24/7 Emergency Service
What Is Your Storm Safety Plan? | SERVPRO® of Harlingen/San Benito
8/8/2022 (Permalink)
If you discover storm damage to your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO of Harlingen/San Benito right away.
Severe weather is a frightening thing. Thunderstorms can bring about lightning strikes, heavy rain, hail and serious winds, all of which can cause damages and personal danger. Plus, considering that there are around 100,000 thunderstorms throughout the United States every year, these events occur with relative frequency.
During summertime, the south Texas heat can create ideal conditions for thunderstorms to pop up suddenly and cause serious damages when they do. Because of how quickly these conditions can come about, being safe is a must for residents of the area.
While we can never control the weather, we can certainly prepare for it—and that is exactly what we will be discussing today. From an emergency kit to a communications strategy to a plan for the aftermath, taking action to prepare for storms is an important way to reduce their impact on you and your home.
When the weather turns nasty, having a way to communicate with everyone in your household and being able to receive communications from authorities is key. First, it is important to know the difference between watches and warnings so you can understand when to stay vigilant and when to quickly seek shelter.
Secondly, it is wise to have multiple ways to receive alerts from officials, such as your cell phone and an NOAA weather radio.
Third, make sure you have a communication strategy for your household. Have a designated safe area in your home (such as a basement or bathroom) that everyone knows to get to when the weather turns bad. Additionally, make a plan for communication in case one or more household members are away from home when a storm strikes—this way everyone knows when and how to check in and mark themselves as safe.
An emergency kit should be packed with all the essentials that your family members need for at least 72 hours of sheltering in place, and it should be stored in your at-home storm shelter area. In your kit, include nonperishable food, water, flashlights and batteries, first-aid supplies and anything else you or other members of your household may need to stay safe and comfortable during a storm.
In the aftermath of severe weather, it is important to be sure you are taking proper steps to improve your safety plan and quickly address any damage to your home. Once it is safe to do so, check your property for damage.
You will want to keep a close eye on your roof and seals around windows and doors, as these are areas where water damage is likely.
In case you do discover damage, be sure you know who to call. Having a team of trusted restoration professionals like SERVPRO of Harlingen/San Benito that you can count on to provide a quick response will bring about peace of mind, so that way you can act fast if you do discover damage to your home.
When you are able to round up with your household members, it is smart to do an audit of your entire safety plan. Gather feedback on your communications, emergency kit and any other elements that could use improvement to keep everyone safer, so that you will be even more prepared the next time severe weather rolls through.
If you discover storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO to handle the restoration. We’re here 24⁄7 to spring into action—get in touch with us today.