A great many areas of the USA are impacted by large storms regularly. Here is a guide to the kinds of storm damage that you need to protect against.
Hail Damage
Hail damage is remarkably common in the United States. Hailstones are formed when frozen droplets of water are forced back up into a cloud by updrafts again and again – causing them to collect more water and refreeze. Large hailstones are perfectly capable of smashing windows and dislodging shingles. Roofing is especially vulnerable to hail damage and is susceptible to the development of tiny leaks after hailstorms. Preventing hail damage is not easy – especially in areas that get golf ball-sized hailstones. Regularly checking the state of a roof and installing awnings over windows can seriously reduce the chance of damage.
Water Damage
Water can damage electronics, undermine structural soundness and soak possessions within a home. Making sure that your house is completely watertight before a big storm hits is essential. Check window and door seals and make sure your roofing is in good shape.
Fire Damage
Storms are major causes of fires thanks to one important factor: lightning. Lightning is the number one cause of fire in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. In most areas of the United States, this percentage is much lower – around a quarter – but this does not mean that the threat of a lightning-induced fire should not be taken seriously. Lightning mostly causes fire during ‘dry’ storms. These storms, which usually occur after a drought, are very violent but do not release large amounts of rainwater.
Fire is, quite obviously, a huge threat to a home. As well as damaging items within a building, fire can seriously undermine structural integrity and kill the people inside. Protecting against lightning-induced fire damage is not something that can be done in such a way that completely removes the possibility of a strike. Homeowners in areas with a high quantity of dry thunderstorms can install grounding cables on their roofs, which transfer the electricity produced by a lightning strike into the ground. It is also worth cutting back any low-hanging trees near your home – if these are struck by lightning and combust, the fire could spread to the house. Most importantly, all homeowners need to install fire alarms so that they can safely evacuate their families in the event of a fire.
Wind Damage
Some areas of the United States experience extremely strong winds during storms. Powerful gusting incidents are on the increase in the USA thanks to the long-term impact of climate change. In 2021, howling gusts that exceeded 74 miles per hour were recorded in 55 locations during the course of one day. It is more important than ever that Americans protect their homes from the potentially devastating effect of wind.
The wind can have an especially devastating impact on windows and roofing. Roofing shingles are dislodged by powerful gusts of wind on a regular basis during hurricane season in Florida. It is important to carry out an annual roofing shingle inspection so you can ensure that the individual shingle elements are correctly bonded to your roof surface.
Trees can be a serious hazard during high winds. Make sure to cut back any branches that reach out and touch your home before a big storm hits. A large falling tree can quite easily smash windows and bust through roofing tiles and shingle – causing some of the most extensive storm damage that can cost an arm and a leg to fix up.
To protect windows from wind damage, consider installing European-style wooden shutters. Not only are these shutters stylish and great for insulation, but they also protect glass windows from small branches flying about in high winds.
Structural Weakening
In very rare cases, an extreme storm will so engorge the earth with water that it will undermine the structural soundness of a home. This is unlikely to happen to homes that are built on an even surface. Homes that are built in mountainous terrain or in areas prone to landslides, however, can become dangerous after a storm. Huge deposits of water can cause the earth to shift, which can eventually lead to a home sliding away even though it has solid foundations.
Structural instability is an extremely serious issue. Although local building codes typically ensure that homes are built to withstand the environment that they are in, it is still worth calling in a surveyor after a serious storm if you live in an area prone to landslides or flooding. Flooding can cause structural instability because it can loosen a building’s grip on the earth.