Cotton Restoration

New Housing Coming This March to South Texas

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00 GMT

February 6, 2012 Houston TX - Cotton Logistics, a division of Cotton Commercial USA Inc, broke ground in late January and has set a date of March 15, 2012 for the opening of the Cotton Carrizo Lodge in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Located approximately 117 miles Southwest of San Antonio, Texas, in Dimmit County, the Cotton Carrizo Lodge is a turnkey workforce camp that offers a solution for the shortage of accommodations occurring throughout South Texas due to the ongoing oil and gas production operations of the Eagle Ford Shale Play.

The Eagle Ford Shale Play, spanning roughly 50 miles wide and 400 miles long across Texas, is one of the largest discoveries of Oil and Natural Gas in North America that has only recently become a popular area for many of the nation’s producers due to developments in hydraulic fracturing technology. Small South Texas towns are finding themselves struggling to provide the basic infrastructure to accommodate the population explosion of oilfield and related service workers that has occurred within the last couple of years and is forecasted to grow increasingly over the coming months.

The Cotton Carrizo Lodge will provide comfortable lodging, dining and recreational facilities, allowing guests to recharge at the end of a long day while their basic needs are met. The 320-bed lodge has a rustic, South Texas feel to it and the experienced staff of Cotton Logistics will provide catering, housekeeping, linen services, security, grounds maintenance and the overall management of the daily operation of the camp. Accommodations include a selection of jack-and-jill style semi-private bedrooms with bathrooms and televisions. Guests will be served three meals per day - including box lunches - on a rotation of menus prepared by qualified chefs. Additional amenities include an onsite laundry facility and a WiFi-enabled business and recreation center with computer stations, flat screen televisions, billiards, games, fitness equipment and an outdoor area with barbeque grills and picnic tables.

The location of the Cotton Carrizo Lodge is desirable because it is within the Carrizo Springs city limits, allowing occupants to be located near retail centers, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses. The Cotton Carrizo Lodge is also convenient in proximity to many operating sites, reducing drive time for our clients’ workforce in the area. The lodge can be scaled up in size and additional facilities added as our clients’ needs dictate.

Cotton Logistics is currently taking reservations from companies for the Carrizo Lodge and is assessing other areas in Texas and North Dakota for the establishment of additional camps. For inquiries, call 877-427-2947.

About Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. has been a global provider of disaster recovery services since 1996, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, the healthcare, education, hospitality and entertainment industries, and the public sector. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental partner in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, fires, terrorist attacks, vandalism and environmental mishaps. Beyond disasters, Cotton provides comprehensive logistical support solutions, temporary housing and consultation to a host of local and international clients including Fortune 500 companies, oil and gas corporations, private contractors and government agencies. Cotton is headquartered in Katy, Texas, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Cotton attends 1st International Disaster and Exposition 2012 Conference

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00 GMT

Cotton continues to accelerate in 2012 most recently attending the 1st annual International Disaster and Exposition Conference (IDCE).

IDCE is an event designed to unite the most internationally recognized and distinguished professionals from around the world for problem solving, planning and preparation, discussing relevant issues dealing with Emergency Management, Homeland Security, First Response, Loss Mitigation, Business Continuity, and all other disciplines within the fields of Disaster Preparation, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation on a global scale. The focus of IDCE is to create opportunities for the Public and Private sectors to engage.

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Rogers to Oversee Production for Construction Division

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00 GMT

Cotton is excited to welcome Jason Rogers to our corporate team as Director of Production for Construction Services. Jason is a graduate of Texas A&M’s Construction Science Program and brings over 14 years of progressive construction management and leadership experience to Cotton. He most recently served as Regional Construction Manager with a firm specialized in multi-family reconstruction and renovation projects where he managed an average of 300 projects per year through the entire project cycle. His success is attributed to delivering quality projects on time and within budget by ensuring consistent communication through all parties involved and managing their expectations.

Jason is a native Houstonian residing in Sugar Land, Texas with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys spending time with his family and squeezing in a round of golf or a fishing trip during his free time.

Cotton New Year Message

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00 GMT

Cotton Holiday Message

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00 GMT

Merry Christmas from the entire Cotton family to yours!

Cotton International Responds to Thailand Flooding

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00 GMT

Exceptional monsoon rain since late July has caused the worst flooding in Thailand for half a century. The floods have affected 63 of the country’s 77 provinces and killed more than 500 people. A third of the provinces have been declared disaster zones and the recovery cost is estimated at more than $30B. The Thai Office of the Insurance Commission has issued an initial estimate of the overall insured loss at approximately THB600 billion ($19.5 billion), which would make it the costliest disaster on record in South-East Asia. Cotton International continues to provide intuitional solutions to expedite disaster recovery and restoration operations throughout the affected areas providing long-term sustainable international disaster relief and restoration services.

Cotton has deployed to Bangkok, Thailand in turn-key support of its international clients and their global supply chain business continuity recovery efforts. Our specific lines of effort will include:

Crisis Team Liaison Officer
In-Country Consulting/Advisory Teams
In-Country Project Management and Tactical Supervision

Thailand Flood SitRep 23Nov11 1300HRS

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00 GMT

Cotton Operational Support Responds to Thailand Monsoon Flooding 2011

Nov 23 2011 - Cotton International has been closely monitoring the catastrophic flooding brought on by sudden Monsoon rainfall in Thailand since July and continues to provide support as the operating picture evolves.

Current Priorities

Environmental Health & Safety
Assessment of Critical Path Plan and Incident Command Structure
Operational Capacity and Timelines

Capabilities

Crisis Liaison Officer
In-Country Consulting/Advisory Teams
In-Country Project Management and Tactical Supervision
Operational Capacity and Timelines

In-Country Project Management and Tactical Supervision Cotton International SAR - November 2011

Exceptional monsoon rain since late July has caused the worst flooding in Thailand for half a century. The floods have affected 63 of the country’s 77 provinces and killed more than 500 people. A third of the provinces have been declared disaster zones and the recovery cost is estimated at more than $30B. The Thai Office of the Insurance Commission has issued an initial estimate of the overall insured loss at approximately THB600 billion ($19.5 billion), which would make it the costliest disaster on record in South-East Asia. Cotton International continues to provide intuitional solutions to expedite disaster recovery and restoration operations throughout the affected areas providing long-term sustainable international disaster relief and restoration services.

Cotton International manages crisis situations and understands host nation critical requirements. Cotton provides a range of tactical to strategic disaster recovery and restoration turn-key solutions. For immediate recovery assistance or questions regarding Cotton’s capabilities, call 877-511-2962.

The Cotton Companies Continue to Grow and Set the Stage for Global Success

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00 GMT

Setting the Stage for Global Success with New Cotton Campus

Houston TX - This September, Cotton began phase one of the relocation of their entire corporate operation to Katy, Texas, transitioning into their new state-of-the-art corporate campus. Currently the headquarters of Cotton executives and the Cotton Foundation’s recreational grounds, plans are underway for the development of the 33-acre property, dubbed the “Cotton Campus”, and will consist of multiple buildings to support the global growth of the company including their Situation Awareness Room and various specialized wings. After 10 years at their staple Hwy 290 location in Northwest Houston, Cotton has outgrown its current space. With the acquisition of additional acreage in Katy, the stage is being set for future expansion of facilities in anticipation of continued operational success.

“The Cotton Companies have successfully built their reputation of excellence to expand throughout the world. Our move to Katy will be a continued development of standing at the fore-front of major disasters. Through our extensive fleet of assets, highly skilled personnel and years of operational expertise, we will continue to set the expectations of clients in our industry and build lasting partnerships on a global level”, says CEO and co-founder Pete Bell.

Along with the corporate move, strong efforts have been made internally to solidify Cotton’s growth among employees. Current team members have strategically been positioned to streamline the multiple specialized divisions and provide better direct lines of communication companywide. And this year, Cotton has acquired several seasoned industry professionals into its family, bringing additional subject matter expertise to an already highly experienced team.

Daryn Ebrecht, COO and co-founder says, “We are extremely excited about the new additions to our team and the move of our international headquarters to Katy, Texas. The Cotton Companies are committed to providing the highest quality service in disaster recovery and is one of the world’s most experienced full service companies. We have always exceeded client expectations and with our new state-of-the-art Cotton Campus, we look forward to serving our clients into the future.”

The Cotton Campus will provide support to Cotton’s Logistics Center in Dallas and other regional offices throughout Texas, the U.S. and the Caribbean. The recent implementations of new facilities and staff are made possible by the collaborative efforts and goals of the long-standing Cotton members that make up the executive management team, who have a unified vision of Cotton’s global brand in the marketplace.

“The strength of the Cotton family is second-to-none in our industry. With the same core management group of eight individuals working together for the last decade and leading our team, we operate in a stable environment and have earned trust among our corporate partnerships over the years. Cotton executives are committed to making decisions together that will have the ultimate positive outcome for our employees, clients and stakeholders as we move ahead in the disaster recovery field”, said Bryan Michalsky, Chief Financial Officer.

Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. has been a global provider of disaster recovery services since 1996, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, the healthcare, education and hospitality industries, and government agencies. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental partner in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, wild fires, terrorist attacks and environmental mishaps.

Cotton Hurricane Irene Summary 2Sep11

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00 GMT

Storm Profile

Hurricane Irene was a large Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada. Irene was the ninth named storm, first hurricane and first major hurricane of the 2011 season. Irene formed from a well-defined Atlantic tropical wave that organizes east of the Lesser Antilles. It formed late on 20 August, passed the Leeward Islands and moved close to Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on 21 August. On 22 August Irene made landfall at hurricane strength near Puerto Rico, where high winds and intermittent torrents caused property damage.

Irene tracked just north of Hispaniola as an intensifying Category 1 hurricane, skirting the coast with heavy precipitation and strong winds that killed several people. After crossing the Turks and Caicos Islands, the hurricane quickly strengthened into a Category 3 major hurricane while passing through The Bahamas, leaving behind a trail of extensive structural damage in its wake. Curving toward the north, Irene skirted past Florida with its outer bands producing tropical-storm-force winds. It made landfall over Eastern North Carolina’s Outer Banks on the morning of August 27 as a Category 1 hurricane, and moved along southeastern Virginia, affecting the Hampton Roads region. After briefly reemerging over water, Irene made second US landfall near Little Egg Inlet in New Jersey during the morning of August 28, becoming the first hurricane to make landfall in the state since 1903. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made its third U.S. landfall in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York, at approximately 9:00 a.m. on August 28. Considerable damage occurred in the Catskill Mountains and Mohawk Valley of New York State and in Vermont, which suffered from the worst flooding in centuries.

Throughout its path, Irene caused widespread destruction and at least 54 deaths; monetary losses to the Caribbean could be as high as US$ 3.1 billion according to preliminary estimates. Early damage estimates in the US are about $7 billion.

Cotton’s Pre-positioning and Response

Cotton was put on notice by its clients for Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and the United States East Coast. In response, Cotton pre-deployed Incident Commands and Property Damage Assessment teams to the on-notice locations. Fortunately, for Puerto Rico and the Bahamas; damage for Cotton end users were nominal and only required consulting and crisis leadership assistance. Along the United States East Coast Cotton was on-notice for over 2,552 client nodes and is currently working in North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and Vermont. While this was a broad storm with a long path, the damage sustained was significantly less than had been predicted. The damage was primarily in the categories of widespread power outages, damaged utility infrastructure, and flooding of low lying areas, roads, rivers, streams and hundred year flood plains.

Cotton’s deployment quickly revealed the overall damage was more significant inland than coastal and to the residential areas and small to midsize enterprises. Larger enterprises were impacted in low lying areas and near rivers and streams. Cotton’s USG, DoD, large Retail, Healthcare, Hospitality and Manufacturing portfolios largely escaped significant damage.

Forward Involvement

Now in the reconstruction phase, Cotton will continue to facilitate operations that are enabling a full recovery to those affected from the Irene disaster in order to achieve a pre-loss condition, and return the enterprise back to the Partner Client through a complete host of ongoing catastrophe management and reconstruction services.

Cotton Hires Broussard as Director of Business Development

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00 GMT

(August 18, 2011) Houston, TX - Cotton is proud to introduce Carrie Broussard as its Director of Business Development. Carrie will concentrate on the Houston Division’s business development efforts while also supporting the national sales team initiative across multiple markets including Commercial and Multi-family, Property Management, Hospitality, Retail and end user solutions for insurance and brokerage firms. This will bring a direct communication line and provide value through a more in depth business continuity planning and evaluation for clients.

Carrie is a Houstonian, holds a B.S. in Corporate Communication from Lamar University and has over 14 years of experience in client relations, business development and account management. Carrie attributes and values her success to creating solid working relationships, building trust and integrity, and providing problem-solving strategies for customers.

Pete Bell, CEO – “We enthusiastically welcome Carrie as a part of the Cotton family. There is no doubt she will bring instant value to our clients with her industry experience and proven work ethic.”

________________________________________________________________________

Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. has been a global provider of disaster recovery services since 1996, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, healthcare, education and hospitality industries, and government agencies. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental player in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, wild fires, terrorist attacks and environmental mishaps.

Cotton Has New Midwest Regional Office in the Heart of the Windy City

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00 GMT

Chicago, IL – Cotton is excited to announce the relocation of our Regional Office to Chicago’s West Loop area – the city’s historic and bustling commercial district in downtown. This strategic location compliments our existing operations facility and allows Cotton to increase its readiness and client support for the Chicago Metro area and Midwest region. Our relocation is an added investment in our local capability and demonstrates our continued commitment to the region.

Michelle Pienta, CPA, joined the Cotton team in April 2011 as a National Marketing Director, and will operate from our new Chicago location. Ms. Pienta brings over 16 years of subject matter expertise in forensic accounting. Her experience with auditing and business development in the disaster response arena will create value for Cotton and our client base.

Inquiries regarding Cotton’s services and response within the U.S. Midwest can be directed to 877-511-2962 or Michelle Pienta at 773-580-5285.

__________________________________________________________________

Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. has been a global provider of disaster recovery services since 1996, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, healthcare, education and hospitality industries, and government agencies. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental player in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, wild fires, terrorist attacks and environmental mishaps.

Cotton Responds to Montana Oil Spill

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00 GMT

Cotton continues to assist the energy sector, responding to another environmental catastrophe – a 12-inch Exxon-Mobil pipeline that ruptured on July 1st, about 150 miles downstream from Yellowstone National Park near the town of Laurel, Montana, southwest of Billings. The rupture caused up to 1,000 barrels – or 42,000 gallons – of crude oil to be dumped into the flood-swollen river.

Cotton is cleaning up scattered sections of riverbank that received crude. In an effort to reach flooded pasture and crop land, environmental river craft are being used to deliver crews closer to possible contaminated areas. Specialty crews, trained in hazardous material response, are using absorbent pads and booms to clean up contaminated soils and water.

As the river begins to recede, other disaster response crews will be deployed to refine Exxon’s ongoing efforts along the river banks in search of pooled oil.

Cotton Holdings Announces Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Release of FY 2011 Financial Results

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00 GMT

Houston, July 11 – Cotton Holdings, Inc., announced today that the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting of its stockholders will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at the offices of Rothschild Inc., located in New York City. It is expected that stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 15, 2011 will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

Pete Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Cotton Holdings, commented, “This has been a transformative year for both Cotton Holdings and our principal operating subsidiary, Cotton Commercial. As Cotton continues to prepare for what is predicted to be a very active hurricane season, we believe that the recent operational efforts of the Cotton team have placed us in a very strong strategic position to allow us to provide the industry-leading services our clients demand.”

“In addition to our recent strategic efforts, our recent commercial successes, coupled with focused capital management over the past fiscal year, have resulted in Cotton being in what we believe to be a very strong financial position entering hurricane season. This balance sheet strength continues to enable Cotton to respond quickly and effectively to our clients of all sizes, across the nation and around the world,” said Bryan Michalsky, Chief Financial Officer of Cotton Holdings.

The time and other details of the stockholders meeting will be announced in a meeting notice to be distributed on or about August 1, 2011. The meeting notice will contain copies of the audited financial results of the Company for the recently completed fiscal year.

About Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Cotton Holdings, Inc., is a leading disaster services company providing restoration and recovery services to public and private entities throughout the United States and internationally, including environmental remediation, debris removal, and the restoration and reconstruction of commercial, industrial, marine and institutional properties that have suffered catastrophic or other casualty loss. For more information, please visit www.cottoncompanies.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements. Cotton Holdings may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass Cotton Holdings beliefs, expectations, hopes, or intentions regarding future events. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “continue,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Likewise, statements that describe the Company’s plans or goals are all forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to the Company as of such date. Cotton Holdings disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results will vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected based on many risk factors. Those risk factors include, among others: ’’foreign business risks; industry cyclicality; fluctuations in customer demand and order pattern; the occurrence or non-occurrence of natural disasters and other catastrophic events; and changes in pricing and general economic conditions. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Website: http://www.cottoncompanies.com
Contact: Britney Smith, Cotton Holdings, Inc., (512) 801-3533

Cotton Holdings Announces Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00 GMT

Cotton Holdings Announces Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Release of FY 2011 Financial Results

Houston, July 11 – Cotton Holdings, Inc., announced today that the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting of its stockholders will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at the offices of Rothschild Inc., located in New York City. It is expected that stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 15, 2011 will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

Pete Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Cotton Holdings, commented, “This has been a transformative year for both Cotton Holdings and our principal operating subsidiary, Cotton Commercial. As Cotton continues to prepare for what is predicted to be a very active hurricane season, we believe that the recent operational efforts of the Cotton team have placed us in a very strong strategic position to allow us to provide the industry-leading services our clients demand.”

“In addition to our recent strategic efforts, our recent commercial successes, coupled with focused capital management over the past fiscal year, have resulted in Cotton being in what we believe to be a very strong financial position entering hurricane season. This balance sheet strength continues to enable Cotton to respond quickly and effectively to our clients of all sizes, across the nation and around the world,” said Bryan Michalsky, Chief Financial Officer of Cotton Holdings.

The time and other details of the stockholders meeting will be announced in a meeting notice to be distributed on or about August 1, 2011. The meeting notice will contain copies of the audited financial results of the Company for the recently completed fiscal year.

About Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Cotton Holdings, Inc., is a leading disaster services company providing restoration and recovery services to public and private entities throughout the United States and internationally, including environmental remediation, debris removal, and the restoration and reconstruction of commercial, industrial, marine and institutional properties that have suffered catastrophic or other casualty loss. For more information, please visit www.cottoncompanies.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements. Cotton Holdings may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass Cotton Holdings beliefs, expectations, hopes, or intentions regarding future events. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “continue,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Likewise, statements that describe the Company’s plans or goals are all forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to the Company as of such date. Cotton Holdings disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results will vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected based on many risk factors. Those risk factors include, among others: ’’foreign business risks; industry cyclicality; fluctuations in customer demand and order pattern; the occurrence or non-occurrence of natural disasters and other catastrophic events; and changes in pricing and general economic conditions. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Website: http://www.cottoncompanies.com
Contact: Britney Smith, Cotton Holdings, Inc., (512) 801-3533

Cotton conducts 2011 Hurricane Forum

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00 GMT

Cotton has concluded their annual Hurricane Emergency Response Synchronization Planning for hurricane season 2011 and has prepared their recovery and restoration program to support your disaster requirements.

Here is our 2011 Guide for Hurricane Preparation.

WHAT TO DO: HURRICANE

More than half of the nation’s population now lives within 50 miles of the coast. In just the last decade, we’ve experienced 3 of the 4 costliest hurricanes in United States history. Losses from Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Ike were so great that many once-thriving businesses never reopened their doors. But steps can be taken to better protect your assets long before the disaster occurs. Don’t risk becoming a statistic; act now to ensure your future recovery.

PRE-SEASON PLANNING

Consult with a full-service disaster recovery specialist, your insurance company and/or broker regarding business continuance and recovery of your property.

Identify your chain of command and recovery team; determine individual roles and those who will have decision-making authority post-storm.

Develop a comprehensive communication plan for your recovery team.

Designate a rally point and offsite call-in number for personnel to check in after the storm.

Ensure essential personnel have a letter of authorization and proper credentials to access property.

Determine your business’ operational requirements, know your critical needs and establish a building or department priority list should major damage occur.

Inventory and prioritize building contents based on historical nature, replacement value and availability, and necessity and frequency of use; record serial and model numbers of all electronics and equipment.

Record the types and colors of interior finishes and identify materials that may have extended lead and delivery times for reorder.

Back up important computer data and business records on a separate server offsite.

Retrofit buildings with protective measures such as roof anchors and storm shutters.

Perform regular grounds maintenance such as trimming trees and clearing rain gutters, downspouts and storm drains.

Know your insurance policy’s coverage, what exclusions exist and what the deductibles are.

Test your disaster plan by orchestrating training exercises and update your plan periodically.

It’s important not to overlook specific tasks to include in your disaster plan that should be carried out in the immediate hours pre-and post-storm. The actions your organization takes during this critical time will determine the success of your recovery. Following is a list of action items to consider, intended to provide general guidance in these events.

BEFORE THE STORM

Monitor weather reports closely and follow the orders of local authorities regarding evacuation.

Secure computers, business records and other important contents in an interior room, off of the floor and away from windows. Cover with plastic to prevent damage from fallen debris.

Check all emergency equipment and secondary measures, including backup generators.

Stock necessary emergency items including non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, and 2-way radios or satellite phones.

Secure all loose outdoor articles as they could become flying debris; tie down heavy equipment.

Cover windows, doors, vents and other points of entry around critical areas of buildings using shutters, marine plywood or other barrier; secure garage doors.

Have trained staff shut off gas and other utilities as necessary.

Fill fuel tanks of fleet vehicles and relocate all vehicles to a secure area inside parking garage that’s not in danger of flooding.

Communicate with your disaster recovery specialist and put third party vendors on notice that you have property with exposure to incoming storm. This will give you faster response time and prepositioned equipment in the event of sustained damage.

Keep documentation of pre-storm mitigation efforts and associated costs for possible reimbursement later; photograph all efforts that were taken to reduce or eliminate damage.

DURING

If remaining on property, take shelter in a secure area, away from windows, on the first or second floor (but not on floor that’s directly under roof).

Listen to emergency broadcast stations for instructions and remain in shelter until storm winds have subsided and told it is safe to go outside.

AFTER

Wait until the all-clear has been given by building management or emergency services before re-entering the area or property.

Do not enter a building if its structural integrity appears to be compromised.

Stay clear of downed power lines and take notice of gas odor or hissing noise.

Immediately report gas leaks or hazardous material contamination to local authorities.

Engage your disaster recovery specialist to assess the damage; create a cost-effective and efficient strategy for restoration; liaise with insurers and other interested parties; and carry out the cleanup, repairs and/or reconstruction.

Identify and carry out immediate mitigation efforts required to address life, health and safety concerns.

Check mechanicals to ensure function of critical systems and activate secondary measures if necessary.

Secure buildings to prevent further damage and/or looting and restrict access by non-essential personnel.

Conduct assessments and take photographs and/or video of the damage and identify the areas by building, floor, and room number or name.

Extract water, remove all water-damaged elements and stabilize the building environment to mitigate secondary damage. Do not circulate air if mold is present.

Establish the scope of work for complete recovery of the property and carry out the cleanup, repairs and reconstruction as necessary.
Keep detailed DAILY record of all services performed throughout the recovery phase.

Cotton continues to support disaster recovery efforts in the Southeast

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00 GMT

Areas of the country were left devastated after two days of Spring storms. What is being referred to as the 2011 Super Outbreak, caused large hail and over 300 confirmed tornadoes to touch down across 21 states. The Southeast was the most impacted, especially Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. The hardest hit: Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Meanwhile in Texas, Cotton was participating in an annual Emergency Management Conference watching the disaster unfold amidst some of the country’s top weather forecasting and reporting agencies who were also in attendance. One Cotton client who was present at the conference, watched on radar as storm cells containing possible tornadoes moved over their Alabama facility throughout the afternoon on April 27. They ended up being one of the unfortunate victims of Mother Nature that day, along with hundreds of other people whose homes and business suffered minor to catastrophic damage. Back at headquarters, Cotton’s Operations Department had activated response teams and the wheels were in motion to have boots on the ground as quickly as possible to assist with service requests from national clients and others in the area.

Cotton set up Incident Command in Birmingham and damage assessments began the next day, even as more storms were forecast for the same areas already hit. Response involved joint operations between Cotton’s Atlanta regional office, its Houston headquarters and its International Logistics Center in Dallas.

Recovery will be a long process for areas hardest hit during the 2011 Super Outbreak. Cotton’s continued efforts involve debris removal, roofing and reconstruction.

**UPDATE** (June 1, 2011) Recovery and debris cleanup efforts are also underway in Missouri from the multi-vortex EF5 tornado that hit Joplin on May 22.

Please contact Cotton for assistance 877-511-2962.

Cotton Holdings Elects Gary Nedelka to the Board of Directors

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00 GMT

Houston, April 12 – Cotton Holdings, Inc., is pleased to announce that it has added Gary Nedelka, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Power Group of Foster Wheeler Ltd., to the Board of Directors.

Gary Nedelka joined Foster Wheeler in 1979 in an engineering position and subsequently held increasingly responsible positions in commercial operations and engineering management. He was general manager of Foster Wheeler’s office in Beijing from 1997 and, in 2000, established Foster Wheeler’s operating companies in Shanghai and was appointed president and general manager of Foster Wheeler China. He was promoted to head of Power Group International and North America Power in 2007 and to CEO of the Global Power Group in 2008.

“I have known members of the management team of Foster Wheeler for a decade, and I am looking forward to having a first-rate operator of Gary’s caliber join the Board. His experience and insight will be invaluable to the Company and our shareholders,” said Naveen Bhatia, Chairman of Cotton Holdings.

Pete Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Cotton Holdings, commented, “I am confident that Gary’s functional expertise in operations and management, coupled with his broad commercial relationships, will prove to be integral to successfully growing Cotton. I am excited to work with Gary to continue to build a world-class disaster services business and maximize stockholder value.”

The Board of Directors of the Company is now comprised of: Neil Augustine, Pete Bell, Naveen Bhatia, Tom Bosley, Andrew Brenner, Bryan Michalsky, and Gary Nedelka.

About Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Cotton Holdings, Inc., is a leading, nationwide disaster services company providing restoration and recovery services to public and private entities throughout the United States and internationally, including environmental remediation, debris removal, and the restoration and reconstruction of commercial, industrial, marine and institutional properties that have suffered catastrophic or other casualty loss. For more information, please visit www.cottoncompanies.com.

SOURCE Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Website: http://www.cottoncompanies.com
Contact: Britney Smith, Cotton Holdings, Inc., (713) 849-9300

The Cotton Companies Continue to Grow and Set the Stage for Global Success

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:00 GMT

Setting the Stage for Global Success with New Cotton Campus

Houston TX - This September, Cotton began phase one of the relocation of their entire corporate operation to Katy, Texas, transitioning into their new state-of-the-art corporate campus. Currently the headquarters of Cotton executives and the Cotton Foundation’s recreational grounds, plans are underway for the development of the 33-acre property, dubbed the “Cotton Campus”, and will consist of multiple buildings to support the global growth of the company including their Situation Awareness Room and various specialized wings. After 10 years at their staple Hwy 290 location in Northwest Houston, Cotton has outgrown its current space. With the acquisition of additional acreage in Katy, the stage is being set for future expansion of facilities in anticipation of continued operational success.

“The Cotton Companies have successfully built their reputation of excellence to expand throughout the world. Our move to Katy will be a continued development of standing at the fore-front of major disasters. Through our extensive fleet of assets, highly skilled personnel and years of operational expertise, we will continue to set the expectations of clients in our industry and build lasting partnerships on a global level”, says CEO and co-founder Pete Bell.

Along with the corporate move, strong efforts have been made internally to solidify Cotton’s growth among employees. Current team members have strategically been positioned to streamline the multiple specialized divisions and provide better direct lines of communication companywide. And this year, Cotton has acquired several seasoned industry professionals into its family, bringing additional subject matter expertise to an already highly experienced team.

Daryn Ebrecht, COO and co-founder says, “We are extremely excited about the new additions to our team and the move of our international headquarters to Katy, Texas. The Cotton Companies are committed to providing the highest quality service in disaster recovery and is one of the world’s most experienced full service companies. We have always exceeded client expectations and with our new state-of-the-art Cotton Campus, we look forward to serving our clients into the future.”

The Cotton Campus will provide support to Cotton’s Logistics Center in Dallas and other regional offices throughout Texas, the U.S. and the Caribbean. The recent implementations of new facilities and staff are made possible by the collaborative efforts and goals of the long-standing Cotton members that make up the executive management team, who have a unified vision of Cotton’s global brand in the marketplace.

“The strength of the Cotton family is second-to-none in our industry. With the same core management group of eight individuals working together for the last decade and leading our team, we operate in a stable environment and have earned trust among our corporate partnerships over the years. Cotton executives are committed to making decisions together that will have the ultimate positive outcome for our employees, clients and stakeholders as we move ahead in the disaster recovery field”, said Bryan Michalsky, Chief Financial Officer.

Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. has been a global provider of disaster recovery services since 1996, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, the healthcare, education and hospitality industries, and government agencies. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental partner in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, wild fires, terrorist attacks and environmental mishaps.

Cotton Hires a National Marketing Director for the Chicago Regional office

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00 GMT

Michelle Pienta joins Cotton as National Marketing Director out of the Chicago regional office. Prior to her embarking upon a career in the disaster recovery services field, she spent 16 years specializing in investigative accounting and auditing services to the insurance industry and the public sector.

Since 2000, Michelle has been directly involved in thousands of property damage claims –assigning, managing and reporting on the status of many of these claims directly to the client.

Michelle graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, is a Certified Public Accountant and continues to be involved in multiple professional organizations, including the Western Loss Association.

We at Cotton, are excited to welcome Michelle to our team. The wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience she brings in the claims review process will provide much advantage to her clients and Cotton. We look forward to a prosperous journey together.

Cotton Hires Project Coordinator for Atlanta Office

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00 GMT

Stephen O’ Neill joins Cotton as a national Project Coordinator based in Atlanta, GA. Steve joins Cotton with more than 10 years in the disaster solutions management arena and brings with him a diverse background in operations, sales, estimating and consulting. Steve will diversify and strengthen Cotton’s Operation Division with his proven ability to manage large losses, solve complex challenges and provide turnkey solutions for end users. During Steve’s past 20 years of management he has proven to be a leader in developing strategic operating initiatives, target divisions, and vendor programs customized for clients.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Bio Engineering from Canterbury University and received much of his training from Georgia Tech and Georgia State Universities. He holds multiple licenses and certifications in the in the disaster recovery, remediation and safety services lines.

Steve resides with his wife and two teenage sons in the Atlanta metro area. Cotton is proud to announce the addition of Steve and his family and looks forward to the opportunity of utilizing his talent to continue to provide unsurpassed service to our clients.

Cotton Continues Flood Recovery Efforts in Australia as Tropical Cyclones and Possibilities of More Rain Threaten

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00 GMT

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (February 22, 2011) The catastrophic flooding that occurred between December and January left much of the Australian states of Queensland and Victoria in despair. The month-long flooding was the worst Australia had experienced in decades and Queensland had the wettest January in its recorded history. U.S.-based disaster recovery company, Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. (Cotton), activated their global arm for this operation, Cotton International, Inc., and was among the first recovery companies outside of Australia to respond. Veterans of every U.S. hurricane and natural disaster since 1996, Cotton is uniquely suited to help stop further property damage and begin the slow rebuilding process.

As a comprehensive disaster response specialist, Cotton received early interest from humanitarian relief organizations, international insurance carriers and brokers, and domestic clients with Australian portfolio exposure. Crews are currently operating in southern Victoria and Cotton will continue a presence to meet the requests for services if additional damage is sustained or as properties, already affected, get released for repairs. La Nina is to blame for the above average rainfall totals and increase in cyclones during the Australian storm season, but meteorologists predict this cycle will begin to break down in March or April, bringing relief to people on the Eastern coast.

Cotton CEO, Pete Bell, who has been heading up the command center from the company’s Houston headquarters said, “I think this has been a tremendous opportunity for Cotton to extend our hand globally. After events such as this, our job is to get the properties inspected and safely cleaned up so the people of the affected regions can quickly rebuild their homes, businesses and lives.”

About Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. has been a global provider of disaster recovery services since 1996, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, healthcare, education and hospitality industries, and government agencies. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental player in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, wild fires, terrorist attacks and environmental mishaps. Most recently, Cotton provided massive resources for the BP oil spill cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. Cotton is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Cotton Roofing Still Working and Assessing Property Damage Following Phoenix Region Hailstorm

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00 GMT

PHOENIX, AZ (January 19, 2011) Building owners and property managers in the greater Phoenix area are still reeling from the damage and destruction caused by an October 5, 2010 hailstorm. Cotton Commercial USA Inc.’s roofing division, Cotton Roofing, immediately deployed to the hail-struck Arizona city following the storm to begin the arduous inspections process.

Vice President of Cotton Roofing, Chad Weigman, reports, “Cotton’s Sales and estimating teams are meeting with new clients daily. Some of the commercial property owners and managers that we meet do not know they have roofing damage. Many have not even had a damage inspection.”

The estimation and production phase is a slow moving process. Weigman says Cotton Roofing crews are prepared to stay in Phoenix indefinitely to meet the needs of new and existing commercial clients. He added that most current estimates will take at least six months before completion due to the sheer volume of damaged roofing systems.

Cotton Roofing is also contracting larger commercial and multi-family properties for repairs beyond roofing systems for Cotton Construction. Cotton Construction, a separate division, is a fully licensed Commercial General Contractor in the state of Arizona. “We are moving well with the hail repair jobs we have signed on and every project is on schedule.”

About Cotton Roofing:
Cotton Roofing, a division of Cotton Commercial USA Inc., is a full-service commercial roofing contractor specializing in project assessment, natural disaster damage, roofing repairs, and new roofing installations for a variety of roofing systems. Cotton Roofing takes pride in providing rapid response and quality work on a short turnaround.

Cotton Taps Scott to Lead Baton Rouge Office

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00 GMT

Since inception of our national division, Cotton has responded to opportunity and strategically placed assets in locations that best accommodate our clients. Answering to demands in Louisiana, we have relocated our regional office there to Baton Rouge. In conjunction with the official grand opening and full expansion of services, Cotton would like to formally introduce Jeff Scott. Scott has been part of the Cotton team for nearly a year and much of his new role will consist of overseeing the daily operations of our Louisiana regional office.

Scott came to Cotton with 18 years of sales and business development experience, 5 of which he traveled internationally for accounts spanning three continents, and the last six spent in the disaster services industry. Since 2004, his responsibilities have expanded to involve operations while covering major weather-related events along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Jeff’s most recent focus has been securing government and state contracts for Cotton’s Construction and Integrated Services Divisions.

Originally from Atlanta, Scott now resides in Baton Rouge with his wife and three children. Cotton is excited about the value our newest office and Jeff Scott will bring to our clients in Louisiana and the surrounding Gulf Coast region.

Gaskins Brings Experience to Cotton Roofing Division

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00 GMT

Cotton Roofing, a Division of Cotton Commercial USA, is excited to welcome Bobby Gaskins to our team. Bobby comes to us with more than 15 years of experience in the roofing industry. He spent 12years as a material salesman and 3 years as a Roofing Contractor. More recently as a contractor, Bobby traveled as a first responder, assessing damage across the country after major weather events and other disasters.

As Cotton grows and expands its portfolio we know Bobby’s extensive knowledge in the roofing industry, along with his many contacts, will be an asset to our Team. Furthermore, with Bobby’s contagious positive attitude he has the ability to make our customers feel at ease in their time of need. We look forward to a long and prosperous journey together.

Cotton Management Regains Ownership CCLM Holdings Inc Announces Management Buyout

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta, GA -- September 7, 2010

CCLM Holdings, Inc., a holding company engaged in disaster services and telecom infrastructure services (the “Company”), announced today that it has closed a transaction whereby the management team of Cotton Commercial USA (“Cotton”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, will acquire a majority of the Company. The Company will be renamed Cotton Holdings, Inc., and headquartered in Katy, Texas.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company issued shares to the management team of Cotton, representing a majority of the common stock outstanding, in exchange for cash and interests in Cottonwood Debris Company, LLC, a debris removal company owned by the management team of Cotton. Cottonwood Debris was merged into Cotton, with Cotton being the surviving corporation. The transaction was approved by the Company’s board of directors, a majority of its noteholders, and 75% of its stockholders.

Cotton Holdings, Inc., will be led by: Pete Bell, Chief Executive Officer; Daryn Ebrecht, Chief Operating Officer; Bryan Michalsky, Chief Financial Officer; and Naveen Bhatia, Chairman.

Pete Bell remarked, “We are very excited to regain ownership of Cotton, the company that Daryn and I founded in 1996, and to partner with a group of premiere financial institutions as our fellow stakeholders going forward. On behalf of each partner and associate of Cotton, I am very proud of the accomplishments, dedication, and commitment to excellence in serving our clients at Cotton over the past 14 years. I look forward to leading the Company in its next phase as we continue to build a world-class disaster services business and maximize stockholder value.”

About Cotton Holdings, Inc.

Cotton Holdings, Inc., is a leading, nationwide disaster services company providing restoration and recovery services to public and private entities throughout the United States and internationally, including environmental remediation, debris removal, and the restoration and reconstruction of commercial, industrial, marine and institutional properties that have suffered catastrophic or other casualty loss. For more information, please visit www.cottoncompanies.com.

Brown Rejoins Cotton Team

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00 GMT

Nikki Brown rejoins Cotton with more than 19 years of experience in Business Development. Nikki comes to us with a well diversified portfolio and a track record of success in the industry. Prior to her embarking upon a career in the restoration-reconstruction industry, she spent 12 years in commercial property management, most recently as the Facility Manager for Archon Group.

Nikki entered into the restoration arena in 2001 and, in that time, due to Nikki’s desire to exceed her client’s expectations, she has had much success. Nikki has a strong passion for her job and prides herself in building lasting relationships with her customers.
We at Cotton, are excited to Welcome Nikki back, and look forward to a long and successful journey together.

Fire Damage Mitigation Focus for Cotton in Houston Highrise Fire

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00 GMT

When a fire broke out at a historic Houston highrise building, Cotton answered the call. Being an approved vendor for the management company, Cotton was engaged immediately to develop a preliminary approach plan even as firefighters battled the four-alarm blaze.

Cotton crews worked throughout the night to stabilize the situation and provide support. The initial scope of work for the 34-floor structure included emergency water extraction, drying, clean up of fallout, deodorization, cleaning of the HVAC system, building of containment, carpet cleaning, demo of affected areas.

Cotton Called to Support Gulf Oil Spill Recovery Effort

Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00 GMT

In the wake of the offshore oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, Cotton was selected as a contractor to provide support to oil spill recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast. Cotton utilized its expertise in responding to challenging and ever-changing environments, providing remote housing solutions for large numbers of recovery workers. Cotton was contracted to construct and manage turnkey, remote base camps that included: modular housing, tent housing, catering facilities and services, security posts, recreational centers, medical stations, and cooling relief stations along the affected coast line.

Meanwhile, Cotton’s involvement in the oil spill cleanup efforts are evident in affected areas along the coasts of Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. Cotton is providing and managing large labor forces to perform onshore and offshore oil recovery, decontamination and beach restoration and these services will continue until the gulf coast is restored.