RAINBOW INTERNATIONAL® OF NORTHPORT OFFERS RESTORATION SERVICES IN WAKE OF HURRICANE CHARLEY

It has been weeks since the hurricane hit, and Bates still is working 12-hour days and running three crews on 10-hour shifts to handle all of the water damage restoration work as fast as the phone calls keep coming.

Bates said he has seen everything from roofs completely gone from homes to doors and windows blown in from the hurricane. With winds that reached 180 mph, Hurricane Charley found a way into homes that left a wake of destruction estimated in the billions in its path.

Most of the work that Bates and his Rainbow staff are handling is in Port Charles. As a certified technician in water damage restoration, Bates said his business is providing damage estimates within 24 hours and beginning restoration work within 48 hours of customers' calls.

He said that quick and complete service is his number one priority when fighting water damage and the onging threat that mold and other bacteria can pose the longer something goes untreated.

"Wet drywall can't sit and wait for an insurance adjuster," Bates said. "Whether it's covered by insurance or not, we know what needs to be done and how to keep a bad problem from becoming worse."

While some people are still without electrical power as a result of the hurricane, Bates said his work is continuing as normal. "Most of what we are doing, we don't need power for," he said.

Rainbow International® is providing sheer muscle for tear-outs and restoration. On certain jobs, Rainbow crews are waiting for new roofs to be finished before adding new drywall, paint and cabinets to homes. On other properties, they are tackling the restoration work immediately.

"Customers' biggest fears are understanding their insurance policies and the levels of coverage, but I've never had an insurance adjuster turn down my assessment for water damage work," Bates said. He added that insurance companies and restoration companies are working as fast as possible to help people.

Bates said that many insurers are referring people to the yellow pages for proper clean up services, and he advises homeowners to be diligent in finding a restoration company that is certified in water damage restoration services. He said there are very specific ways to treat water damage, and a certified specialist is the best one to address the problem.

For more information about professional restoration services, visit Rainbow
International® at www.rainbowintl.com.

About Rainbow International:
Since 1981, Rainbow InternationalR Restoration and Cleaning has become a leading world chain of carpet care and restoration services ranging from carpet cleaning, repair and dyeing, deodorization and comprehensive water, smoke and fire damage restoration and cleanup. Rainbow International has more than 300 U.S. and Canadian locations and approximately 162 international locations. It is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world's largest Franchise holding companies in the residential and commercial service business. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit www.rainbowintl.com.

About The Dwyer Group:
The Dwyer Group Inc., based in Waco, Texas, is a public holding company that owns six franchisor corporations. Each corporation sells and supports a different service-based brand name franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv® Heating & Air Conditioning, Glass Doctor®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter® (Drain Doctor® in the UK), and Rainbow International® Restoration and Cleaning. The Dwyer Group is also affiliated with another franchisor corporation named DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide® (an associate company). Collectively, the franchisees of these franchise concepts offer customers a broad base of residential and commercial services. The concepts currently support over 900 franchisees in the United States and Canada and, through their master licensees, nearly 400 more franchisees in 21 other countries.