SERVPRO Mitigates Tropical Flooding in Brandon

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

If your home needs water mitigation or storm damage repair, contact our certified professionals at SERVPRO right away.

Brandon Residents Count on Professional Storm Cleanup to Restore Their Homes

The story of Brandon starts with John Brandon. He, his wife, and their six sons arrived at Fort Brooke in 1857. They traveled from Mississippi and were able to purchase forty acres of land. The area was known as New Hope. John would marry again later after his first wife died, and their home was located on what is now the corner of Victoria Street, named after his wife, and Knights Avenue. 

The Community Grows

Brandon would go on to donate land for New Hope Church, the town's first church. The church did double duty as the first schoolhouse as well. The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad rolled through the community in 1890. It brought excitement and a brand-new depot to the area. When the FC&P surveyed the land, it was named Brandon, after John Brandon. John’s brother James built the Stowers Funeral Home and it is a famous historical landmark.

Moving Into the 20th Century

Dan Galvin would go on to open the first general store. A new school was built in 1905, and teachers were allowed to board with Victoria Brandon, John’s second wife. Her son Lovic moved into the area and opened a general store as well. 

Her other son, Mark, started the Valrico First Baptist Church in 1915, in the neighboring area of Valrico. In 1930 the church moved to Brandon and became the First Baptist Church.

Need for a Bigger School

A central, larger schoolhouse was needed by 1914. The area was growing, and children had outgrown the current school. The Brandon Grade School was built. Interesting facts surrounding the school include:

•   Today, it is McLane Middle school
•   It originally included grades 1 – 12.
•   The first principle was John T. Bushong.
•   119 students were enrolled in 1919.
•   In 1923, four seniors graduated.

The Census Comes to Town

In 1923 the first census was taken in Brandon. At that time, there were 100 residents. The city continued to develop with some minor setbacks during the Great Depression. Developments included:

•   In 1927, Clarence Hampton started building businesses along Hopewell Road.
•   Hampton built the first gas station.
•   Kingsway Poultry Colony began.
•   The poultry farm closed during the Depression until 1946.
•   In 1946, Bill and Ann Hollash started Brandon Egg.
•   The egg farm was sold to Bells Shoals Baptist Church in the 90s.

Local Residents Work the Packing Plants

There were two orange packing plants in Valrico, and that is where most Brandon residents worked. The town square consisted of a post office, school, train depot, and grocery store. For fun and entertainment venues, folks took the train to Tampa. 

World War II Comes Along

Farmland was a blessing to Brandon residents during WWII, as they could grow their own food. The town saw little growth during that period. But with the end of the war, new developments came along, including a drug store and soda fountain.  The famous Scogin’s Variety Store was opened in 1950, and in 1953 the first doctor came to town. Other events in the 1950s included:

•   Yates Elementary was built in 1954.
•   Mann Junior High School followed in 1957.
•   Brandon Grade School became the 1st Brandon High School.
•   Brandon became a bedroom community of Tampa.
•   Subdivisions start to develop.
•   The Brandon News was started in 1958. 
•   The Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1959. 

The population in the early ’60s had grown to approximately 8,000. Explosive growth meant new roads, the first shopping center, more schools, and the Brandon Swim and Tennis Club. A library, housing developments, and golf course followed soon after.

Into the Future

Soon it is the 70s, and there are over 430 commercial businesses in Brandon. The population has soared to 40,000, and there are three malls at this point. Hillsborough Community College moves to the city in the mid-1970s.  A cultural center and hospital are now part of the landscape. 

During the 1980s, things expanded even more rapidly. Thousands of residents moved to the area. In 1986 Interstate 75 means easier access and more traffic, and enhanced growth even more.

Storms on the Horizon

Today it is a bustling, thriving city with over 100,000 residents. But like many Florida cities, it is prone to be hit by tropical storms. This year has been a challenging year for much of the US when it comes to storms. Hurricanes and tornadoes brought torrential rains and flooding to many areas. No home is exempt when storms rage through and leave havoc behind. When this happens, professional help is needed to clean up impacted locations and provide fast mitigation. SERVPRO is here to provide that help. 

Storm Damage Cleanup You Can Trust

SERVPRO of Brandon / North Riverview takes its job very seriously. We understand the impact tropical flooding can have on homes and families. Your residence is damaged, you may be displaced, and the stress is incredible. While we cannot alleviate it all, SERVPRO can assist in relieving some of that stress. Our team provides emergency flood mitigation that includes:

•   Emergency procedures such as ensuring electricity is off.
•   Floodwater containment to prevent contaminated water from spreading.
•   Dealing with black water immediately as it is excessively contaminated.
•   Water extraction using trash pumps that can handle debris. 
•   Sanitizing surfaces with antimicrobials and antifungals.
•   Drying the premises with industrial-strength air movers and dehumidifiers.
•   Cleaning structural elements and content that can be salvaged.
•   Disposal of material that cannot be saved.
•   Restoring damaged areas.
•   Returning your home to preloss condition whenever possible.

Your home is not just a building you go in and out of every day. It is where you enjoy meals with your family, rest, and make memories. It is a haven at the end of a hard day. SERVPRO knows that because we are homeowners in the Brandon area as well. 

Our goal is always to leave your home, “Like it never even happened.” Let us deal with the stress of getting your house cleaned, repaired, and restored. We work alongside your insurance company as well. Contact us at (813) 741-3473 for more information on tropical flooding mitigation. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.