TEG/LVI Environmental Services Offers Cleanup Advice For Homeowners in Aftermath of Wildfires

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ — TEG/LVI Environmental Services (LVI) – part of LVI Services Inc., one of the nation’s largest environmental services and remediation firms – is helping Southern Californians get on with their lives in the aftermath of the wildfires that have destroyed nearly 2,200 homes during the past month.

LVI, which was already designated as the City of San Diego’s primary contractor for asbestos and lead abatement and which has undertaken several high-profile projects in the area during the past decade, has now begun demolition and debris removal in residential areas affected by the blazes.

“Demolition and site remediation is an important part of the healing process,” said Mark Canessa, Western regional manager for LVI. “One homeowner who lost everything but a pair of his wife's earrings to the Witch Fire told us it just broke his heart to look at the rubble. Three days later, he could begin thinking about rebuilding.”

LVI’s licensed and insured crews, trained in handling hazardous materials that might be found within a home, provide an environmental assessment, raze any structural remains, carefully remove all fire debris, demolish slabs and foundations, and recycle as much concrete as possible.

In the face of a natural or manmade disaster or emergency, LVI offers 24- hour response (including a toll-free, emergency hotline – 1-800-283-2933) and can be onsite within hours. In fact, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, LVI had teams on the ground starting work within 24 hours after the storms hit the Gulf Coast.

With its history of large-scale cleanup and recovery efforts, Canessa said LVI is well-versed in working with property owners, insurance companies and government agencies – including the Federal Emergency Management Agency – after disaster strikes.

“Our goal is to safely and efficiently get to the point where rebuilding – or, in the case of some who were more fortunate, restoration – can begin,” he said. “We work closely with all parties with a stake in the process.”

    LVI offers the following tips for homeowners affected by the wildfires:

    — Let an insurance adjuster assess the damage before you do anything to
       the site.
    — Take photos of the damage before you or anyone else begins cleanup.
    — Be careful if you do any cleanup yourself.  The debris could still be
       hot or contain hazardous materials.  Consider hiring professionals to
       conduct an environmental assessment.
    — Be sure you are working with a qualified contractor.  To check a
       contractor's credentials, consult the Contractor State License Board
       (www.cslb.ca.gov) or office of the California State Insurance
       Commissioner (www.insurance.ca.gov or 1-800-927-HELP).
    — Make sure you or your contractor obtain all necessary city or county
       permits.
    — Follow all requirements of “Project Specifications for Structural
       Debris Removal,” available at the Local Assistance Centers or the
       County's Web site (www.sdcountyrecovery.com).
Elsewhere in the San Diego area, LVI crews are currently involved in rooftop dismantlement at the 12-story Sunroad Centrum office tower near Montgomery Field. Over the past decade, the firm has also played key roles in such major projects as the restoration of the historic U.S. Grant hotel and Hotel Del Coronado, demolition and abatement of a former manufacturing facility for the Port of San Diego, and infection control containment during fire sprinkler retrofitting at University of California San Diego Medical Center.

About LVI Services

LVI Services Inc. is the United States' leading provider of a wide array of integrated facility services, including environmental remediation, demolition and related services for commercial, industrial, multi-family residential and governmental facilities. LVI focuses on projects involving asbestos, lead paint, mold, infection control, hazardous materials, emergency and disaster services, and demolition. Founded in 1986, LVI has more than 30 offices across the United States, is licensed in every state, and is experienced in responding to natural and manmade disasters around the world. The company's annual revenues exceed $300 million. For more information, visit www.lviservices.com.

SOURCE TEG/LVI Environmental Services

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