24/7 Emergency Service
Are You Prepared for Severe Storms? | SERVPRO® of North Lilburn
5/19/2022 (Permalink)
If you discover storm damage to your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO® of North Lilburn right away.
Extreme weather is not only dangerous, it’s scary, too—and rightfully so. Severe storms can cause lightning, winds, hail and intense rain that can bring about flash flooding.
All of these events can cause serious property damage and increase your personal risk of damage. Plus, considering that there are around 100,000 thunderstorms throughout the United States every year, these events occur frequently in pretty much every part of the country.
In Georgia, we face almost every kind of natural disaster imaginable. The rainfall and humidity are a constant bother, combined with the risk of flooding due to all of the creeks and rivers. In fact, this latest bunch of storms brought down trees and power lines, and damaged the roads in Lilburn recently.
No one can actually control the weather, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for it. There are numerous steps you can take, from building emergency kits to formulating a strategy for when disaster strikes. It’s important to take steps, whether small or large, so you can be prepared for dangerous storms and hopefully reduce the impact they have on you.
First, it is important to know the difference between watches and warnings so you aren’t caught off-guard by a storm that you didn’t even know was coming.
It’s important to keep the lines of communication open with everyone in your immediate family or household. Beyond that, making sure that your phone and emergency radio are charged can help you stay up to date with the local authorities.
It’s always smart to have a backup plan, and this includes your phone. Keep your battery fully charged because storms often knock out power that can last for hours or days. It’s also a good idea to keep batteries and a battery-operated NOAA weather radio on hand.
Along with ensuring communication between your family and the local authorities, it’s important to have a plan for your home as well. Selecting and preparing a safe area in your home (basement, bathroom, ideally center of the house with no windows). On top of that, you should create a plan for communication in case not everyone is home during the storms.
Packing an emergency kit can seem daunting, but you just need to fill it with the essentials that your family might need over a 72-hour period. It’s a good idea to include nonperishable foods, plenty of clean water, working flashlights, backup batteries and first-aid supplies in the event that someone is injured.
Having all of these things readily available can save you a ton of trouble when you most need it.
When the severe weather has passed, you should audit your safety plan, make changes to it based on the situation and analyze your home for any damages. Once it is safe to do so, check your property for damage.
You will want to keep a close eye on your roof and seals around windows and doors, as these are areas where water damage is most likely.
In the unfortunate event that you do find damage, it’s important to know who to call. Knowing that you have a local team of restoration professionals like SERVPRO of North Lilburn, you can rest easier during severe storms. When damage happens, call us immediately and we’ll jump into action right away!
Once you have checked with your family and everyone is safe, reevaluating your safety plan is a good idea. Go through what worked, what didn’t and what could be improved to keep everyone safer. Doing the same thing with your emergency kit can help you be better prepared for when those storm clouds come through your area.
If you discover storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO to handle the restoration. We’re here 24⁄7 to spring into action—get in touch with us today.