A Guide to Being Storm-Safe at Home in Dutchess County

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Don't underestimate the power of thunderstorms! Make plans and be prepared!

Thunderstorms are a common part of life in Dutchess County, but they can also be dangerous or deadly—just because they happen frequently does not mean they should not be taken seriously every time.

Severe thunderstorms can produce high winds, heavy rains, hail and lightning if conditions are right, all of which can be harmful to you and your home. Roof and exterior damage from trees, lightning strikes that can start fires, electrical malfunctions, flooding and water damage all have the potential to occur during or due to a storm. Thankfully, through practicing storm safety, you can circumvent many of the issues that could arise due to storms.

Storm Safety for Every Element of Your Home

*Storm safety for the outside of your home- 

Storms can lead to serious household damage that can be a big hassle to deal with. To help prevent this damage from occurring, you can take several steps:

• Inspect your roof regularly for missing or loose
• Clean out your gutters at least twice per Interior water damage often occurs when clogged gutters can’t handle the amount of rain a storm can bring.
• Bring in or secure patio furniture, potted plants, toys, lighting features and any other objects that could become projectiles in high
• Consider installing a lightning protection system for your home.
• Trim trees near your home regularly to reduce the chances of dead limbs falling.

*Storm safety inside your home-

If severe weather is on the way, the best thing you can do is stay put and stay safe at home—and having a plan in place can help you make that happen:

• Keep a weather radio, flashlights and batteries, a cell phone charges and bottled water handy as part of your emergency preparedness kit.
• Designate a safe area of your home for your family to shelter from the storm—it should be an interior room without any
• Use surge protectors on every outlet in case of lightning

*Storm safety when you are away from home-

If you will be going out of town, it is important to make sure your home is still protected from a storm that might come through while you are away.

• Unplug all appliances and electronics in case of lightning
• Secure outdoor furniture and possible projectile objects before you go away just in case. We usually recommend storing everything inside if you’re going to be away for a while.
• Be sure a trusted neighbor knows you are going out of town so they can contact you if any issues Provide a list of emergency service providers, including SERVPRO of Western Dutchess County, so they know who to call no matter the issue.

If your home sustains storm damage, from roof tarping, window boarding and water damage of any kind, you can count on us to help. Contact us today and our emergency response team will take it from there. Making property damage "Like it never even happened." locally, since 1992.