How Severe Storms Can Cause Damage to Homes | SERVPRO® of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

If storms damage your property, call the restoration experts at SERVPRO of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills to make it "Like it never even happened."

Severe weather is not something that should be taken lightly. While many storms will come through an area without causing much damage at all, every storm has the potential to be dangerous—especially if it has been upgraded to a “severe” status by your local weather authorities.

Severe storms can cause damage in a variety of ways. High winds, heavy rains, lightning, hail and more all coalesce during a severe weather event, and there are many ways that these things can cause serious damage to your home. Below, we will take a look at the details of each so you know what to look for in the aftermath of a severe weather event at your home.

How Thunder and Lightning Can Cause Storm Damage

Any time there is thunder in a storm cell, there will also be lightning. While many lightning strikes simply go between clouds, others will make their way toward the ground where they can strike trees, cars, homes and more.

Lightning can cause damage in the form of felled trees that fall on property, fire from striking a home directly or the secondary risk of fire and electrical shortages from traveling through the wiring of a home after striking.

How High Winds Can Cause Storm Damage

Thunderstorms can easily generate damaging winds exceeding 50 miles per hour, causing significant damages.

High winds can rip branches from trees and cause pieces of patio furniture to become projectiles, which can cause broken windows and other types of damage if they come into contact with homes or cars. High winds can also rip shingles from a roof and weaken flashing connection points, providing an entry point for water when it rains.

How Heavy Rains Can Cause Storm Damage

When heavy rain occurs in a short period of time, the flood risk for an area is significantly increased. Even in areas that are not known floodplains, storm drains can become overwhelmed when there is a high volume of water and will be unable to move it away from structures in a timely manner.

Additionally, if your home has any roof damage or weaknesses in its exterior, heavy rains can exacerbate this issue and cause significant leaks to occur.

If you have storm damage to your home, we are the team to count on for restoration! We can handle all types of damage and are here 24/7 to assist you. Get in touch today to learn more.