Steps To Take After Experiencing a Storm With Storm Damage

7/27/2019 (Permalink)

Storms can cause damage to your home such as flooding, roof damage and downed trees

Storm damage can occur at any time since storms themselves can occur at anytime and are often at times unpredictable. Storms can build up strength before arriving, and even the smallest of storms can have unexpectedly high winds. Heavy rains can cause flooding and powerful winds can cause roof damage and downed trees on your property. In part of this, storms can cause an extreme amount of damage to your home.

Some post-storm damage can create safety and health hazards as well, so having a plan in place to deal with damage, for if you stay or for when you return, will help you to be ready to take any necessary steps immediately after a storm.

It’s important to take safety precautions both before and after a storm. For your own safety it is best to evacuate prior to any major storm if told to do so. Definitely heed all warnings and take them seriously. While with their unpredictability storms can also diminish or turn course and avoid you, the risk is far too great and not worth taking. Heavy winds and rain can create physical hazards such as collapsed roofing materials, window damage, collapsed walls or standing water in the basement or home interior. In addition, moisture can soak into furniture, carpeting, and building materials making the perfect environment for mold growth that can cause health issues. Never walk (or drive) through any flood or standing water after a storm. Hazards such as broken glass, sharp broken pieces of wood or metal or other sharp objects such as nails can be hidden within the water. Serious injury or worse, can be a result of walking through (or driving through) any flood or standing water after a storm. If you smell gas and the gas line is accessible then shut off the main gas line. If it is not accessible then call for help and remove yourself and anyone else from the property if possible. Already having evacuated to, or having an alternate place to stay in case of damage is a good idea as it may be necessary for you to live elsewhere while your property is being restored to safe and inhabitable conditions. 

Contact a reputable and experienced restoration company such as us here at SERVPRO of Burlington. We will help do basic tasks to secure your property and make it safe to use and live in again. We will also take photographs for you of the damage so that it is recorded for your insurance company and can be provided to them for compensation. It is not usually safe for you to risk moving around the home in order to take photographs, so at SERVPRO we do this for you. 

Reach out to your insurance company. Contacting your insurance agent to notify them about the damage to your home immediately even if you cannot provide photos immediately is important to do. The sooner they know of any damage, the sooner they can send out an adjustor to determine the extent of the damage so that payment for repairs can be made.

Look Into Federal Disaster Assistance through FEMA. The federal government may have declared the area your property is in, if widely affected by the storm as a disaster area. You may then be eligible for low-cost loans to help restore your property to normal. You will be required to file documents to receive these loans if they are being offered.

When a storm-related disaster strikes, it may seem overwhelming, and you might feel stressed or hopeless. However these steps can help you to begin the process of restoring your home, and your life, to normal.

If you experience storm damage know and remember that at SERVPRO of Burlington we are here for you 24/7 and 365. We are here to provide you with emergency disaster service and restoration. Just give us a call at 336-379-1772