It's Important To Understand Storm Damage

6/5/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch knows how important the safety of a home is, especially during a storm. (941) 747-2333

Residents of coastal towns are more familiar than most with storms and their damaging effects. But did you know there are 4 common types of storms?

Each has unique causes and each causes its own kind of damage.

SERVPRO of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch knows how important the safety of a home is, especially during a storm. This blog is meant to educate readers about different types of storms - hurricanes in particular - and their damaging effects.

The 4 most common storms are:
Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Thunderstorms

Tropical storms

The Florida Gulf Coast is much more likely to experience a hurricane or tropical storm, or even a tornado. Hurricanes can be so strong that their effects can be felt far inland as strongly as they are on the coast. (Hurricane Sandy impacted 24 states.)

Life on the coast comes with obvious risks because of the likelihood of a hurricane, so it’s of the utmost importance to be familiar with how hurricanes cause damage.

So what are the common causes of hurricane damage?

First, there’s storm surge.
Storm surge affects the coast directly. This happens because wind pushes more and more water toward the shore with nowhere to go. Eventually, all that excess water piles up higher than the predicted tide level and shoves onto the shore and even inland. Storm surge is so powerful that it damages buildings, roads, and other structures.

Second, there are floods.

Hurricanes cause floods in two ways: storm surge and rainfall. Both can cause floods to happen across a widespread geographical area. Rainfall from hurricanes can spread farther than 100 miles from where the hurricane landed. A tropical storm doesn’t even have to be classified as a hurricane to cause widespread and destructive flooding.

Third, there’s the wind.

Hurricane wind can be as fast as anywhere between 74-155 miles per hour. This wind is fast, powerful, and destructive. Wind can knock down trees and powerlines, carry debris far and wide, and cause a domino effect of damage. Roofs can even be lifted from homes. And sometimes winds from hurricanes form separate tornadoes.
Storm damage can be far reaching and devastating, especially on the coast. There are many precautions that you can take to protect from and prevent storm damage, like adding weather-resistant features to your home. Every home, office, and vehicle should also have an emergency preparedness kit.

SERVPRO of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch will be prepared to respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions.   We are backed by a national system of over 1700 franchises who are ready to bring in additional resources to assist in the clean-up and restoration of your home or business in Lakewood Ranch.