The Many Kinds of Storm Damage | SERVPRO® of New Center/Highland Park

Severe storms can be devastating to homeowners. While some recently built homes are built to endure the threats of severe weather, most homes and properties will experience some type of damage when a huge storm rips through our neighborhood.

Wind-related disasters can throw debris all over the region, as well as bring freezing showers, snowstorms, lightning and flash floods, depending on the season and the storm—all of which present a substantial risk to your property and home’s structure.

Depending on the kind of storm and events taking place, your home could sustain varying degrees of damage. The landscape around your property, the geography of the region and the integrity of your home’s foundation or building materials all play a role in determining the extent of potential damage. (We admit that there is an element of chance involved.)

Being weather-aware is essential to riding out these severe storms. In Highland Park, it’s smart to prepare for weather like winter storms, floods and thunderstorms.

It is never safe to dwell in a storm-damaged home unless safety professionals have cleared you to do so. Many forms of damage will be obvious right away, but some damage will not be evident to the naked eye.

Let’s go over the three primary types of storm damage so you can be ready for any hazards that come your way:

Wind

This type of damage ensues when structures are subjected to heavy gusts of wind that blow at exceptionally high speeds. Tornadoes and hurricanes are the most regular causes of severe winds, but even thunderstorms can create gusts of up to 100 mph.

Debris left in your yard could be picked up by strong winds and hurled into your home or cars. It’s important to stay indoors during storms and stay away from any windows and outside walls in case glass breaks or the walls are pierced by flying debris.

You can also take early action to reduce the amount of wind-related damage. Give severe weather less to work with by keeping your property free of any branches, big rocks, loose furniture and dead trees.

Water

During and after a storm, water damage is a very regular problem. Even a small thunderstorm can create heavy downpours that can seep into your home’s exterior seals, causing the water to leak inside through your doors and windows.

If there is enough water present, it may potentially leak into your foundation and severely damage its structural integrity.

Try using strategic landscaping designs that can help to direct water away from your home rather than collecting beside your home to minimize the amount of harm that water may do to your property. Alternately, you may build a rain garden, which is an easy way to spruce up your lawn and stop all that rainwater from becoming a major issue.

Also, you should regularly clean your gutters so that they can operate effectively and keep the weight of water off your roof. Clogged gutters can cause water to pool and leak down to the ground level by allowing water to pool and push its way inside your property from the top.

Impact

“Impact damage” is another result of severe weather that can have disastrous consequences on your home. This damage presents itself by when winds throw around debris or knock trees into your home. Impact damage encompasses any occasion when an object hits or impacts your house or items on your land.

The single most useful method to prevent this type of devastation is to cut trees surrounding your property and ensure that any dead trees are removed before severe weather sends them right through your roof!

Weather-related events cost more than $145 billion in losses in the United States alone in 2021. These suggestions will help you save a lot of time and money, and prepare your family for disasters by preventing them before they happen in the first place.

If you do experience storm damage, our team at SERVPRO of New Center/Highland Park wants to help you get back on your feet. We can inspect the unique damage you’re dealing with and come up with an effective repair plan!

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.