Severe Storms Can Bring on Damaging Winds, Protect Your Wappingers Home!

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

Make sure your home is protected from potentially damaging winds!

Do you know how to protect your property from damaging winds?

There are many concerns that come with severe storms, not just the heavy rain or snow, but potentially damaging winds are always a threat to keep in mind. These winds, which can come with little to no notice, can be devastating and cause long-term structural impacts.

-When Wind Becomes Damaging

While many consider damaging winds to come from a tornado or hurricane, those are not the only times when they may come into play. Traditionally, damaging winds are considered those with wind speeds exceeding 50–60 mph. They can stem from a strong thunderstorm and are called “straight-line” winds, which cause damage much like tornadoes and, yet, the damage is different.

These winds can also cause loose objects on your property to become projectiles. Cars parked outside, windows and the roof are especially vulnerable and can take the brunt of this damage, and if the damage is extensive, water damage can happen inside your home as well.

-Protecting Your Property from Damaging Winds

There are a number of ways you can protect your property from damaging winds, but keep the “Two R’s” in mind: reinforce and remove. A few of these are listed below:

• Have a professional reinforce your garage door.
• Remove and/or anchor loose objects on your property, such as trash cans, grills, outdoor furniture, and toys that could be moved or tossed by the wind.
• Hire a professional to remove or trim back large or dying trees and branches that could fall over onto your home.
• Have your gutters cleaned professionally once a year, especially if there are trees growing near them. Leaf collection or heavy snow can cause water intrusion if the gutters can’t drain properly.

Not all high wind circumstances come with advanced warning, but some of these action items could be the difference between damage and little-to-no damage.

Also, when building a new home or renovating an older home, be sure the windows, walls and doors are up to code for the weather in your area.

Should your home ever be hit by damaging winds and resulting water damage, our highly trained specialists at SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County are here to help with the cleanup and restoration of your home 24/7. Call us at 845-831-3600.