Cliff Ellis, owner of Compleat Restorations, took a team of employees and several trailers of drying equipment to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. The team left Ephrata, PA the morning of September 10th.  
          
           

              
                                  

In addition to serving the disaster restoration needs of South Central Pennsylvania, Compleat Restorations does property drying nationwide after catastrophes.       

           

Knowing that food, water, power and housing would be unavailable in the affected area, the team had to be self sufficient. They took a camper and packed enough non-perishable food and water for several weeks.  

The crew set up camp in a parking lot in Metairie, just north of New Orleans. According to Cliff, "The area looks just like we see on the news only worse – a war zone."

Our crew immediately began assisting a fellow Disaster Kleenup International company to dry the Jefferson Parish Library System. 

                                       Drying a library.

Our team continues drying stores, apartment houses and other commercial buildings flooded by the hurricane(s). Compleat Restorations plans to have a crew working in the Gulf Coast for several months.

             
Drying a structure after a water loss often involves removing wet drywall and other interior components to dry building cavities thoroughly.

As a member of Disaster Kleenup International, Inc., North America's leading network of independent property damage restoration contractors, we team up with fellow companies to respond to large-scale disasters. Over two dozen DKI member companies are currently participating with restoration efforts in the hurricane-affected Gulf Coast region. 

Experienced in emergency restoration after catastrophic losses, Compleat Restorations also was active in restoration efforts in Florida in 2004 after/during Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. We also responded to Pennsylvania's South Londenderry Township in 2004 after an F4 tornado with 200 mph winds demolished dozens of homes.

While in Louisiana, some of the challenges our crew  has contended with are intense heat and humidity (hence the new short haircuts), infestations of native insects such as ants and love bugs, missing street  signs, closed roads, curfews, poor phone reception, and above all, finding themselves in the path of a second hurricane, Rita.

 Our team anticipates the arrival of Hurricane Rita sporting fresh haircuts.

Fortunately our crew moved their camper and equipment to a protected area and survived Hurricane Rita unscathed. They continue drying buildings in the storm-ravaged area.

Equipment transported to Louisiana includes drying equipment, fans, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, generators and a laptop.

             
 With this technology, fresh, dry air is pumped in—wet, musty air is pumped out.

This "open" drying system, meaning this technology replaces moisture-laden air inside a building with fresh outside air that has been conditioned. That fresh air is brought into the flooded building and circulated throughout. Before that dry air can be exhausted from the building it has absorbed huge quantities of water, odors and mold spores. The moisture is sent outside with zero recirculation. The drying capacity of a single trailer is over 100 pounds of water per hour.

Although Compleat has used  drying equipment for several years to dry commercial structures, this is the first time we will employ the newest technology equipment. 

The power of the YD9000 is equal to four regular drying units. It pumps conditioned air into a building that is a temperature of 289 degrees Fahrenheit, and 2% Relative Humidity (drier than a desert). This is pumped in while the building's moisture-laden air is pumped out of the building. The YD9000 is designed to dry larger structures.

             
                    The YD9000 is Powerful!

The faster a structure is dried after water damage, the better. Statistics prove that the longer a business stays closed the less likely it will successfully reopen. And the faster the structure is dried, the more building components can be saved. Quick response to water emergencies is imperative to lower the risks of mold developing. There are countless properties in New Orleans yet to be dried.

 
Mold can develop in 24 hours, as these library books and bookcase show

October 10, 2005 --- During the last couple weeks, Chad and Keith from our crew flew home to Lancaster, PA and Don M. drove down to join the team.

After Hurricane Rita, we moved camp from Louisiana to do emergency drying in Beaumont, Texas. Beaumont is 80 miles from Houston, 40 miles from the Gulf Coast and home of Lamar University. 

Some interesting sights (below) included a horse waiting patiently in the yard of a storm-damaged home, a severely flooded highway and a canoe floating inside the university's flooded stadium.           

The first item of business was drying the Cardinal Village Apartments.

          
                              Cardinal Village Apartments

Our next assignment was to dry the Montagne Center, a 10,800-seat multi-purpose sports arena.  

                       
                 
                              

We needed to dry the perimeter offices and the basketball court. For a job this size, we employed two of the YD9000 drying units. It's imperative to the university that we dry the structure as quickly as possible to minimize downtime and salvage as much of the building as possible.

We pulled the damp air out with the YD9000 units, while introducing fresh, conditioned air into the stadium. This air acts like a sponge pulling the moisture, odors and mold spores out of the building with it. Soon, all that remains inside is fresh dry air.

  
                   Damp air out, fresh air in

                                               Pumping dry air behind the bleachers 

Before we arrived at the arena, it was feared the beautiful wood floor would have to be removed and replaced as it was cupped and buckled. However, with rapid-drying technology, we saved the floor and dried the sports center in record time. 

We are happy to report that Lamar University is poised to reopen for classes on October 19th and they expect students to graduate on time.        

As for our crew, they have hard days and easy days. They are surviving on their own cooking, they have decided to grow beards now that the weather is cooling down to 85 degrees, and we hear that Texas Hold 'Em is a nightly routine. When in Rome....

November 3, 2005 --- Our crew has moved to Key West, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma. Wilma moved along Florida's eastern coastline as a large Category 2 hurricane with winds in excess of 90-100 mph. The damage is estimated to be $8-$12 billion including onshore damage from wind and coastal storm surge, business interruption and increased costs for materials and services for repairs. Our guys have been working incredibly long days drying commercial structures like a Big K-Mart, Sears and are now drying schools. Widespread power outages continue throughout many metropolitan areas. Recent rains added to the damage. Check back soon for photos....

November 10, 2005 -- Our crew finally had time to send some photos of the damage done by Hurricane Wilma and the work they've been doing drying commercial buildings.

         
Storm surges from Hurricane Wilma destroyed contents of many hotels, stores, and businesses

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Compleat Restorations has been using our drying units and our super drying machine, the YD9000 to dry large buildings and their contents.      
                              
The YD9000 exchanges wet air with hot dry air through vents. Drying can begin immediately with units and YD9000 as they don't require electricity to run.

The First American Title Insurance Company sits over the water in Key West and was severely flooded with water up over the poles during the Hurricane. Compleat Restorations dried this property.

The faster a commercial building is dried, the better. Time is the enemy with water losses. Drying quickly means less downtime, less chance of mold and less damage to structure and contents.
                

Time is imperative when a Hurricane or other natural disaster interrupts life as usual. Educational facilities are particularly aware of the need for quick drying. Compleat Restorations quickly dried the Horace O'Bryant Middle School after damage from storm surge so kids could get back to the business of learning.

                  
It seems the president of our company, Cliff Ellis, decided to take a spin on a scooter. He obviously likes speed and power and the scooter couldn't keep up. (Not really -- it was damaged from the hurricane.)

Cliff reports the weather in Key West is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit with a pleasant breeze. They have been working very long hours, sometimes until midnight. However, they have had a couple hours on the beach. He says they take turns cooking and there is no best cook. (But remember, this is from one person -- the president of the company -- so we will wait to hear the truth from the other guys when he is out of earshot.) They are still camping in the Big KMart shown above. No plans to return to Pennsylvania yet. There is still a lot of drying and mold work to be done there.

November 23 -- Cliff Ellis returned to PA last week, as did Luis. Chuck, TJ and Jon are driving home today to be here in time for Thanksgiving with their families. Hope they are not wearing shorts! They are now used to balmy 85 degree weather in Key West but will be returning to Pennsylvania's freezing temperatures and early snow flurries.

What's New?   

December 14 -- Chad, Don, Chuck and Keith E. flew to Key West, FL and will drive back with our equipment trailers. It was 2 degrees above zero here in Lancaster County this morning. I hope they enjoy the 80 degree increase in temperature there while they can. They'll be back here by Monday, in plenty of time to spend the holidays with family and friends. Drive safely guys! 

After Christmas, Cliff E. and Bob S. went back to Florida to bring back the remainder of the equipment in Key West. We can't say their trip was completely uneventful, but they returned safe and sound. (Believe me, it's worth contacting them to hear the story of that trip!)

It's nice to have everyone back here in Ephrata, PA. Our plans are to stay here for the time being, to continue serving the emergency response and disaster restoration needs in South Central Pennsylvania. We are happy we could be of service during another hurricane season in the gulf coast area.

                           New Orleans

Superdome, After Hurricane 

   "We shoot looters" sign

                        Strong guys!

Keith E, Chuck, a resident, Keith K, Jon