body fluids is an example of a workplace hazard that could cause bodily injury. In addition, exposure may cause illness. - OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

740-345-4911

or info@ohio1st-response.com.

· LICKING COUNTY

· KNOX COUNTY

· COSHOCTON COUNTY

· MUSKINGUM COUNTY

· PERRY COUNTY

· FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CAUTION lower your thermostat

2012-12-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

When away from the house for an extended period during the winter,

be careful how much you lower the heat.

A lower temperature may save on the heating bill, but there could be a disaster if a cold spell strikes and pipes that normally would be safe, freeze and burst.

2012-10-22T13:26:00.001-07:00

Last February we moved our offices to our current location in East Newark , and during the move I found a baseball that was nestled in the back of a large drawer. I glanced down, and there was that famous signature, I remember when I asked him to sign it, he graciously did, and it brought back so many memories.

The year was 1981, a hot sultry August Saturday night under a full moon with over 12,000 cheering fans crowded in to Don Edwards Babe Ruth Baseball facility. Baseball players 19 years old from all over the

United Sates that were selected by a sophisticated tryout program orchestrated by the (United States Baseball Federated) and (IMBIA) a division of the Olympic Committee were standing at attention as the National Anthem played.

As the National Anthem faded into the night the fans went wild as they cheered for boys that they had grown to know during the last seven days. They came from all over the world to play in the world’s first World Friendship Baseball Series.

Across the field stood the opposing team standing in a regimented format looking almost military like. The Korean music began to play and the entire ball park stood at attention as we listened to the words and music to their National Anthem. The Anthem came to an end and again the standing room only baseball facility went berserk as the United Stated cheered and welcomed the team from Korea .

The evening was the highlight of one of the largest "all volunteer" events ever organized in Newark , Ohio .

Let’s go back in time…..

It’s the summer of 1979 several months after our Second Babe Ruth World Series, we were campaigning and using every contact from the Governor to local business leaders for their support in hosting the first ever World Friendship Baseball Series to be comprised of 11 teams from almost every continent in the world and a team from the United States.

Our community organized many people and businesses during the two Babe Ruth World Series,so we were the first choice by the United States Baseball Federation” and “IMABA,” a branch of the world Olympic Committee, to host the first ever World Series for 19 year olds. .

During lunch at Annarino’s Center Cafe, Don Edwards, Roger Balding and Tom Newman approached me to be the “Host Chairman” of the first ever International World Baseball Series ever held for 19 year olds. This series was to be the format for selecting teams and players to play baseball in future Olympics.

Now, I’d been part of a few who worked to bring all the Babe Ruth Series together, but working on a world stage was a different challenge. The first thing in my mind was how I can get out of this predicament. My first thought was my Dad. I had already taken too much time away from our company during the two Babe Ruth World Series, so this will be an easy out for me.

My response to this group was “thanks for asking, but no thanks” my father would have no hide nor hair of me taking off any more time. Well, about this time these guys laid it on my Dad, and he said I could have the time off if I chose to accept this position. After nearly passing out, my response was, “I’ll think about this challenge as it was going to be the biggest thing I had ever encountered. I’d give them my answer after some thought.”

After a lot of soul searching and discussion among people who’d be part of this “epic event” I accepted this community wide, and I mean “community wide” project.

The United States Baseball Federation and “IUMBIA” sent me to Tokyo , Japan to present this first ever 19 year old baseball series event to a world congress of baseball officials. It was just like the United Nations all the countries had little head phones listening to him being interpreted to their language while sitting behind a sign hosting the name of their country.

My interpreter and I spent the next several days meeting other baseball officials from about 40 countries who committed to the possibility of coming to Newark , Ohio in a little more than a year to play in our world series.

Soon after the Japan trip, it was decided the countries who were going to be invited to our ‘World Friendship Series.’ This was the beginning of probably the biggest committee of volunteers ever assembled in our community.

Our biggest problem was how to or orchestrate such an event and host 11 different countries. I specifically chose 40 community people to be committee chairpersons, most of whom I had never meet. They recruited approximately another 1,200 1,400 volunteers.

I can remember in rather large meetings with well over 50 people in attendance, Jerry Nethers said, “What the heck are you doing running an international baseball tournament. You don’t the difference between an ERA and an IRA.” I told Jerry, one of my closet friends, “I don’t need to know. I’m a team builder and have assembled people a lot smarter than me.”

Fast forward to a Saturday night in August, 1981, and the second game of the 3 game wining series. Korea is up one game. I was standing on the first base line with a nationally known baseball player who was a team mate of Babe Ruth. I spent the better half of the afternoon with other baseball officials listening to stories about the “Babe” by none other than left hander New York Yankee, Lefty Gomez. How could it be any better, A full moon, standing room only, and our USA home team playing for the championship? We were being televised to South America and being radio broadcast all over the world from Newark , Ohio and here I was, standing beside Lefty Gomez. It couldn’t be any better.

Then it happened Korea won game two and took home the first ever “World Friendship Baseball Series” Championship.

I looked down at the baseball in my hand, autographed by Lefty Gomez, to Dave and Tim. I remembered their father handing me the ball and asking me to get it autographed, which I did. In all the excitement of the moment I forgot about the ball. I wonder if anyone knows of their whereabouts. Dave and Tim, where are you? If anyone knows, please contact me on Facebook or at 1^st Response.

How Do I Winterize a Vacant House?

2012-10-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

First of all, it is advisable to leave the heat on very low. Though it might seem like a waste of money or energy at first glance, a minimal heating bill will be less expensive than the cost of potential repairs if everything were to freeze up. There are many systems and components in a house that are meant to be kept at or near room temperature. By using your furnace or boiler at a low level, you are keeping these things secure.

Most people know that a big part of winterizing is dealing with pipes and plumbing. If you have turned off the water, hopefully that means the house was plumbed on a downgrade so you were able to drain all the pipes completely and eliminate the chance of water expanding inside them and breaking the pipes. If not, it usually is advisable to leave some water running through the pipes by turning on the fixture closest to where water enters the house and at the farthest point indoors, say in an upstairs bathroom. It needs to trickle constantly to keep water flowing.

It is also advisable to wrap insulation around the water heater, the pipes leading to and from it and insulate any pipes exposed outdoors, in a crawl space under the house, etc. If the pilot light is left on, it is not necessary to drain the water heater, but if not, then it probably should be drained and turned off. You might call a local plumbing company in your area to discuss whether you should turn the water back on or not.

It is not a bad idea to put some anti-freeze in both the tank and the bowl of each toilet. If the heat goes out and water inside the toilets freezes, it could crack the china fixtures.

Winterizing your plumbing and water systems might be the most important aspect of winterizing in general, but coming in pretty close is inspecting your roof and cleaning out your gutters. The roof and attic of a vacant house might be left alone for very long periods of time, so getting a roof inspection before cold weather hits is a fantastic idea, and could end up saving you some serious money in the long run. Gutters, like plumbing, can develop real problems if ice is allowed to build up in them. Having your gutters cleaned before winter begins will reduce the risk of too much ice forming inside them.

Finally, make sure someone checks on the house every week or two, if at all possible. Though you can certainly take precautions such as winterizing whatever you can in and around the house, unexpected situations can still occur. A quick look around done periodically for as long as the house is empty (even during warmer weather) can mean the difference between a problem being caught early enough to be fixed before any damage is done, and a problem that's left unchecked long enough to cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage.

FIRE

2012-10-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidation processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition. In ancient Greece, fire was considered one of four elements.

The flame is the visible portion of the fire. If hot enough, the gases may become ionized to produce plasma. Depending on the substances alight, and any impurities outside, the color of the flame and the fire's intensity will be different.

Fire in its most common form can result in conflagration, which has the potential to cause physical damage through burning. Fire is an important process that affects ecological systems across the globe. The positive effects of fire include stimulating growth and maintaining various ecological systems. Fire has been used by humans for cooking, generating heat, signaling, and propulsion purposes. The negative effects of fire include water contamination, soil erosion, atmospheric pollution and hazard to human and animal life.

Remembering

2012-10-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

NEWARK — Craig Young remembers the morning in 1992 when he walked into the burned building that used to house his contracting business.

There was soot on the walls and a thick smell of smoke; he could hear the water-logged carpet squish as he walked across it.

At first, as a contractor, Young assumed he’d be able to fix the damage. But he soon realized the specialized process of repairing fire damage required equipment and skills he did not possess. As he watched people come in to clean up, he remembered looking at the commercial-grade dehumidifier and thinking, “I ought to get one of those.”

Twenty years later, as the owner of 1st Response Restoration and Reconstruction Specialists, Young is the owner of a dehumidifier and countless other special tools his company uses to combat damage caused by fire, smoke, mold and water.

“In this business, there are so many tricks of the trade,” said Young, who has been in the contracting business since his youth.

After his Manning Street business caught fire in 1992, Young began exploring what it would take to operate a business that specialized in the removal of fire, water and mold damage.

He eventually opened a local franchise of Purofirst, a national company, and 10 years later left the franchise to start 1st Response, a full-service construction company certified with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.

He meets with people who have walked into their homes for the first time after a fire to realize the roof is gone, the living room is scorched or the floor is covered in water.

Young tells them it will be OK — he’s been there.

The 1st Response crew sizes up the damage and springs into action, first looking to save as much of the structure as possible.

“Our goal is to repair and restore, rather than rip and replace,” Young said.

Items are taken from the customer’s home or business to the 1st Response facility on O’Bannon Avenue, where they individually are cleaned or replaced if necessary.

It’s a great feeling, showing a customer a room, business or home that has been brought back to life, Young said.

“When people come in and they see that finished product, that’s your business card,” he said.

The 24 hours per day, seven-days-per-week service primarily operates in Licking and surrounding counties. It keeps Young and his employees busy, but he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“It’s a very rewarding business,” Young said.

Full Service Contractor - 1st Response

2012-09-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

740-345-4911

Serving Licking, Knox, Coshocton,

Muskingum, Perry and Fairfield Counties

1st Response

2012-09-11T09:34:00.001-07:00

CALL 1st RESPONSE

740-345-4911

Serving Licking, Knox, Coshocton,

Muskingum, Perry and Fairfield Counties

Some of the benefits of working with 1st Response, include:

A full-service construction company.

A Certified Firm with the INSTITUTE OF INSPECTION, CLEANING AND RESTORATION CERTIFICATION.

We are a Preferred Contractor for most major insurance companies, and have worked with over 50 other insurance firms.

The Staff personally responds immediately to every call.

Emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our Certified, trained technicians use the latest technology available for restoration and reconstruction work.

You will receive a timely and accurate estimate.

Immediate Board-Up

2012-09-11T09:22:00.001-07:00

First Response

1st Response, Newark, Ohio

2012-09-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Before and After

2012-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Cattle Guards

2012-07-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have never traveled to the West or Southwest, cattle guards are horizontal steel rails placed at fence openings, in dug-out places in the roads adjacent to highways (sometimes across highways), to prevent cattle from crossing over that area. For some reason the cattle will not step on the "guards," probably because they fear getting their feet caught between the rails.

A few months ago, President Obama received a report that there were over 100,000 cattle guards in Colorado . Because Colorado ranchers had protested his proposed changes in grazing policies, he ordered the Secretary of the Interior to fire half of the cattle guards immediately.

Before the Interior Secretary could respond and presumably straighten him out, Vice-President Joe Biden intervened with a request that before any guards were fired, they be given six months of retraining.

Passed on without further comment....

Flood Damages

2012-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Most Flood Damages are from natural disasters. To minimize your losses it is good to check always the area of your Property in case you need to purchase additional coverage.

Ask your Insurance Company about flood insurance and if you qualify for it. It is always best to have additional coverage if your home or facility is in in a Flood Prone Area.

Remember that water which comes from outside of your home mostly are not covered by your regular home insurance policy. It is always best to read and understand your policy.

Smoke Damage

2012-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Smoke-damaged walls are an inevitable part of a house fire. Smoke and soot can travel throughout your home and saturate any surface, which can be difficult to remove without the proper supplies, expertise, and experience in using them.

Professional restorers have years of experience and know how to use restoration products safely.

You should hire a professional restoration company to restore your home after a fire, and having them clean and repair smoke-damaged walls is a big part of fire damage cleanup.

MOLD

2012-06-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

The best way yet to detect mold is simlpy to see and smell it.

Look for areas in the home that mold may be present.

Mold's favorite places happen to be bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.

Check any area that may have a lot of moisture.

Remember mold can be any color.

Red ,black, green, purple, or any other color.

If you can see or smell mold, then you have mold.

It is pretty simple.

Smoke Damage

2012-05-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Tip of the day...

2012-03-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Most Flood Damages are from natural disasters.

To minimize your losses it is good to check always the area of your Property in case you need to purchase additional coverage.

Ask your Insurance Company about flood insurance and if you qualify for it.

It is always best to have additional coverage if your home or facility is in in a Flood Prone Area.

Remember that water which comes from outside of your home mostly are not covered by your regular home insurance policy. It is always best to read and understand your policy.

2012-03-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

While everyone else is gone for the weekend...we are here for you 24/7.

If disaster should strike you, your friends, your family....CALL 1st RESPONSE!

(740) 345-4911

and we will take it from there.

Plan Ahead

2012-03-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire.

Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room.

Make a drawing for each floor. Dimensions do not need to be correct.

Make sure the plan shows important details: stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes.