Storm Damage Repair - The First 5 Things to Do

9/21/2022 (Permalink)

Storm Damage Repair - The First 5 Things to Do

Damage from a hurricane, tornado, or thunderstorm can happen any time of year. When these storms occur, it is important to know what steps you should take immediately after the storm has passed. The first 5 things to do after a storm may include some activities that you have been putting off until better weather conditions arrive, but this article will help guide you through the necessary preparation and activity in order to get your life back together following a storm.

Although surviving the period immediately following a bad storm may seem like an insurmountable task, there are many things that you can do right away that will make life much easier for you when the power does come back on and the sun begins shining again.

Turn Off Electric and Gas Lines

The first thing to do after a storm is to inspect your home for damage. A good place to start is by checking for overhead or underground power lines that may be close enough to your home that they could have fallen on it during the storm. The next step would be to inspect natural gas and water pipes leading into your house, making sure that nothing from the outside has been able to break them free from their attachments inside.

In addition, before you go onto inspecting your roof, make sure that all electrical appliances in the house are turned off in order to protect yourself from being electrocuted while searching for damages or needed repairs. Once these initial checks have been made and repaired if necessary, the process of going through a "storm checklist" can begin.

Contact Your Insurance Company

You should contact your insurance company as soon after the storm as possible in order to prevent any unnecessary activity from being carried out by yourself or an outside party. Keep calling back until you have been able to speak with a representative who has all of the necessary information about you and your policy. Your agent can provide you with advice on what steps need to be taken immediately following the event, some of which are outlined below.

Move the wet items to the garage to dry out

If you haven't already done so, begin removing all furniture and other items from both the inside and outside of your home. This will help to prevent mold growth between your walls if water damage has occurred.

Wipe the Water Out Of Your House

The next step is to remove as much water from the inside of the house as possible so that any lingering moisture cannot lead to mold growth. This may be a difficult task if you have not already removed your furniture and appliances, but with a wet/dry vacuum or shop vacuum it should be manageable.

After removing all standing water around your home, you should thoroughly clean out your gutters in order to prevent future damage from occurring. Once this is done, inspect for broken gutter sections that will need replacing. Make sure that downspouts are clear as well so that rainwater runs off properly away from the foundation of your house.

Call a Professional Storm Damage Restoration Company

After the storm has passed you need to hire a professional restoration company. Your insurance company should be able to recommend a specific storm restoration company that can help with any damages incurred as a result of the storm. If you have not already done so, now is the time to call them and schedule an appointment to begin work on fixing problems such as flooded basements and removal of insulation and soggy drywall from inside your home.