Preparing for Storm Damage

6/25/2016 (Permalink)

Tornadoes Can Cause Devastating Damage

There Are Many Ways To Prepare for Storms

It has been nearly two years now since an F1 tornado ripped through Edgewater. The devastation was incredible. In addition to the destruction suffered by Wildwood, small aircraft was actually lifted up and flipped upside down by this massive storm. Edgewater Airport also suffered extensive damage to some its hangars as well.

The storm damage did not stop at the obvious. The interiors of the hangars and other facilities were almost gutted by the wind force of the tornado. Roofs that were pulled off in the surrounding communities of New Smyrna and Daytona Beach left many people temporarily homeless, and many businesses closed up for weeks before sufficient repairs could be made to reopen them safely. SERVPRO of New Smyrna Beach-Titusville responded quickly to the Edgewater storm damage as well as to every community in our area to get residents back in their homes and areas businesses reopened.

Since that tornado in 2014, this area has been very fortunate not to have suffered a major storm event like that one. Much of our work in the last two years has been helping business and homeowners with repairs and in preventive work to protect them against future disasters. Much of what we learned reinforced two major points that we tell our customers every day now.

Clean and maintain your drains and gutters. In many cases, especially when it comes to homes, water damage came from clogged or improperly maintained drains. Water that can't escape through your gutters will collect on rooftops or find its way underneath them. Roofs tiles that look perfectly good can hide extensive damage to the wood supporting them. These weakened structures are the first to be ripped away or otherwise damaged.

Reinforce your roofs. If your roof supports are healthy, make certain your roof is firmly secured to them. Check that the trim is tightly secured to protect the interior. As long as it does not compromise the roof's integrity, additional nails and screws are a must. If you are still concerned about possible damage, then there is the option of using hurricane straps to secure the roof further to the walls and foundation of your home or business.

With the good weather now, it is the perfect time to protect your property. Hurricane season started just a few weeks ago, so there is plenty of time to contact us here at SERVPRO of New Smyrna Beach-Titusville (321) 264-0205 to help you prepare for whatever the weather may throw at you this summer.