Fire, Smoke & Water Damage Specialists
We are so proud to support Stephanie Jallen and her journey! She’s an amazing skier, taking home bronze at the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games, and an even more amazing person! We can’t wait to see her continue her journey to the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and beyond! She is truly an inspiration!
Another Before & After! This is a hallway that sustained heavy fire damage. We went in and cleaned, deodorized and reconstructed what was damaged!
We are all familiar with Employees of the Month and Employees of the Year, but how many of you have ever heard of Employee of the Millennium? This distinction is unique and, as far as we know, there is no other person who has been the recipient of this distinguished honor – until now. In actuality, it is our honor to have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Tony “Dino” Touch, who began working with Damage Control in 1997, before the transition into the Millennium, almost 10 years before the debut of the Smart Phone!
If you are lucky enough to know Tony, you know he is not only one of a kind but also extremely kind. He doesn’t need a Smart Phone to remember to pick you up when he sees that you need it, or add levity to a situation when things look bleak, or create a poem, or lend an ear when you need to talk, or simply dive right in when you need a hand. You see, Tony was born and raised not just to think of others but to turn his thoughts into actions and help them in any way he can. Now, I would be remiss without pointing out that while Tony is a staunch friend and advocate, he is no pushover, especially if you made the mistake of taking advantage. Tony always knew how to stand up for himself, his family and his friends. ‘Nuff said.
Whenever a new employee worked with Tony, we knew that person was going to be taught correctly and we knew that person was going to learn the core values of the company. That person was also going to learn that it’s a cinch by the inch and hard by the yard because Tony is always interested in getting the job done, one bite at a time, no matter how big the task.
There really aren’t words to express how we feel about Tony, our one and only (ever) Employee of the Millennium. Perhaps we should just say that he is and always will be a loved, family member and we hope he enjoys every moment of his retirement.
A common form of behavior therapy, flooding is often used to help people overcome phobias. Considering our line of business, we believe this to be particularly ironic. Our technicians and staff have experienced the stress and psychological implications felt by our clients first hand and understand how traumatic a flood can actually be.
This is especially true if you find yourself in a situation that requires evacuation. Deciding what it is that you can take with you safely is an incredibly difficult decision to make. Fear of the unknown, including a future of potential disaster, can be enough to send even the most level headed individuals into a panic.
As professionals specializing in disaster restoration, we have the experience and knowledge needed to properly diagnose the aftermath of flooding. However, one of the most important parts of the job is recognizing the survivors and helping them cope with the situation at hand. This requires both empathy and the ability to acknowledge the need for those affected to heal.
Most survivors attempt to make sense of the devastation caused by flooding on their own, without the help of professional psychologists. Shock typically sets in early, making it extremely difficult to process new information. We often answer questions multiple times for a single individual until he or she is able to fully comprehend. And although we don’t have degrees in psychology or counseling, experience has taught us the importance of showing flood victims the compassion they deserve.
It is also extremely important to remember that items that cannot be replaced are often the most important. Whether they have sentimental or monetary value, nothing should ever be discarded without written consent provided by the client. In some situations, some items that aren’t covered by the insurance company may be restored, purely out of goodwill. This is a testament to our commitment to help survivors heal and alleviate their pain and stress.
Lastly, honesty is paramount to establishing a trusting relationship with clients. No false promises are ever made. Setting realistic expectations is imperative to the healing process, along with sensitivity and a true dedication to helping other.
In a time where many companies are cutting out employee activities due to the economy, Damage Control knows the importance of having get-togethers to boost employee morale and foster friendships. On August 2nd, Damage Control held its annual company picnic. Employees, subcontractors, vendors, family and friends were invited to enjoy the many activities that were available. There was a bounce house for the kids, bocce ball, swimming, enjoying the scenery, feeding koi, and even petting a pig!
The technicians of Damage Control Inc have to be a unique and dedicated type of person. We have some that have been here for 16 years and others that have only been here for a couple of months. While filling the role of a technician, one has to be able to adapt to different situations and be creative in thought. In any given week they may be working on a structure that has been flooded, ravaged by fire, inundated with mold, sewage or performing a cleanup in a hoarder situation or trauma scene. During another week, the same technicians may be performing repairs on a structure.
The diversity is what most of our technicians like about the job. Each day is different and they get to use all of their skills, as they continue to learn more and more about the industry.
The technicians are usually dealing with people that have just gone through a traumatic experience, always displaying empathy and understanding. It could be a very rewarding experience as some of our clients are very grateful that we are there to help.
We certainly have some of the best technicians in our area working for us. They deal with different people and situations on a daily basis and never seem to get overwhelmed with all that they have to manage. They work nights, weekends and holidays at a job that is always surrounded by unpleasant circumstances and they do a great job in turning those circumstances around. It is always gratifying to hear a client tell of their experience as somehow made better by Damage Control because our people are caring and respectful. Even among all of the damage, we are constantly hearing about how our people made things better. We can’t ask for more than that!
In another few months Damage Control will be heading into its 19th year of service to NE Pennsylvania and gratitude is the one word that keeps coming to mind. The people with whom I work have made such a difference not only in our own work environment, but also for those people that we are privileged to help. We consistently hear from clients those same sentiments about our employees — respectful, helpful, polite, courteous and knowledgeable. These are not people who work for me but rather, with me. We know that we can make mistakes but we also know that those mistakes will be promptly acknowledged and corrected. Each and every person who works at Damage Control doesn’t learn respect — they arrive with that fundamental value intact so Customer Excellence is easy to achieve after following a few of our basic steps. The cast, in order of appearance: Candy, my wife, although not on the payroll, helped to launch the business and continues to be a part of its growth, Tony T, Jose R, Mark B, Sarah C, Chris H, Sarah L, Jon F, Michael B. Garcy C, Bruce M, Justin K, Danny H, Brian E and Shawn S.
On July 3rd, 2014, Damage Control received a call to assist a customer with the removal of sewage from their basement. The crew arrived, met with the customer, and assessed the damages. The homeowner explained that the main sewer line from the home was blocked causing sewage to back up through the drains in the basement shower and toilet. They also explained that it has happened several times before, but never to this extent. The crew immediately devised a plan of action to stabilize the situation. This required not only dealing with the work at hand but also comforting and reassuring the customer that their property will be handled with the utmost care and professionalism. More importantly, it includes spending the time to inform the customer of what is going to happen as well as why it needs to happen. This was all reflected in an e-mail that the customer wrote to us.
