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NORTHSTAR MOBILIZES EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES TO RESPOND TO RECORD FLOODING IN MIDWEST

6/24/2008

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – June 24, 2008 – NorthStar Recovery Services, the emergency/disaster response subsidiary of LVI Services Inc., is mobilizing its experienced work force, heavy equipment, communications gear and logistical support to respond to the extreme flooding that has hit the Midwest. 

NorthStar Recovery Services, together with LVI, operates regional offices across the country and has established a command post in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to assist commercial property owners and government entities with cleanup and recovery in Iowa in particular and for the potential impact along the Mississippi River. The company’s experience lies in working with organizations such as municipalities, schools and universities, commercial buildings, healthcare facilities and multifamily housing communities; and facilitating communication with clients’ insurance companies, claims adjusters, brokers, etc.

“The Midwest flooding is a very sad, devastating situation whose impact is just beginning to be realized as the flood waters recede and some of the water begins to move downstream,” said Lloyd E. Swiggum, President of NorthStar Recovery Services, who has more than 20 years of experience in catastrophe preparedness, large commercial loss recovery and restoration. “Our job is to facilitate the cleanup and rebuilding of the business and institutional infrastructure to enable people to return to their livelihoods and begin to restore some normalcy. As heartbreaking as this situation is from a human perspective, people can take comfort in knowing there are resources that can help them get it under control.”

NorthStar Recovery expects that damage inspection and assessment, decontamination, material drying and removal, demolition, heavy materials cutting (including concrete), and mold remediation will be the primary needs in the weeks and months ahead. The company offers 24-hour response (including a toll-free, emergency hotline – 1-800-283-2933) and can be onsite within hours of receiving a client request.

“Fast response and finding a strong, reputable organization to work with are critical,” Swiggum said. “We know there is a lot of devastation, but there is hope for building owners and managers who are able to take appropriate action as soon as possible. For example, it may be possible, with early response, to salvage, dry out and re-use a significant amount of building furnishings, even if a situation initially appears to be a total loss.”

To facilitate immediate response, the company is deploying its mobile response centers featuring computers, satellite phone uplinks, bathroom facilities and biometric timekeeping systems. NorthStar Recovery has hundreds of workers in the area, and can add hundreds or even thousands more as client projects demand. In addition, the company will utilize its mobile rapid deployment housing units and bring in outside food, water and other supplies for the workers’ use – so the company does not have to tap into local resources that are currently in short supply due to the emergency situation.

NorthStar Recovery Services/LVI Services’ disaster response experience includes recovery work for Lower Manhattan from the 9/11 attacks, cleanup from hurricanes in Florida, Texas and Guam, and commercial building cleanup and recovery in the wake of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. In addition, the company responds to a wide variety of facility emergencies, including fires, floods, and significant environmental incidents and exposures.

About NorthStar Recovery Services

NorthStar Recovery Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York City-based LVI Services Inc., offers expert emergency response and recovery services that help its clients minimize damage and disruption, to get their businesses back up and running as quickly and cost-effectively as possible following all types of disasters. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, with a national network of more than 30 offices and more than 2,500 employees, NorthStar Recovery can immediately dispatch teams that range from 10 workers to thousands, depending on the scale of an emergency. For more information, visit www.northstar-recovery.com.