Storm Safety 101 | SERVPRO of Marietta West

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

If you discover storm damage to your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO of Marietta West right away.

Here’s what you need to know about severe weather—it’s scary and it can happen at any point. It often brings about lightning, rain and strong winds. All of these elements can cause damage to your home or you.

It’s important to note there are around 100,000 thunderstorms throughout the United States every year, so it’s likely you will encounter storm damage to your home at some point.

Cobb County is an area that sometimes encounters severe storms or hurricane remnants coming from the coast. For example, in 2021, remnants of Hurricane Ida brought about heavy rain and significant flooding that impacted businesses, homes and apartments in the area.

The best thing you can do is prepare for these disasters before they strike. You will want to prepare an emergency kit and a communications strategy to plan for the aftermath. These actions will help you get ready for storms and reduce their impact on you and your home.

Your Severe Weather Communication Strategy

If the weather does get bad, there are a few things you need to have in place to keep everyone safe. First off, have a way for everyone in the household to communicate and receive alerts from authorities. You want to be on the lookout for any weather watches or warnings.

Second, it’s best to have multiple ways to receive alerts from authorities, including your cell phone and an NOAA weather radio, which will come in very handy.

Third, come up with a designated safe space for your family. Usually, this is a basement or bathroom where you can all hide if the weather takes a turn for the worst. You should also brainstorm a way for household members who are away to check in so everyone knows they’re safe.

Your Severe Weather Emergency Kit

When formulating an emergency kit, you need all the crucial items together in one spot. These include nonperishable food, water, flashlights and batteries, first-aid supplies, and anything else your family members might need during a storm.

The goal is to have enough supplies to last 72 hours of sheltering in place. Make sure this kit is already in the storm shelter area.

Your Severe Weather Aftermath Checklist

Take steps to improve your safety plan after severe weather is over. You will want to gather feedback from all household members and ask them about the effectiveness of the safety plan. This includes communications, the emergency kit and any other elements that could be improved for the next version of your storm plan.

In the aftermath of severe weather, you also want to check your property for damage and address it as quickly as possible. Keep a particularly close eye on your roof and the seals around windows and doors because these are likely to have water damage.

If you do discover damage, you know who to call! SERVPRO of Marietta West can be on the scene in a moment’s notice. All we ask is that you call as soon as possible, and we will take care of the rest, giving you peace of mind that your home will be good as new in no time.

If you discover storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO to handle the restoration. We’re here 24⁄7 to spring into action—call (770) 428-5467 to get in touch with us today.