As a property owner, you can be left scrambling after a bad storm.
When the dust settles, you’ve got to be able to figure out what’s damaged and how urgently you need it fixed versus what can wait. When you live in an area like Augusta, that experiences seasonal hurricanes or tornadoes, it can feel like you’re constantly on the defensive. That’s when you miss some things.
In this post, we’re going to give you 10 tips for assessing storm damage so you can prioritize and make sure that your house and property get the care that they need. You don’t need to feel lost and alone during this process. Let us help you so you can get back on your feet as soon as possible.
1. Broken Windows
After a storm, you’re going to notice the obvious signs of damage first. Broken windows are usually pretty noticeable for several reasons. Regardless of whether the break was caused by wind, flying debris, or a downed tree, you’ll have to get it fixed ASAP.
The cause of the broken window will dictate the action you should take. If it’s a tree, for instance, you’ll have to get it safely removed by a professional. For a simple broken window, you can cover it with a garbage bag until you get it replaced.
2. Damaged Shingles
Particularly bad wind gusts will tear the shingles clean off your roof. When the storm’s in its waning stages, pop out onto your lawn and check out what your roof is looking like.
You might notice shingles strewn on your yard first, but it’s pretty easy to spot where a shingle’s gone missing on the roof. Creased or cracked shingles will need to be replaced as well. It’s important to do this quickly because if another storm hits, you’ll experience roof leaking with missing and cracked shingles.
3. Clogged Gutters
Another thing bad wind gusts will do is send various types of debris into your gutters. Coupled with the copious amounts of rain, your clogged gutters will be hard to miss. You’ll either notice a disturbing lack of drainage or a disturbing influx of leaking on the upper floors of your home.
Fixing clogged gutters can be easy, so long as nothing is horribly damaged. You just need to get up there with a ladder and remove the leaves, sticks, or whatever else is blocking the passage of water. If the gutters are damaged, then you might have to call in the pros.
4. Torn Siding and Chipped Bricks
You might not notice the damage to your home’s exterior right away, but severe storms can peel back siding and even chip brick walls. Do a walk around your house after the storm has subsided and see if there’s any noticeable damage.
If nothing grabs your attention right away, you’re probably fine to take care of other damage first, then come back to this.
5. Electrical Surge
Sometimes, powerful electrical surges can take out your electronics. After you’ve made sure that your house is damage-free, it’s important to check out your more expensive items for damage. If your TV or computer won’t turn on, then you might have a serious problem.
6. Downed Trees
One of the more common problems associated with high-wind storms is the downed trees left in their wake. These can be incredibly damaging to, not just your property, but your life in general. If a large tree on your property falls on your house or your car, you’re going to have big-time damages.
A lot of people in the Augusta area use our services to remove large trees from their property before that bad storm hits. It’s cheaper to have it dealt with now than removed from your home later.
7. Signs of Hail
With big storms comes big hail. Hail can single-handedly send the insurance companies into a frenzy. It isn’t exactly life-threatening, but large enough hail can go through windows, damage roofs, and put huge dents in cars.
Hail will make its damage pretty obvious. Check all of your windows, check your shingles and siding, then check your automobile for hail damage after a storm.
8. Flooding
Long-lasting storms have the potential to infiltrate your house and cause bad flooding. If you don’t get the damage fixed from a previous storm, then the rainwater will have even easier access and you’ll have worse flooding.
Flooding can be dangerous if the rain is bad enough. It’s most likely to occur in your basement, but it’s important to check all windows and doors, seal them as best you can, and hope for the best.
9. Mold and Mildew
One of the long-term effects of flooding is mold and mildew. Many forms of mold are harmful and should be removed as soon as possible. However, it can be hard to detect mold because it hides behind walls and underneath floors.
Visible mold will be black and smelly, and it’ll be located around areas that water might’ve seeped into your home. Check all of your doorways and windows, where flooding could’ve occurred, then take special care to inspect your basement. If you can’t see the mold, you can usually smell it.
Have a professional come in and search for mold if you’re afraid you might have it.
10. Power Lines
With downed trees come tangled and ripped power lines. Coming across one of these can be incredibly dangerous, so if you’ve got one directly on your property, make sure to notify the energy authorities immediately and keep everyone away from them.
Storm Damage Will Be Dealt With Over Time
When a major storm comes through and damages your home and property, it’s important to remember that you’re one of many and it might take a while to resolve the situation. The best thing you can do is repair what urgently needs repairing first and take your time with the rest.
While you’re waiting for repairs, make sure to start the insurance claim process. A good homeowner’s insurance plan will cover most of the damage done to your home.
If you’ve just experienced storm damage and need a tree removed from your property, or you want to preemptively remove a dangerous tree from your property, contact us at Augusta Pro Tree Removal and Pruning. We’ve got a team of experienced arborists that can assess and take care of the trees on your property.
