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How You Can Reduce the Effects of Storm Damage | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston
7/14/2022 (Permalink)
Do you experience any storm damage to your home or property? Contact us today for a quick response!
Storms can cause a lot of damage to the exteriors of your home or business. Modern building materials like vinyl siding are designed to withstand minor damage, but severe storms can cause major destruction.
The most dangerous part of storm damage is that which goes undetected, slowly becoming more serious without being addressed. By the time this kind of damage shows itself, it could be irreversible.
Minimizing storm damage will not only protect you from potential troubling storms but can also help extend the lifespan of your home. This all starts with preparation:
As mentioned previously, there are many kinds of products and features that one can add to their home in order to provide extra protection from storms. However, these items will often be costly to implement and could be more trouble than it’s worth.
There are specialized landscaping techniques that you can employ around your property. These are designed to change your lawn to direct water away from your home, while still serving its purpose of being your beautiful yard.
Lastly, it’s important to remove any dead or dying trees from around your home so that they don’t fall onto your house below during a severe storm.
The first thing everyone who owns a home should do to prepare for storms is to designate a safe room or a storm shelter zone. This is a location that is away from external walls and windows, ideally in the center of your home. Everyone in the home should know this location in the event that they must take shelter.
Second, you should create an emergency kit with any supplies that could aid you while you’re sheltering. This includes nonperishable foods, water, flashlights and extra clothing. Think of anything that you may need for at least 72 hours of potential sheltering.
Lastly, you should identify the severe weather that we see here most so that you can best prepare for the most likely disasters. Here in South Carolina, we see nearly 50 inches of rain per year over 20% more than the national average. Additionally, we see hurricanes and the resulting flooding that has affected so many in our region in the past.
Once the dangerous weather has gone and you no longer need to shelter, it’s tempting to walk through every part of the home and check for damage. However, prioritizing safety is the most important thing, and it could be dangerous to walk around.
If your home has sustained heavy damage, parts could collapse at any moment. When it’s safe to do so, exit the home and walk around the exterior to check for any major destruction that could cause a chain reaction.
While your insurance provider can help you assess the damage caused by a storm, it’s also best to have a report from a professional contractor. At SERVPRO of Downtown Charleston, we can help you identify areas of concern that may be invisible to the untrained eye.
Our restoration professionals are available 24⁄7 to assist with any and all of your cleanup and restoration needs.
Experienced storm damage to your home or property? Contact us today for a quick response!