New rumors are circulating about the cause of death of both Brittany Murphy and her husband, Simon Monjack. Brittany Murphy’s mother, Sharon Murphy, claims that both her daughter and son-in-law died from exposure to toxic mold that was growing in their home. Brittany died in December 2009 and five months later, her husband also passed away. Pneumonia was the leading cause of death in both cases. They purchased their home in 2003 and later identified some problems with the structure and seeping water that could of created conditions that would of promoted mold growth.

Image courtesy of Rob & Jules via FLickr

The culprit could be related to toxic mold that was growing in their home. Speculations on whether or not mold was the culprit is still under suspicion. However there is evidence that individuals who suffer from asthma, allergies or lung deficiencies are more susceptible to falling victim to a long list of symptoms caused by mold. Minor symptoms include allergic reactions, irritations of the eye, nose and throat, sinus congestion, and other respiratory problems. More severe reactions include fever, pulmonary hemorrhage, memory loss and shortness of breath. Immunocompromised individuals with chronic lung diseases like COPD have a higher chance of developing fungal infections in their lungs. Persons with persistent symptoms should see their doctor immediately.

Rapid Recovery Service has certified and experienced mold remediation experts available to quickly evaluate, test, estimate, contain, and remediate mold, mildew, and fungus that may appear in your home, office or commercial building.

It is essential to remember mold resulting from water damage or a lack of proper ventilation is progressive. That is why “Timely” action must be taken by homeowners when the water damage occurs or mold is first noticed. The longer water flows or wet, damp, dark conditions exist, mold will colonize and absorb into building materials, resulting in a greater recovery problem. Merely stopping the source of the incoming water does not stop further water damage and often causes secondary damage which may be excluded on most typical homeowner insurance policies.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support!

Our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. With appreciation for your business we would like to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family this holiday season.

Come join our Sales Manager, Michelle Kresnak, as she kicks off the holiday season by running the Arthritis Foundation’s 2011 Jingle Bell Run! The event will begin 9am Saturday, December 3rd at the Northville Downs Race Track. Taylor Gray is the Jingle Bell Run/Walk Honoree this year. As an active 13 year old girl, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis when she was 16 months old.

Taylor has endured not only joint pain but injections and infusions as well. Although the disease has affected her wrists, ankles, knees, toes and fingers, it has not diminished her spirit or let it slow her down. Join in on the Jingle Bell Run/Walk to raise funds for arthritis research. Don’t forget to wear a holiday themed costume complete with jingle bells on your shoelaces!

Rapid Recovery Service, Inc. is proud to support the fight against Arthritis and celebrate the season by giving back.

Visit the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk webpage for more details.

Tis’ that time of year again when we dust off our turkey fryers, hang our Christmas decorations and prepare our family holiday meals. While most holiday cooking goes off without incident, Thanksgiving day holds the record for the highest gresase and cooking related fires than any other day of the year

According to a recent study by the National Fire Protection Association, the number of home fires reported on Thanksgiving is three times higher than the average number of fires on other days. Homeowners celebrating Thanksgiving should be conscious of fire safety while cooking and follow these simple tips to prevent fire mishaps:

• Don’t leave burners and the oven left unattended,
  this is the most common cause of cooking fires
• Use turkey fryers outside, never use them indoors, in a
  garage or a barn – the cooking oil is combustible at 350°F
• Maintain a fire extinguisher nearby in the event a fire ingnites
• Before deep frying your turkey measure the amount
  of oil needed beforehand using water
• Shut off the fuel source when adding the turkey to deep
  fryer to prevent a dangerous flare-up
• Don’t use water or ice to cool hot oil, this will
  cause the oil to pop and spray hot oil

Following these safety precautions will help you avoid fire damage and a trip to the emergency room. Enjoy the fried turkey and have a safe and happy holiday!

Photo Credit Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey

For the second time in a matter of months, Grosse Pointe Farm residents awoke to flooded basements following a storm that rolled through the area. Homeowners received a hand delivered letter explaining the reason: the pumping station was knocked offline due to power bumps by DTE. This is the second time since May, that the system became overwhelmed after losing power several times.

Residents affected by the flooding should take care when cleaning their basements, noting that the area is served by a combined storm and sewage sanitary system. If your home has been affected by the recent storm damage, contact Rapid Recovery Service for professional assistance in cleaning up your flooded basement. Our certified technicians will examine the water damage to your home and will assemble an arsenal of drying tools and tactics including industrial fans, dehumidifiers, anti-microbial solutions and wet/dry vacuums for immediate water extraction. Our restoration team is dedicated to preserving the integrity of your home’s structure and will help prevent secondary damages such as mold damage from taking root in your home.

Some Michigan residents have to deal with power outages as a result from the severe thunderstorms that swept through mid-Michigan Monday afternoon. The storms produced high wind gusts, knocking down power lines and trees, and damaging homes in its path.

Here are some tips for property owners if the electricity goes out:

• Make sure you have batteries for flashlights and radios and bottled water
• To avoid a power surge when the power returns, turn off all appliances and electronic equipment at power strips
• Avoid opening your refrigerator or freezer too often, food will stay cold for up to 2-4 hours in the refrigerator and 48 hours in the freezer
• Run generators and grills outdoors only to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

If you need assistance removing tree and debris from your home or need a temporary board up or your roof tarped, contact Rapid Recovery Service at 888-778-3337. We provide 24 hour emergency services related to property damaged from severe storms and wind damage. Our trained technicians can be onsite within 1 hour of your call and will assist you with making repairs to your home or business.

Severe thunderstorms rolled through southeast Michigan this past Saturday leaving many residents without power and their homes damaged by the 60mph winds, 2 inch hail and fallen trees. According to DTE spokesman Alejandro Bodipo-Memba, Wayne County was the hardest hit with an estimated 50,000 customers and Macomb and Oakland with an estimated 10,000 customers each that lost power over the holiday weekend.

Fallen tree on Trenton St. in Detroit

If your home has been damaged by the recent storm, contact your insurance agent to begin the repair process.

Depending upon the extent and type of damage to your property, a board up may be necessary to secure your property to prevent further damage from vandalism, theft, trespassers and from the elements.

Our Disaster Recovery teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will arrive on-site for any storm damage within 1 hour to assess repairs. We work with all insurance carriers to help restore your property following storm disasters.

Contact Rapid Recovery Service for all and any emergency repair work including board ups, wind and hail damage – 1-888-778-3337.

Last week’s torrential rainfall made May 2011 the wettest spring on record for Flint with Detroit close behind in second according to the National Weather Authority. Many southeastern Michigan residents sighed with dread as they surveyed the storm’s aftermath that resulted in many homes and basements filled with water.

Early Thursday morning and well late into the evening, Rapid Recovery Service responded to many calls to help homeowner’s cleanup their flooded basements and backed up sump pumps. Using our injectidry systems and structural drying methodology, Rapid Recovery Service went to work and quickly began the drying and restoration process.

In the event homeowners are affected by any type of flood damage, they should first contact their insurance company to review their coverage and then hire a certified restoration company to help prevent secondary damages, such as mold, from developing.

Homeowner’s should check with their insurance agents to see if they have enough coverage for their home in the event their home is exposed to flood damage or their sump pump backups due to spring weather. If you need assistance with any type of water damage, give us a call – we are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

Soda Blasting is a widely recognized technique by the insurance restoration industry to eliminate lingering odors of fire and water damage. Compared to other alternative methods such as sand blasting, which is more abrasive, and dry ice blasting, which raises safety concerns due to the high levels of carbon dioxide, soda blasting is a faster, safer and cleaner solution.

Soda blasting applies baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) against a surface using compressed air. This method is chemical-free and nontoxic and is successful at eliminating most contaminants from a variety of surfaces from wood, brick and metals.

The use of soda blasting in fire damage restoration is successful at removing soot, char and smoke odors. In regards to mold damage, the process eliminates mold growth and spores with minimum impact on the surface. It also speeds up the restoration process by eliminating the need to remove and replace materials and is even safe to use around window frames and door-walls without damaging glass panes. The benefits of soda blasting greatly reduce the time of the restoration process and are a proven cost savings technique to owners. Visit our website to learn more about soda blasting and our services for fire and mold damage restoration.