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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 7 B i z S p o t l i g h t By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger D ave and Teresa Patrick have both been affected over the years by storms, floods and leaks — any way water can cause damage. "Growing up in a coastal community, Dave and I have been through so many storms — including Hurricane Gloria and Superstorm Sandy," said Teresa, whose childhood home in Milford was taken away by Sandy. e married couple, who were born and raised in the New Haven area and now reside in Milford, recently became franchise owners of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, a property restoration business serving Greater New Haven. e expansion is a natural fit for the couple, who have been helping people deal with water damage for years. In 2001, the Patricks established Patrick Family Chem-Dry, a commercial and residential upholstery and carpet cleaning franchise in Milford. Adding 1-800 WATER DAMAGE expands the scope of their services to include mold remediation, professional carpet cleaning, fire/smoke restoration, and sewage cleanup. Previous experience in the industry positioned them with the toolkit to extend their efforts in the community, according to the couple. Teresa Patrick said of Superstorm Sandy, "We lost everything — many family pictures, favorite clothes, my very cool boombox." e couple says their personal experiences with storms and flooding have given them insight into what their customers are going through. "ose experiences have changed us and given us a better perspective because we've been in (customers') shoes, felt the emotions they're experiencing by losing something you truly value, or seeing something like a precious home — where your most cherished memories are — damaged," Teresa said. Both of the couple's businesses operate out of the same location, 655 Plains Road, Unit 10 in Milford. Peace of mind According to the couple, it can be "nerve- wracking" to open and expand a business, but they believe there is a need in the market for what they are providing. e pair has 35 years of experience in the service industry and 20 years in the carpet cleaning and water damage space. "We have the knowledge base that allows us to service (customers) with both the personal understanding of the situation and the technical experience to fix the problem," said Teresa. She said each job is unique. Teresa says she has personally witnessed many instances where precious mementos were affected — from photo albums being wet to wedding dresses being ruined. "Every loss requires thinking outside the box and figuring out what the customer and situation may need," Teresa said. Tim Fagan, president of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, said franchisees take pride in restoring normalcy to people's lives. "We're confident that both Dave and Teresa will continue to serve an important role in the New Haven community in the days, months and years ahead," Fagan said. e Patricks want to help customers keep their property looking good through their eco-friendly methods. Especially now due to COVID, they said people are taking a greater interest in keeping their décor clean and looking good. "We've found that many people are looking for healthy home services, as there is a greater concern about health and being clean around the home, and people are holding on to what they have longer and are seeking ways to make them look new again," Teresa said. According to the Patricks, they aim to give people peace of mind through restoring their property or valuables. "I don't think anyone wants to know an expert in restoration and remediation," Teresa said. "Meeting people in their time of need and then leaving feeling like family always keeps our job interesting and is ultimately what makes our job so satisfying." As business owners, Teresa and Dave are active members of the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Milford Business Association. "e feel of community is everywhere," Teresa said. "We've always believed that we should all come together to support each other. Growing up in the community, we've been able to see this firsthand, and we're grateful to be given the opportunity to do so through our business." n Family behind Chem-Dry expands with 1-800 WATER DAMAGE PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Dave and Teresa Patrick, longtime Milford business owners, have expanded their enterprise with a new 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise. Dave Patrick Teresa Patrick PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Teresa Patrick's childhood home in Milford was destroyed in Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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