• September is a critical time for owners to prepare their properties ahead of unexpected weather events and winter-related emergencies
• Severe weather can strike with little warning, making advance planning essential for protecting homes, businesses and individuals.
• Simple maintenance steps taken today can help reduce property damage, disruption, and costly repairs.

WACO, Texas, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. experienced 12 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters during the first half of 2026 alone, causing at least $31.9 billion in damage, according to Climate Central's mid-year update. As September marks National Preparedness Month and the transition to cooler weather brings the potential for severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and early winter weather, Rainbow Restoration^®, a Neighborly^® company with more than 45 years of restoration experience, is encouraging homeowners and business owners to take proactive steps now to protect their properties and prepare for potential weather events.

"National Preparedness Month is an important reminder that preparation can make a difference when severe weather or an unexpected disaster occurs," said Josh Miller, President of Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company. "Our teams are ready around the clock when disaster strikes, but the best time to prepare is before you need us. Simple steps today can help protect your property and the people and things that matter most."

Five Ways to Prepare Your Home or Business Before the Unexpected Happens

1. Inspect and Weatherproof Your Property: Walk the perimeter of your home or business and look for signs of wear or damage to the roof, windows, doors and foundation. Clear gutters and drains to help prevent water from backing up, secure outdoor furniture and décor ahead of high winds, and trim tree branches that could pose a risk to structures. As temperatures begin to fall, seal gaps around windows and doors and insulate exposed pipes to help reduce winter-related damage.
2. Build a 72-hour Emergency Kit: Prepare an emergency kit with enough supplies to support your household or business for at least three days. Include nonperishable food, drinking water, medications, batteries, flashlights, chargers or backup power sources, hygiene items, copies of important documents and a battery-powered radio. Store the kit in an easy-to-access location, and check content periodically to replace expired or depleted items.
3. Test Safety Equipment: Check smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers regularly to ensure they're working properly. Replace batteries as needed and make sure everyone knows the location of safety equipment, how to use it, what emergency procedures to take, and the evacuation route.
4. Create a Communication Plan and Stay Informed: Ahead of any severe weather, track local forecasts and emergency alerts throughout the event period. Agree on emergency contacts, evacuation routes and meeting points, and know your community's official evacuation plan in case you need to leave quickly.
5. Review Insurance Coverage and Document the Property: Many owners don't think about their insurance policy until after a disaster occurs. Review your coverage annually to understand what is and isn't included, and keep a digital inventory of valuable belongings, equipment or business assets with photos and receipts. Having documentation readily available can help streamline the claims process if damage occurs.

When severe weather, fire, water damage or another unexpected event impacts a property, fast action can help minimize damage and begin the recovery process. Rainbow Restoration provides restoration services for homes and businesses, including water damage restoration, fire and smoke damage restoration, mold remediation and reconstruction. With experienced restoration professionals available around the clock, Rainbow Restoration can help property owners navigate unexpected disasters and get back to normal as quickly as possible.

To learn more about Rainbow Restoration's restoration services and emergency preparedness resources, visit https://rainbowrestores.com/.

About Rainbow Restoration^®:
Rainbow Restoration^®, a Neighborly^® company, is a global franchise providing residential and commercial restoration and cleaning services. Rainbow Restoration franchise owners offer a broad range of damage restoration services ranging from water, smoke and fire damage to carpet and upholstery cleaning and deodorization from almost 400 locations worldwide. Established in 1981, Rainbow Restoration is part of Neighborly, a family of global brands focused on being remarkable with consumers and franchise owners with more than 28 global brands and 5,500 franchise locations across North America and Europe serving millions of customers. For more information about Rainbow Restoration, visit RainbowRestores.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly, click here.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/protect-your-home-and-business-this-national-preparedness-month-with-rainbow-restoration-302882224.html

SOURCE Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company