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What to Do When Your Home Is Damaged in a Storm | SERVPRO of Houston County
9/18/2023 (Permalink)
Summer storms affecting your property? Call SERVPRO of Houston County to restore your space in no time!
Even if you had time to prepare for it, a storm might blow in and leave you completely overwhelmed. A thunderstorm can have more strength in speed than you thought possible and create more destruction than you have ever imagined.
Central Georgia has had a history of pretty severe storms. Thunderstorms are common throughout the year, but spring and summer bring us heavy rain, flash floods and tornadoes. We also see the remnants of tropical storms and hurricanes that blow into the Georgia coast.
Preparing your family and your home ahead of time can help mitigate damages, but it won’t stop everything. If you do find yourself riding out a storm only to later find your home has taken a hit, what do you do next?
Always make safety a top priority, even after the storm is long gone. Grab some shoes and calm your breathing before heading out to take a look at everything that has happened. Safely taking some steps after a storm has damaged your home can help ensure a quick recovery.
Once the initial threat of the storm has passed, you and your family need to continue to stay vigilant for lingering lightning, heavy rains or even another round of severe danger. Don’t turn your weather radio off, and keep a clear path back to your safe sheltering location so you can move quickly if another warning is issued.
As the dust continues to settle, start reaching out to your loved ones. Going over how you will communicate before a disaster strikes is crucial so that everyone knows what to expect. If cell service isn’t available, text messaging may still work.
If you are able to safely get out, go check on those around you next. Don’t go into damaged buildings or homes, but instead, try to find a safe way out for anyone that needs it. Clear roadways as you are able in order to allow for emergency personnel to come in.
Once you have ensured your loved ones and neighbors are safe, start taking some pictures of your own damage, and call SERVPRO® of Houston County. Our phone lines are open around the clock, which means your recovery can start right away no matter what time of day it is.
The work that lies ahead of you will become more clear as time passes, but even in the hours, days and weeks following a disaster, you need to stay cautious. Watch for hazards you could step on like nails, and keep a device charged in order to receive weather alerts ahead of more storms.
One of the first tasks that should be tackled after a disaster is taking steps to prevent additional damages. Our SERVPRO crew of experts will immediately work to seal off your home, tarping your roof or closing off broken windows as needed. We will also get rid of standing water and start drying out anything in your home that may have gotten wet.
Our team will work directly with your insurance company so that you don’t have to worry about struggling through a claim. At this point, as the damage to your home is fully assessed, you may need to consider relocating your family temporarily while work is completed.
As you journey through your recovery process, staying calm will help things stay smooth. It can be devastating to see your home damaged after living through severe weather, but when you have a trusted team at your home, things will be back to normal fast.
If a storm leaves your home damaged, contact us for fast recovery. We’re here 24⁄7 when you need us.