Protecting Your North Raleigh & Wake Forest Home From Summer Storm Events

6/6/2017 (Permalink)

Damage from lightning can create costly damage for homeowners.

For many, a gentle summer rain can be refreshing especially when faced with the alternative of the Triangle area heat and the uncertainty of drought from year to year. From thunderstorms to hurricanes summer storm events can be severe causing homeowners across North Raleigh and Wake Forest thousands of dollars in damages. The hurricane and tropical storm season runs from Jun 1 to Nov 30. The season peaks in mid Aug and winds down in late Oct.

Now is a perfect time to do a checkup of your home to make sure it is as protected as possible before storm events including thunderstorms start to occur.

Check gutters and downspouts. Failing gutters can cause serious damage to the foundation of your home. Properly installed gutters carry water away from your home’s foundation.

Sump pumps. Many basements will have sump pumps installed to remove excessive ground water. If your system fails in the middle of a storm event, you may have to end up dealing with a flooded basement, and damage to any contents in the room.

Roof. Have a professional inspect the shingles for any damages that could lead to leaks during heavy rains.

Landscaping. Regular maintenance of your yard to include trimming trees and shrubs will help minimize damage during a storm. Well pruned shrubbery is more wind resistant and less likely to cause damage to your property. Dead branches and limbs are easily transported when the winds are high. Anything outdoors that is not tied down, such as furniture, decorations, patio umbrellas, etc. should be bought inside.

Generator. Weather-related outages can wreak havoc on the modern home. Since 2003 the number of weather related outages have doubled, leaving 15 million customers each year without power for at least an hour. Without electricity, sump pumps stop working, food begins to spoil, and home alarm systems are vulnerable. Having a standby generator, can keep essentials running until power is restored.

Extra Tips

Documents. Keep your important documents in an easily portable fireproof, waterproof container. You may not have access to digital copies during or after the storm event.

Road Ready. It is also a good idea to completely fuel up your vehicle and have cash on hand as gas stations and ATM’s may be closed following a storm.

After the storm, if your home has suffered from water damage, remember SERVPRO® of North Raleigh & Wake Forest is always ‘here to help.’