Storm Damage after a Tornado or Hurricane

8/30/2018 (Permalink)

Storm Damage after a Tornado or Hurricane

Every year, thousands of homes are lost due to major weather conditions such as named Hurricanes and Tornadoes. Some years have been worse than others. Hurricanes cause torrential rains and wind damage, while Tornadoes rip in quickly taking everything with them until it runs out of energy. Either way, storm damage accounts for millions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses each year.

Let’s talk first about damage from a tornado, say an F5 that has a base of 1 mile or more and the sustained winds in these types of storms can go over 200 mph, and the velocity is enough to tear down almost any structure in a tornadoes path. If your home is totally taken by a tornado, well, there isn’t much you can do but replace. However, if you are lucky, and your home simply sustains wall or roof damage, then restoration starts immediately.

From a roof ripped off, the rain comes in from the top floor. Much different from torrential rains associated with hurricanes, when the roof comes off, the water comes from the top. Therefore, getting that roof covered with plastic within 24 hours will support you in mitigating too much water damage from the tornado. The same with walls or shattered windows. Any water than comes in will be moving or blowing.

Hurricanes are a different beast. They spin for miles inland and off shore. When a hurricane makes landfall, homes sustain both wind and rain damage, then flooding. Then, more flooding. With hurricane storm damage, the water can come into the home and stay. As you may suspect, when the water stays, the furniture starts to take on water and the damage begins. There is little you can do once the floor becomes covered in water, if you allow too much time to pass.

More damage has occurred to belongings inside of homes that were impacted by flooding inside of the home, than any other means. Mitigation and awareness of what you would do if storm damage occurs, is the best practice when thinking of protecting your belongings from being totally destroyed by storm damage.

We are here to help restore your life when the storms come howling, so write down our information and have it by your bedside. We take your life