Source: November/December 2008 Althouse Cleaning Newsletter

Althouse aids Houston restorer after Hurricane Ike   

  Austi Althouse traveled to Houston to help another water mitigation contractor during the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. From October 2 through 10 ,Austi took moisture readings and drew diagrams of flooded Houston homes. Such daily documentation assures adjusters and homeowners that the building and contents are properly dried to prevent secondary damage from mold. These records are now required by most insurance companies. See moisture map and log. 

Although it required long hard days, the experience of working a hurricane disaster provided a deeper understanding of the restoration business. Austi stated that the most striking thing was the large amount of  debris (house wares, downed trees, etc.) scattered in the yards by the hurricane. Hurricane Ike blew through the region with winds up to 100 m.p.h. and dropped 16 inches of rain. 

Althouse Cleaning was contacted and asked to send qualified technicians to aid in the disaster efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Austi volunteered. On her return she reported that she and others worked 16 hour days every day to dry out the houses and record the process. 

Austi  is certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification) with specialized training in Carpet Cleaning, Water Damage Mitigation, Smoke and Fire Restoration, and Applied Structural Drying. She has filled various positions at Althouse Cleaning over the past three years and currently is Supervisor for the fire restoration crew.  Austi also is the in-house expert on POI (Pack Out Inventory Software by Assured Software Inc.), which merges on-site photos of a home’s contents with a sophisticated inventory tracking system.