Inside Restoration & Recovery

On our recent webinar, we dove into the essential knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the challenges of hurricane season effectively. We invited suggestions for topics that deliver immediate, actionable insights and empowered attendees with practical takeaways they could implement right away. Key areas of focus included: Proven strategies for risk mitigation Building an effective emergency...

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Cole Coulson, Vice President of Sales for BMS CAT, to explore the company’s front-line efforts during the recent Southern California wildfires and share practical guidance for property owners facing disasters. Cole opens by recalling his first moments on the ground in the Palisades, Malibu and Altadena areas. “Y...

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Cole Coulson, Vice President of Sales for BMS CAT, to explore the company’s front-line efforts during the recent Southern California wildfires and share practical guidance for property owners facing disasters. Cole opens by recalling his first moments on the ground in the Palisades, Malibu and Altadena areas. “Y...

In the latest episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis welcomes Colin Trudo, Senior Director of Training and Marketing at BMS CAT, to dive into the often‑overlooked world of HVAC maintenance and its critical intersection with disaster restoration. With over 20 years of field experience—from air‑duct cleaning to large‑scale catastrophe response—Colin brings a wealth of practi...

In the latest episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis welcomes Colin Trudo, Senior Director of Training and Marketing at BMS CAT, to dive into the often‑overlooked world of HVAC maintenance and its critical intersection with disaster restoration. With over 20 years of field experience—from air‑duct cleaning to large‑scale catastrophe response—Colin brings a wealth of practi...

As hurricane season approaches, Chris Matthews, Project Director at BMS CAT’s Tampa branch, shares his top three preparedness tips for businesses. First, establish a relationship by having your chosen restoration partner tour your facility, ensuring familiarity before a storm hits. Next, inspect and clear all first‐floor drainage—interior and exterior—to guarantee free water flow. Finally, remove...

Facility managers often overlook a critical vulnerability: first‐floor drainage. As Chris Matthews, Project Director at BMS CAT Tampa, explains, “It’s not a matter of if water will enter your building—it’s when and where.” Clogged floor drains, whether accidentally or deliberately plugged, can transform routine storms into costly disasters. Regularly inspecting and clearing all drains ensures that...

Chris Matthews, Project Director at BMS CAT’s Tampa branch, kicks off Hurricane Preparedness Week with hard‑earned lessons from New Orleans. First, pre‑position your gear—sub‑pumps in known flood zones, manned as the storm hits—to keep water moving out. Second, stay flexible: when sixth‑floor windows blew out, crews pivoted instantly. Finally, always expect the unexpected—Mother Nature rarely foll...

In this segment of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis revisits her conversation with Jason McClaren, Director of Facilities Operations at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals, to explore proactive disaster planning with BMS CAT. Jason emphasizes that true resilience hinges on preparation: “We work with BMS CAT to get procedures, policies, and agreements in place ahead of time—so when...

In this excerpt from Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis talks with Jason McClaren, Director of Facilities Operations at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals, about BMS CAT’s rapid-response capabilities in critical healthcare settings. Jason recounts a major incident when a failed air handler flooded nearly half of their operating rooms overnight. BMS CAT’s 24/7 readiness meant Jason...

In this excerpt from Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Abby Whitaker to demystify the acronyms MSAs (Master Service Agreements) and RFPs (Requests for Proposal) for facility managers. Abby explains that while an MSA locks in priority pricing and contractual terms with BMS CAT—providing peace of mind in advance of any disaster—an RFP invites multiple vendors (inclu...

As severe weather seasons loom, having a streamlined emergency response system can make all the difference for facilities at risk. In this excerpt from the latest episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis and guest Abby Whitaker discuss BMS CAT’s straightforward on-call process designed to keep clients prepared and prioritized when disaster strikes. Rather than burdensome pap...

When severe weather strikes—whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, or flood—knowing exactly where to go and what to do can make all the difference. Abby Whitaker explains that BMS CAT offers each client a customized Emergency Response Plan at no cost. “We walk through your building, identify every access point and potential hazard—like a staircase you can enter but not exit—and map out where our crew...

Host Martha Lewis sat down with Abby Whitaker, OKC Account Manager at BMS CAT, to explore the power of teamwork and proactive planning in disaster restoration. “At BMS, if you have one of us, you get all of us,” Abby emphasized, recalling her hands-on experience—“I even picked up a couple of bricks myself and tossed them in the dumpster.” Abby’s top piece of advice for facility managers like Valor...

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery , host Martha Lewis welcomes Jason McClaren , Director of Facilities Operations at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals, to discuss the critical advantage of partnering with a restoration team experienced in healthcare. A former firefighter and military veteran, Jason has spent the last decade managing safety, risk, and emergency preparedness across...

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery , host Martha Lewis welcomes Jason McClaren , Director of Facilities Operations at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals, to discuss the critical advantage of partnering with a restoration team experienced in healthcare. A former firefighter and military veteran, Jason has spent the last decade managing safety, risk, and emergency preparedness across...

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis chats with Abby Whitaker, Oklahoma City Account Manager at BMS CAT, about the challenges and triumphs of restoration in the face of severe weather. Abby brings a wealth of hands-on experience from her nearly four years at BMS, transitioning from residential to commercial restoration. She reflects on the real-time pressures dur...

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis chats with Abby Whitaker, Oklahoma City Account Manager at BMS CAT, about the challenges and triumphs of restoration in the face of severe weather. Abby brings a wealth of hands-on experience from her nearly four years at BMS, transitioning from residential to commercial restoration. She reflects on the real-time pressures dur...

In this episode of Inside Restoration and Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Chris Matthews, Regional Director for Large Loss at BMS CAT, to explore the critical role of communication, preparation, and adaptability in disaster recovery. Chris shares his personal journey in the restoration industry, including his passion for helping clients during their most challenging times and the lesson...

In this episode of Inside Restoration and Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Chris Matthews, Regional Director for Large Loss at BMS CAT, to explore the critical role of communication, preparation, and adaptability in disaster recovery. Chris shares his personal journey in the restoration industry, including his passion for helping clients during their most challenging times and the lesson...

In the first episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Abel Mendoza, a veteran project manager with BMS CAT, to delve into the human and technical aspects of disaster recovery. Abel brings decades of experience to the table, having started his journey with BMS CAT in 1997 as a crew member before rising through the ranks. His stories showcase the company’s unwav...

Chris Matthews, Project Manager at BMS CAT, highlights how technology empowers customers by providing real-time updates, enabling informed decisions and seamless adaptability during disaster recovery

During the statewide freeze, transportation came to a standstill, but BMS CAT rose to the challenge. Abel Mendoza, Project Coordinator, shares how the team pulled resources from other branches to stabilize critical areas, meet customer needs, and execute phased recovery plans with clear communication and strategy.

Abel Mendoza, Project Coordinator at BMS CAT, emphasizes the importance of preparedness, from fire drills to knowing key shutoffs, and highlights how calm expertise and thoughtful actions by restoration crews can ease customer stress during disasters. For more information, visit www. FEMA.gov .

In the first episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Abel Mendoza, a veteran project manager with BMS CAT, to delve into the human and technical aspects of disaster recovery. Abel brings decades of experience to the table, having started his journey with BMS CAT in 1997 as a crew member before rising through the ranks. His stories showcase the company’s unwav...