PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER
Winter Storm Damage
Winter weather can be unpredictable. High winds, snow, sleet, and hail can wreak havoc on your home or business. Ice and high winds can take out power lines and bring down heavy tree limbs damaging your home or property. The good news is there are ways to prepare and help prevent these damages. Knowing how and where to begin is the first step in protecting your property. With over 50 years of combined experience, we have to expertise to share some of our helpful tips with you. Here’s how to prepare:
Winter Storm Damage
Winter weather can be unpredictable. High winds, snow, sleet, and hail can wreak havoc on your home or business. Ice and high winds can take out power lines and bring down heavy tree limbs damaging your home or property. The good news is there are ways to prepare and help prevent these damages. Knowing how and where to begin is the first step in protecting your property. With over 50 years of combined experience, we have the expertise to share some of our helpful tips with you. Here’s how to prepare:
Before The Storm
Winterizing your home should be the first step in preparing your home for the winter weather. Not only does winterizing your home protect you from costly cold weather-related damages, but it also helps prevent harsher wear and tear to your home. You should make sure all pipes have proper insolation and have good airflow from your furnace. You can help prevent frozen pipes by leaving a slow trickle in your sink to keep water moving and opening up any cabinets to allow for airflow. The next step to being prepared is creating an emergency preparedness plan. Whether you are creating a plan for your family at home or employees at work, a preparedness plan is the most important step to protecting those around you. Weather can be unpredictable, so it is important to always stay one step ahead when it comes to protecting you and your family. When whether has the opportunity to become potentially hazardous it is always important to stay informed. You can do this by watching your local news and making sure you have weather alerts turned on your phone. It is also important to understand different terms and their definitions, so you know how to properly prepare.
- A weather watch is issued to provide 12-36 hours notice of the possibility of severe winter weather in which conditions are favorable for a winter storm event that could potentially be a threat to life or property.
- Winter weather warnings are issued when 4 or more inches of snow or sleet are expected in the next 12 hours, 6 or more inches in 24 hours, or a quarter inch or more of ice accumulation is expected.
A blizzard warning is issued when there are conditions of low visibility of less than 1/4 mile due to falling and/or blowing snow, winds at least 35 miles per hour are expected for at least 3 hours.
After The Storm
Once a winter storm has passed you should take the time to inspect the inside and outside of your home. Early awareness is a key factor in lowering emergency services cost. To start, you should begin by inspecting the inside of your home. Leaking or stained ceilings and walls after a winter storm is often an indicator of roof damage. However, roof damage isn’t always discovered quickly. An ice dam can cause damage days after a storm. Ice dams are caused by frozen snow and ice becoming lodged at your gutter lines (eaves) or valleys on your roof. When the ice on your roof starts to melt, the water underneath becomes trapped because it is unable to reach your gutters. This causes the water to leak through your roof and into your home. In order to prevent damage, you can carefully remove the snow by using a rake or shovel before it has a chance to turn into an ice dam. Please be advised that we do not recommend standing or walking on your roof until all snow and ice has melted. It is best to safely remove ice and snow on a secure ladder or from the ground below. It is important to remove built up snow as quickly as possible so you can prevent property damage. Once your roof is clear look for damaged shingles. Shingles can become damaged by high winds, ice, and broken tree limbs. If you suspect potential damage, you should call a professional immediately. Once you have inspected your home for damage the next step is clearing remaining snow and ice from sidewalks and driveways by shoveling and placing salt down to prevent ice buildup.
To learn more about our Water Damage Remediation services:
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Know your risks for business owners
Being a business owner comes with great responsibility. In inclement weather you must consider closing in order to protect the overall safety of your employees and customers. Road closures and hypothermic conditions can create potentially hazardous driving and working conditions. Heavy ice buildup and lack of proper clearing of snow can leave you liable for potential slip and fall injuries. All of this must be taken into consideration before choosing to remain open or to close early due to a winter storm. You must also consider your equipment and property as well. Much like a home, you can follow all of our suggested steps to securing your property. However, as a business owner it is also important to move or cover any outdoor furniture and equipment at your establishment. In some instances, it may be helpful to secure furniture and equipment during high wind advisories. Equipment will also need proper maintenance and should be covered or stored indoors to prevent storm damage. When severe weather is forecasted, it is helpful to contact a local snow removal service before the storm arrives to ensure your property is cleared before your business is scheduled to open.
Contact American Patriot Restoration
Our experienced team at American Patriot Restoration offer a range of commercial and residential restoration services, including emergency repairs and water removal. Should you sustain water damage after a winter storm, leave the job to the professionals. Don’t risk secondary damages like hazardous mold.
If you have any questions about our Water Damage Restoration services, please contact us today at (217)342-3206.