Even if you don’t live in an area that’s known for natural disasters, it’s important to know what damage can a storm cause. Knowing what potential hazards can occur is key to protecting your home and family.
Here’s a look at what kind of damage you can expect from various storms and what to do when one makes its way to your property.
Severe Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms come with many concerns because they can include high winds, heavy rains, and lightning. Large hail and sudden downbursts of heavy wind are also common in thunderstorms. A severe storm in your area could cause serious damage to your home, including:
- Flooding – Flash floods are a common result of severe thunderstorms because the rain comes on so heavily in a short amount of time. Even when properties are appropriately graded and have adequate drainage systems, too much water at once can make its way into buildings and wreak havoc on the flooring and walls.
- Mold – Anytime you deal with moisture entering a building, mold is a concern. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, mold growth begins 24 to 48 hours after a flood occurs. That’s why it’s so important to address flooding immediately after a storm and get the area dry as quickly as possible.
- Wind damage – Heavy winds during a storm can cause extensive damage to your home and property. They have been known to tear off roofs, uproot trees, damage siding, break windows, and more. Trees located near your home may lose branches or be toppled altogether. That’s why it’s essential to keep trees trimmed and cut back so they don’t pose a significant risk to your home during a storm.
- Hail damage – Thunderstorms often produce hail the size of quarters, which can cause damage to cars and building roofs. It can also break windows. And the larger hail gets, the more dangerous it becomes. Softball-sized hail can fall at a rate of 100 miles per hour, causing severe damage to the impact area.
- Fire – Lightning can be beautiful and fascinating to watch, but it’s also extremely dangerous. If you’re wondering, “what damage can a storm cause?” then it’s important to know about how powerful lightning can be. Severe thunderstorms are always accompanied by plenty of lighting. And while not all lightning strikes reach the ground, many do. These strikes can cause electrical surges, fires, and even death. If you have tall trees around your house, these may be especially susceptible to being struck by lightning. They can quickly start on fire and pose a threat to your home.
Tornadoes
Tornados are produced from severe thunderstorms. The energy released from lightning, high winds, and rapid temperature changes are what set tornadoes in motion. Powerful tornadoes can destroy homes in an instant. Smaller tornadoes can still cause serious damage to your home’s roof, windows, landscaping, siding, and more. Tornadoes are most common in spring and summer since the climate has to be just right for a tornado to form.
Blizzards
Blizzards are dangerous winter storms that are characterized by freezing cold temperatures, high winds, and heavy snowfall. Here’s a look at some of the damage that blizzards can cause:
- Collapsed roof– Snow can be very heavy. And when temperatures are low and the snow doesn’t melt and runoff roofs quickly, the weight can be too much for some roofs to handle. This can lead to a collapsed roof, which can quickly lead to disaster in the rest of your home or business.
- Water damage – If your roof collapses, this will allow all of the snow and slush into your home. Much like flooding during a severe thunderstorm, this is a recipe for mold growth and water damage. Moisture can easily get into your walls and furniture and settle into your carpet and subflooring. It’s essential to act quickly and remove the water, snow, and slush immediately and to get the area dry as soon as possible.
Ice Storms
Like blizzards, ice storms may present a real threat to your roof. During an ice storm, freezing rain falls and coats everything in a layer of ice. This can lead to broken tree branches, power outages, and cracks in your roof. A cracked roof may even collapse. You may not be able to tell immediately if an ice storm has damaged your roof, so it’s a good idea to hire a professional to examine your roof for damage after a big storm.
What To Do When You Experience Storm Damage
If your home or business is damaged during a storm, you probably feel overwhelmed with the mess and cleanup. Quick action is the most effective way to get things back on track, so it’s essential to call a local damage restoration company immediately. They will work with your insurance to get things cleaned up and restored as quickly as possible. Most damage restoration companies are available 24/7 to respond to emergencies, and the sooner the repair work begins, the better your chances are for a complete restoration.
Restoremasters Will Repair Damage After a Storm
If you’re wondering what damage a storm can cause your home, Restoremasters is here to put your mind at ease. A storm can turn everything in your life on its end, but our damage restoration experts will be there at a moment’s notice to put things right again. Restoremasters was created to repair damage to your property by wind, fire, mold, water, sewage, graffiti, or smoke.
We have more than 100 years of combined experience in the industry and the right tools for the job, so we can get you back to everyday life regardless of what damage your home has suffered.
We are located in Sandy, Utah, and provide services to the greater Salt Lake and Utah County areas, from Salt Lake to Spanish Fork and everywhere in between. Contact us today via the form on our website or give us a call at 801.938.8654 to get started!
