SERVPRO is Dedicated to Helping Queens Homes During Floods

11/8/2020 (Permalink)

Regardless of how the water intrusion entered your home, team SERVPRO can help. Contact our technicians right away for water removal efforts.

Water Restoration Services in Queens is Done Professionally with Qualified Technicians

In 1683 Queens became one of the 12 original counties in the Province of New York. Named for an English queen, it was included in Nassau County until 1899.  The original settlers were of Dutch and English descent and members of the New Netherland settlement. Other settlements followed over the years. The colony was captured by the English and, in 1664, was renamed New York. When New York became consolidated in 1898, it became a borough of the city.

The Flushing Remonstrance

New York played an essential role in the early years of the United States. In 1657 the colonists penned the Flushing Remonstrance. It was a powerful document protesting the Dutch colonial authorities. They were persecuting the Quakers in the area that is now Queens. This document is thought to be the forerunner to the freedom of religion portion in the Bill of Rights.

The Revolutionary War

Brooklyn played a more significant role in the Revolutionary War than Queens, but it still was heavily involved. It remained under British occupation until the Battle of Long Island, which took place in 1776. The British soldiers took up residence in any public inns or buildings uninhabited under the Quartering Act. The American patriot, Nathan Hale, was captured along Flushing Bay. He was hanged in Manhattan.

The Five Towns of Queens County

Until 1784, Queens County was made up of five towns. They included:

•   Flushing
•   Hempstead
•   Jamaica
•   Newton
•   Oyster Bay

Another town, North Hempstead, was added in 1784. Many buildings were destroyed by the British and had to be rebuilt after the war.

A Colorful History

Over the years, Queens has had an exciting history. The boundaries and what consisted of what is now Queens were assessed and clarified. Land surveys were carried out in 1899 because of the definition of where Queens was in conjunction with the channel between Rockaway Beach and Shelter Island. Other historical events include:

•   The Long Island Rail Road was electrified between 1905 – 1908.
•   Queensboro Bridge was finished in 1909, opening up transportation.
•   Queens is connected by the New York City Subway from 1915 onward.
•   The Steinway Tunnel was constructed in 1915.
•   With the expansion of automobile usage in the 1920s, the Queens population exploded.
•   In 1939 and 1964, the city hosted New York World’s Fair.
•   LaGuardia Airport opened in 1939.
•   JFK Airport, originally known as Idlewild Airport, opened in 1948.

This is just a sampling of the historical events that have taken place in this area of New York.

Making a Big Impact

Today Queens is the largest borough of New York City. This diverse city has the second largest population out of the five boroughs that make up New York City. It is second in the population count out of all the counties in New York. What is interesting is that 47% of the residents are from other countries. It is known to be the most linguistically diverse area in the entire world.

There are many famous landmarks in Queens, including the Aqueduct Racetrack, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and the Kaufman Astoria Studios. The diversity of thriving businesses has a serious impact on the economy of New York overall.

Neighborhoods Are Diverse

The people that live in Queens strongly identify with local neighborhoods. While many have no distinct boundaries, residents know which one they belong to. Flushing is one of the biggest and is home to many Asian families. Other neighborhoods include:

•   Flushing Chinatown
•   Howard beach, Middle Village, and Whitestone are primarily Italian Americans.
•   Ozone and South Ozone park consist of Italian, Hispanic, and Guyanese.
•   Rockaway Beach consists of Irish Americans.
•   Astoria has one of the largest Greek communities but is also home to Spanish and Italian Americans. 

There are also Romanian, Polish, Albanian, and Serbian communities. It’s an amazingly diverse city.

Hurricane Sandy

Queens is a coastal town, and storms and flooding can occur at any time.  In October of 2012, the impact of Hurricane Sandy was felt in the town. Queens’ Breezy Point area was devastated by a six-alarm fire that broke out due to the hurricane.

Known as Superstorm Sandy, it was one of the most destructive hurricanes in history.  233 people in eight countries were killed, and approximately $70 million in damages occurred. It became the largest Atlantic hurricane to be recorded. The storm surge slammed into NYC on October 29. Streets were flooded, tunnels and subways were submersed, and power lines went down all around the city. Water restoration became a top priority after the flooding. Companies such as SERVPRO were on hand to assist residents when possible.

SERVPRO Mitigates Flood Damage With EPA-Registered Cleaning Products

The sea-level rise is increasing across the shores of coastal cities. This means the risk of flooding increases as well. When a storm like Hurricane Sandy hits, it sends millions gallons of contaminated flood water surging into homes. Professional water restoration is needed at this point.

Our technicians use a proprietary cleaning agent known as SERVPROXIDE. Floodwater, also known as blackwater, is highly contaminated. It is full of chemical waste, bacteria, debris, and dirt. Many factors impact flood cleanup, including:

•   How deep is the standing water?
•   What are the contaminants in the water? Is it salt water?
•   To what extent is the home affected?
•   How fast can remediation begin?

Whenever possible, we use non-toxic chemicals. SERVPROXIDE is a hospital-grade disinfectant. It is a stabilized chlorine dioxide-based agent that is a powerful microbial. We are proud of its low toxicity rating from the EPA. It dissipates rapidly and is practically odorless.

SERVPRO® Industries, Inc. is a proud member of the EPA’s Design for Environment (EPA/DFE) initiative. We use other environmentally cleaning agents as well. These include Carpet & Upholstery Green Clean, All Surface Green Clean, and Window Green Clean. What this means is SERVPRO of Long Island City can clean and restore while keeping the earth safe at the same time. Contact us for water restoration services in Queens at (718) 440-6994.