It’s an overwhelming experience being caught in the middle of a destructive storm. Heavy winds, flooding, excessive rainfall, and even a ruthless hailstorm can lead to property damage. After the storm has passed, you should take some crucial steps to remedy damages and prevent further destruction to your house, especially if you live in disaster-prone areas such as Atlanta. Many Northern Georgian towns are vulnerable to storms, deluges, and hurricanes. A tornado hit Atlanta in January and caused major property damage!
Moreover, some 29 named storms have passed within a hundred miles of Atlanta since 1950. That’s why you should secure your loved ones and property by following these guidelines.
Stay alert and watchful
Even after the storm has passed, you should stay alert about the possibility of another tempest. Don’t forget that summers in Northern Georgia are peculiarly known as the arrival of the “hurricane season.”
In Atlanta, GA, the hurricane season last from June to November; it peaks in September. So, as August approaches, you have to prepare for a storm by weatherproofing your home properly.
Stay watchful after the storm and take vital steps to safeguard your loved ones.
Prevent further damage
Many Georgian residences are at risk of water damage. For instance, a study shows that 11% of houses in Atlanta have a 26% chance of being damaged by heavy flooding in the next thirty years. Reports are already suggesting that 1.5 to 2.5 inches of extra rainfall will cause deluge in many Atlantan areas.
If your property was severely affected by a flood, it’s time you restore the water damage sustained by the house. Search online to find dependable, well-reviewed, and BBB-accredited restoration experts. An experienced Atlanta Water Damage Restoration Company will dry, clean, sanitize, and rehabilitate your flood-wrecked property for a modest sum. These companies will utilize various options to dry your house, repair, and rebuild.
Ensure everyone is safe
Ensure you and your loved ones are all safe after a natural disaster wrecks your home. Whether it was a flood that hit your house or a hurricane, bring your family members out of harm’s way and back to safety. Be mindful of power lines, broken windows, caved-in ceilings, and tree branches scattered everywhere. Ensure nobody approaches standing water, collapsed walls, or electrical outlets.
Moreover, watch out for sharp objects, exposed nails, and other hazardous materials in the house.
Document all your losses
After the storm has passed, assess the damage to your property and take photographic evidence of all your losses. That’s how you can get fully compensated for the damages sustained by your house in the storm. For instance, your house may suffer from any of these short-term or long-term problems:
- Fire damage
- Moisture damage
- Exposed power lines
- Broken doors and windows
- Damaged or broken appliances
Contact your insurance provider ASAP and explain your situation in clear wording. Stay in contact with your insurance guy until your claim is resolved, and the compensation has been paid. The company can send an adjustor to review your claims and validate the losses you reported.
Save your receipts properly
Any claims made under your homeowner’s insurance policy require effective documentation.
You must stay well-organized when repairing and rebuilding your storm-affected house. Collect all the receipts and organize them to substantiate your insurance claims. These receipts exhibit the materials and labor wages paid for rehabilitating your Atlanta residence.
Many insurance plans don’t usually cover flood-related damages. That’s why you need to purchase a policy that reimburses you for any damages caused by excessive flooding.
Start the cleanup process
When you start rehabilitating your storm-damaged property, clean up the entire place. You will have to clear the debris, make necessary renovations, and have the house deep-cleaned so it becomes habitable again. However, take these precautions when cleaning up your house:
- Use the correct PPE to clean the house safely
- Be mindful of broken glass, sharp objects, or fallen branches
- Don’t go near downed power lines, and avoid wading through standing water
- Sanitize your house by using appropriate disinfectants to eliminate all contaminants
- Avoid touching any electrical panels, outlets, or appliances, as they may be highly dangerous
Secure all your belongings
Always be mindful of your belongings – particularly your valuables, perishables, and documents, after a storm wrecks your home. You can’t risk losing your important documents in a flood, so secure these items and store them externally in a self-storage unit. All insurance policies, identification papers, and financial records can be stored in these units, so you won’t have to worry about replacing them.
Get temporary housing quickly
If your house becomes inhabitable after being wrecked by a storm or flooded after heavy rainfall, you should temporarily switch homes and relocate to a safer residence. Many Americans today have been forced to move due to climate change, while others choose to leave their storm-affected dwelling behind after a natural disaster. Contact your insurance guys to ask about coverage for additional living expenses and seek assistance in finding suitable accommodations after suffering from a storm.
Look for assistance programs
If you can’t afford post-disaster repairs and renovations, then countless government-run programs are available for storm-affected homeowners. These FEMA-funded assistance programs will provide you with the support, resources, and information needed to overcome the losses caused by a major storm. So, look for government aid or community organizations if your house gets wrecked by a natural disaster. In this case, Georgia citizens have been the most fortunate right now.
In February, FEMA approved over $7 million in funding to help Georgia’s homeowners, entrepreneurs, and other residents. These programs will contribute to your post-flooding rehabilitation.
Conclusion
If your house was hit by a storm recently, follow the abovementioned guidelines. Assess how much damage your property’s sustained, call Atlanta professionals to renovate the house, and move with your family to a temporary housing facility. Don’t forget to document the property damage carefully.
Take enough pictures of your storm-wrecked house and call your insurance providers. Mitigate any risk to your property and hire restoration services for water damage if your house is damaged in flooding.
