How to Prepare for Severe Storms to Stay Protected

1/27/2021 (Permalink)

Typically, Phoenix has severe storms during monsoon season, but this year has been anything but “typical”. With unusual storm patterns of late, it’s good to be prepared. Extreme winter weather often increases the risk of storm damage. A snowstorm or even the presence of graupel can bring extreme cold, ice, and high winds. Keep yourself, your business, and your employees safe by having a plan to respond to severe winter weather in place before it occurs.

Know the risks related to storms

Slick and icy roads, blowing hail or pelting rain, and decreased visibility all raise the likelihood of weather-related damage to homes and businesses, including a loss of power or downed lines. While it may be tempting to go outside and address those issues yourself, the best plan is to stay inside, and stay off the roads whenever possible. Those storm-related issues can be addressed once the storm resides, so don’t risk further damage or personal harm by trying to fix anything during a storm.

Prevent damage or keep it at a minimum

When water freezes, it expands, often leading to an unexpected pipe burst. To minimize the chance of this happening during an exceptionally freezing storm like we’ve experienced recently, make sure your pipes are properly insulated. Inspect the pipes seasonally to check for any leaks or loss of integrity. Plan ahead and have a list of trusted and reliable plumbers, electricians, and storm restoration specialists to call when you need help. Researching these trained professionals before you need them will speed up the process of any repairs if you do suffer damage after a storm. It will also decrease wait time until help arrives which can help minimize further damage.

Keep employees home

While many businesses are working from a work-from-home model, not all businesses are able to do that, and therefore have employees in the office. Watch the news and pay attention to all storm warnings and emergency alerts during severe winter weather to see if it makes sense to have your employees stay home versus driving into work under adverse conditions. This will keep them off the roads and away from the associated risks that go along with driving during winter storms. If your business experiences significant storm damage, call in storm remediation specialists to assess the damage, as it may be extensive enough to have to keep employees away until the damage is fixed.

A snowstorm can be frightening, especially for those of us who really aren’t used to having to deal with snow, hail, and the damage it brings. Being aware of the dangers they carry is important to keep your property safe. If you do experience damage from a storm, call the pros at SERVPRO of Central Phoenix at 602-386-4268 to help get the damage addressed as quickly as possible.