Protecting the Monroe Community After Disaster Strikes

1/8/2021 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO team can demolition flood-damaged homes in Monroe and then build them back, "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Monroe / West Monroe Ensures That Homes and Businesses Return to a Clean and Safe Condition

Monroe, Louisiana, is a city of over 47,000 residents as of 2019, with a history that extends back to the American Civil War. The entirety of the Monroe Metropolitan area contains several parishes, including Union and Ouachita. It is estimated to have more than 170,000 residents.

Monroe’s beginnings are tied closely to New Orleans’s fall during the American Civil War, which prompted Confederate soldiers to establish Monroe and Opelousas training camps. However, locals reportedly held strong pro-Union sentiments. Monroe was also a haven for refugees fleeing from the war, especially during the months leading up to Ulysses S. Grant’s siege on Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The city’s name originated from a steam-powered ship, the James Monroe, named in honor of the fifth United States President. Today, locals and visitors can find depictions of this steam ship at the Monroe Library. Monroe is also considered one of the “twin cities” located in northeastern Louisiana, the other being nearby West Monroe. The official motto is, “One City, One Future.”

Some of Monroe’s most prominent employers outside of municipal government, primary and secondary education, and local healthcare services include:

• JPMorgan Chase
• The University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
• CenturyLink
• Walmart Stores, Inc.

Journalism in Monroe: The News-Star

The News-Star is nearing 130 years of offering journalistic services to the community. Its beginnings can be traced back to the evening newspaper publication The Monroe Evening News before merging with The Daily Star to publish The Monroe News-Star as an afternoon newspaper in 1909.

Robert Wilson Ewing, I purchased several Louisiana newspapers while publishing the New Orleans Daily States, including The Shreveport Times, the now-defunct Monroe Morning World and The News-Star, the latter of which had become a morning newspaper. Media giant Gannett would eventually acquire both Monroe publications from the Ewing estate in 1977. In 1980, The News-Star and the Morning World were consolidated to form The News-Star-World, later renamed The News-Star.

Two sons of Robert Ewing I, John D. Ewing and Robert Ewing, III, did their part to maintain The News-Star, including serving in executive positions.

Related news publications for the Monroe area include:

• The Ouachita Citizen, which reports weekly for the Ouachita Parish region, which includes Sterlington and Richwood as well as Monroe and West Monroe
• African-American-owned weekly news publications The Monroe Dispatch and The Monroe Free Press, both of which were founded between 1969 and 1975

Monroe’s Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo

Monroe’s zoo is an 80-acre zoological and horticultural sanctuary that is home to over 500 animals. The zoo got its start as Bernstein Park Zoo, named initially for Mayor Arnold Bernstein, who served the community from 1919 to 1937. Most of the zoo’s development can be credited to Mayor Jack Howard. His campaigns focused heavily on its development and the construction of municipal buildings like the Civic Center and the new Monroe City Hall.

In 2013, the zoo remodeled its food preparation area for the animals and added new primate pens at the behest of the United States Department of Agriculture and has remained in compliance with regulations since. After making these additions, new acquisitions included a male lion and a revamped lion exhibit.

Notable exhibits include:

• Boat rides for observing local fauna and animals on nearby islands
• The “Down-under” exhibit, which focuses on Australian species
• Primate exhibits with baboons, gibbons, and many other species
• An interactive feeding area for sheep, goats, miniature cows, and horses
• Indoor exhibitions like a reptile house and a greenhouse

The Monroe Zoo’s annual events vary from Boo at the Zoo to the Easter Eggstravaganza, all of which focus on safe and educational family-oriented fun. Overall, visitors can find over 200 species of animals as well as a 27-acre garden.

In 2020, the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo made efforts to take exhibitions online while adhering to local public safety regulations.

The Zoo is well-known for its volunteer opportunities, outreach programs, and a membership service that allows free entry to several other zoos around the United States.

What Does SERVPRO’s Flood Extraction Process Entail?

SERVPRO technicians flood damage in Monroe with necessary swiftness to minimize property loss for homeowners while optimizing savings on repair and replacement costs where possible. When ground floods have affected electrical power in residential properties, these professionals can provide power sources, such as generators, to render necessary services.

While properties rarely have standing water after a flood, it is crucial to address excess moisture and debris first to prevent mold growth and further structural damage. Several tools are available to SERVPRO professionals for removing floodwaters, including portable extractors, gas-powered submersible pumps, and truck-mounted units that can lift hundreds of gallons of water in one sitting.

While these tools can vary in scope and application, they generally have three systems in common:

• This system is the primary form of extraction for most water damage situations, including flooding.
• The heater system aids in sanitation by heating to between 180 degrees Fahrenheit and 212 to 220 degrees, depending on the device. This capability is essential for curbing microbial contamination
• When standing water is present, the pump system is crucial for its removal to a treated sewer or other authorized disposal areas

When SERVPRO technicians clean restorable items like furniture and carpeting in a typical water damage scenario, all three of these systems are used. However, many of the items used in all three are considered losses after a flood due to blackwater contaminants.

SERVPRO of Monroe / West Monroe can ensure that your home looks and feels, “Like it never even happened.” Homeowners can contact their local restoration team 24/7, including all holidays, at (318) 345-5121.