The Most Common Ways Severe Storms Can Damage Your Home | SERVPRO® of Beaver County

8/18/2022 (Permalink)

High-powered storms can bring many disasters to your doorstep. From extreme winds to heavy rains and flooding, they can all do serious damage to your home.

The type of storm and the events it causes can expose your home to multiple kinds of damage. Calculating your home’s potential level of damage is complicated and involves looking at your home’s qualities, age and the landscape surrounding it.

While it is important for everyone to be aware of storm damage, it’s especially important for us here in Pennsylvania. Flooding, storms, fire and winter storms are just a few of the most common disasters that we see in our area. You need to prepare for these events by drafting an emergency plan and learning about what risks you may see.

Look at these most common types of storm damage and how you can get ready for them:

Wind

Wind damage happens because high-speed gusts hit buildings and can rip off roof tiles or your siding. While tornadoes and hurricanes are usually to blame, even minor storms can cause wind speeds of nearly 100 mph. These kinds of winds can throw debris through windows and doors and puncture holes in your roof’s lining.

You should take time to clear your property of any debris like the ones listed above and tie down any furniture that could become dangerous during high winds.

Water

As storms cause heavy rainfall, that water can pool around your house and cause damage both during and after the storm has passed. Water can seep through your windows and doors or potentially down into your foundation and cause irreversible damage.

To reduce the amount of damage you could experience, think about using landscaping techniques that direct water away from your home’s structure. You can also choose to build a rain garden, which will collect excess rainwater and prevent a flood on your land.

Lastly, make sure your gutters are clean and that your roof is in good condition so that it can protect you from a storm.

Impact

The final major kind of storm damage is from impacts. Typically, “impact damage” is caused by a falling tree or a limb knocked down by high winds. However, anything that hits (or impacts) your home with force is considered impact damage.

The best way to avoid this is to keep your trees healthy and have any dead or dying ones removed as soon as possible.

Disasters caused by weather resulted in an excess of $145 billion in our country in 2021 alone. By following these tips and understanding the weather in your region, you can keep your house safer and prevent excessive damage from occurring.

If storm damage affects your home, call SERVPRO of Beaver County immediately so that you can get started on your restoration. Our team of experts will jump into action and have you back in your home before you know it.

When you suffer storm-related damage to your home or business, it’s important that you know who to call! Contact us today to get your storm damage restoration started faster.