3 Tips to Prevent Storm Damage
Whether it’s a crack of thunder, a lightning strike or the unmistakable thump of hail beating against the ground, summer storms make their presence known in more ways than one.
As a leading disaster response team, Sasser Restoration has seen firsthand the damage that severe storms can do to homes and commercial buildings. Our teams are trained to help bring your buildings back to life after the storm hits, but we’re also here to help educate on emergency preparedness.
Making sure that you have an emergency preparedness plan in place and also that you are taking steps to minimize potential damage could save you time and money in the long run.
Here are three tips to help you prepare and protect your home or business from severe thunderstorms.
- Maintain the Trees Around The Building
“In 2020, there were just over 16,000 reports of thunderstorm high winds or thunderstorm wind damage in the U.S., according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center,” Jon Erdman, weather.com senior meteorologist said. “In general, winds over 60 mph, which are common in severe thunderstorms, tropical storms, hurricanes and nor’easters, are capable of downing trees.” (Source: Weather.com)
Trees that fall on homes and buildings not only cause structural damage but can be life-threatening as well. “A study published in 2008 found that 407 people were killed by “wind-related tree failures” in the U.S. between 1995 and 2007.” (Source: Weather.com)
By controlling the tree growth around your home or business, you will be taking the proper precautions to keep the building and the people inside the building safe during severe thunderstorms.
- Check The Roof
The average lifespan of a roof is 15-20 years before it needs to be replaced. If the roof on your house or business has not been replaced in over 20 years, it could be more susceptible to losing shingles during a severe storm and leaking (Source).
Additionally, if any of the roof tiles or shingles are damaged and not secure, it could also lead to further damage to the rest of the roof during a severe thunderstorm. It’s important to have your roof inspected and well maintained on a regular basis.
- Clean The Gutters
Gutters are installed on a building to guide water away and prevent flooding, leaks and water damage. If the gutters are cluttered with debris and water is unable to freely flow through, it could cause water damage to your home or business.
If this problem continues, your home or building could be at risk for mold and microbial growth. With severe thunderstorms comes heavy rainfall, in order to protect your home or business, make sure your gutters are cleaned out on a regular basis.
If you’re ready to put an emergency preparedness plan into action and take these three steps and expand on them so that your home and/or business is prepared for when disaster strikes, give the Sasser Restoration team a call today.
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