3 Types of Common Storm Damages | SERVPRO® of Harlingen/San Benito

8/25/2022 (Permalink)

When you suffer storm-related damage to your home or business, make SERVPRO of Harlingen/San Benito your first call.

Severe storms are the last thing anyone wants to deal with. When you are a homeowner, you worry not just for the safety of your family, but also about whether your property will be damaged. Most homes can take a lot, but sometimes a storm blows in that will leave behind a trail of damages.

Each season comes with threats that can include strong thunderstorms and snowstorms, and when combined with the year-round risk of flooding and strong winds, your home is vulnerable to all kinds of damage.

The kind of threat your home faces depends on several factors, including the type of weather hitting, the location of your home and even the way your property is landscaped. The way your home is constructed also plays a part of your weather related risk factors. And sometimes things simply come down to luck.

Our Texas weather is a treat in the winter as our temperatures typically stay fairly mild, but in the warmer months, we face the risk of tornadoes, hurricane activity, hail and severe thunderstorms. We know our warmer months mean staying extra prepared, but the more we can learn about the most common forms of storm damage, the safer we can keep our home and our loved ones.

Wind

Wind damage happens frequently with a variety of storms throughout the year when gusts beat buildings at extreme speeds. Tornadoes and hurricanes carry these intense winds, but a standard thunderstorm can also have gusts of up to 100 mph and cause a lot of property damage.

Winds this strong can throw debris around your property and cause damages to your house and your cars. If a storm is going to have high winds, go inside an interior space where you can avoid windows and walls, as thrown objects can shatter glass and pierce walls.

You can take action to mitigate damages. Pick up loose limbs regularly, and keep large rocks far from your house. If you have outside furniture, secure it so that it can’t be flung in a storm. Trim trees that have grown tall and take any that are dying down. The fewer items a storm can throw, the less damage your home is at risk for.

Water

Water causes a good deal of property damage across the nation. Even a mild storm can leave large amounts of rain on the ground that can enter through the seals on your window and doors.

If an enormous amount of rain falls and pools up outside your home, it can begin to flow through the floor and foundation of your home, which can cause structural damage.

You can limit damages that water may cause by being strategic about the space outside of your house. Landscape your yard to create a slope so water runs down, and look into installing a rain garden. This is both eye-appealing and a highly effective water absorption source.

Cleaning out your gutters is another effective way to keep water away from your home. When your gutters contain leaves or other materials and become blocked, water is unable to flow well and can overwhelm your gutter system. This can result in water leaking into your home through the roof and creating damage on every level of your house.

Impact

Impact damages happen when debris crashes into objects during or after a storm. This kind of damage can create total destruction to your house. It typically involves fallen trees or wind-blown debris. Impact damage is created by anything that can be thrown about or pushed in the wind.

In order to protect your home from this kind of damage, keep your trees trimmed or removed when they are no longer viable.

Last year, the weather created more than $145 billion in damages across the United States. When you are prepared for different risks, you can reduce the threats your home faces while you protect your loved ones.

If you do experience damage during or after a weather event, call SERVPRO of Harlingen/San Benito. We are ready ²⁴⁄₇ with years of experience and industry-leading equipment to get your restoration started quickly. No matter what disaster you face, we will take care of it and get you back home faster.

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.