24/7 Emergency Service
The Risks Associated With Severe Winds | SERVPRO® of Westfield
6/5/2023 (Permalink)
If you've suffered from storm-related damage to your home or business, make SERVPRO of Westfield your first call.
When you’re sweltering in the heat, a gentle breeze can be a saving grace. But at times, a gust of wind can catch you by surprise, and it’s not always pleasant.
Wind can be a source of immense relief or a major hazard, and it’s impossible to predict when it might come and create chaos. Knowing what to expect is the smartest way to protect yourself and your home from devastation.
Make sure you’re aware of the threats that severe winds pose, and learn how to protect your Westfield home when the wind starts to get wild.
The NOAA indicates that nearly half of all severe wind emergencies occur during thunderstorms. This makes it essential to prepare for such occurrences, particularly in the upcoming months.
Thunderstorms can generate dangerous winds of up to 60 miles per hour. These conditions are powerful enough to easily pick up and hurl heavy debris around.
Straight-line winds are one type of wind that you might encounter during thunderstorms. These winds can travel at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and wreak havoc in any region, even in places that don’t receive rainfall.
Of course, you can’t talk about severe winds without mentioning tornadoes! Tornadoes can generate a multitude of hazardous winds, including straight-line winds, downdrafts, and micro- and macro-bursts.
Because Westfield is located in Tornado Alley, tornadoes are highly prevalent. Tornadoes are a dangerous natural catastrophe for our area due to their regularity, causing major damage and endangering homes and businesses.
Extreme winds can cause trees to topple, debris to fly, and power lines to come down. Incredibly, winds of up to 80 miles per hour can even uproot a stationary mobile home or rip residential roofs off!
To stay in the loop during severe wind events, have a way to receive weather alerts and make sure you know how to interpret them. It’s also advisable to secure any outdoor furniture to prevent it from being carried away by strong winds.
Eliminate any trees or overhanging branches that might pose a hazard to your property and roof. Clean up any outdoor debris that may be sitting around your home to avoid giving strong winds ammunition to harm your home.
When high winds have blown over your house, inspect it thoroughly to make sure you don’t miss any damage. Start by climbing up on your roof to look for any wear and tear to prevent future water damage. If you’re left with ruins after a severe wind event, reach out to SERVPRO and we’ll restore your losses.
Has your home been damaged by wind? Call us and get things cleaned up fast.