Our tenth annual National First Responders Day is fast approaching. Established by Congress in 2017, the late October celebration honors police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and 911 dispatchers for selfless contributions to community health and safety.
Paul Davis Restoration appreciates these public heroes every day of the year. “First responders, who get the first look at many disasters we work on, are immeasurably helpful to our mission,” says Jodi Lewis, General Manager, Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida. “We step in immediately as – and sometimes before – first responders depart the scene. Their early efforts and information-packed handoffs not only give our teams a running start, they keep us safe and speed our work.”
Paul Davis teams and first responder organizations team up in a variety of important ways to serve communities:
Collaborating onsite. First responders provide vital intel about site conditions, damage assessments, safety hazards, staging and clearance, setup and access details, and utility concerns. They also furnish forward-looking information that positions Paul Davis teams for success: customer and local official particulars, regulatory requirements, early documentation for insurance purposes and preliminary loss determinations.
Donating and Sponsoring. Nationally and locally, Paul Davis donates substantial sums to support first responders needs, programs and initiatives. The company also provides tools and equipment, as well as pitching in to maintain gear. Further, Paul Davis sponsors a range of national first responder organizations like the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Red Cross.
Volunteering and staffing. Paul Davis team members volunteer their talents and time to benefit first responder organizations and support their charitable endeavors. A small sample of activities featuring Paul Davis participation include charity golf tournaments, fund drives, staffing community events, joint public presentations, food drives, and holiday toy collection.
Training. Paul Davis shares knowledge, training centers, tools, techniques and expertise with first responders in practical demonstrations and in classes; the company offers many instructional programs to first responders free of charge. Paul Davis also allies with first responder organizations to educate the public on prevention, emergency preparedness and safety.
Paul Davis also eagerly hires retired first responders. They often fill crucial employee positions called Emergency Response Coordinators, who manage response logistics as they compassionately help customers recover. “They bring leadership, order and confidence to disaster scenes,” Lewis says,” and are simply irreplaceable members of our teams. It’s no exaggeration to say we have yet to find limits to their capabilities.”
FAQs
How do restoration firms intersect with first responders at disaster sites?
Restoration firms usually arrive as first responders are wrapping up emergency activities at a disaster site. First responders provide helpful information about site conditions, damage assessments, safety hazards, staging and clearance, setup and access details, and utility concerns. They also furnish forward-looking details that assist pending restoration activities: customer and local official particulars, regulatory requirements, early documentation for insurance purposes and preliminary loss determinations.
How do restoration firms support first responder organizations?
Restoration companies team up with police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians in a variety of important ways to serve communities. They collaborate on disaster sites to exchange information about site conditions, damage assessments, safety hazards, staging and clearance, setup and access details, and utility concerns. Restoration firms also donate, sponsor, volunteer and support both local and national first responder organizations.
