Storm Damage Restoration

Storm damage restoration is the work of cleaning up and mending buildings when they have been affected by severe weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, or heavy thunderstorms. It usually starts with an assessment of the damage, moves next to the removal of debris, then to the mending of structural elements on the inside and the outside of the building, and finally to the restoration of utilities. If a professional restoration team handles the job, they also take care of any water damage, mold problems, or other environmental hazards that can show up in the aftermath of a storm. Their goal is to get the building back into its original shape as quickly and as safely as possible.

Contacting a storm damage restoration company is important. Doing so as early as possible and as safely as can be managed significantly reduces the chances of ongoing structural damage. Sometimes companies can arrive within hours to make assessments and take quick actions. This immediacy, too, can really help when it comes to working with the insurance side of things. Companies that restore after storm damage can be a great first stop for getting back on track.

Whether the price of restoring storm damage is covered by your insurance depends on the particulars of your policy and the nature of the damage. Most homeowners insurance policies provide some measure of coverage for storm-related damages, though there might be exceptions or limitations, especially regarding damage caused by flooding. It's very important to get in touch with your insurance provider right away to understand what kind of coverage you have that relates to the storm and the damage done to your home. Making a good record of the damage and working with a restoration company that is experienced in dealing with insurance claims can make for a much smoother process of getting your home back to its pre-storm condition.

Typical storm damage is often seen in the form of roofs and structures that have sustained damage from high winds; water damage, ranging from the effects of very heavy rain to flooding to almost continuous dripping that lasts for far too long; and broken windows that were never quite a good fit for the house, plus the ones that were right in the storm's path. Other problems—such as fallen trees, electrical issues, and good old mold—that come from repeated storm encounters are a little less common but can significantly affect the overall damage level.

How long the storm damage takes to restore varies depending on the amount and kind of damage done. If it’s just minor repairs, the work will be done in a few days. If it’s something major and your house is at all structurally unsafe, it could take weeks, or even months, to get it back to normal. That could also be true if the work involves getting your place dry after flooding. Most of the time, cleanup happens fast, with the following just as fast:1. initial assessment,2. debris removal, and3. construction of temporary fixes.

Although homeowners can sometimes deal with small repairs and cleanup following a storm, it is generally best to hire professional storm damage restoration services. The pros have the experience, equipment, and know-how to safely and effectively assess and fix all kinds of damage, from the obvious to the not-so-apparent. They also deal with all manner of "hidden" repairs and cleanup that untrained eyes might not recognize as necessary, such as fixing structural problems or handling mold that could compromise the health of anyone breathing air in the vicinity.

Before the restoration team comes, check that the area is safe and that there are no apparent hazards, such as power lines that might be down.For insurance purposes, before you touch anything, take photos or videos to show the damage.If it is safe to do so, try to save key items, and don’t go into any areas that look as if they might fall down.Prepare a comprehensive inventory of items that are damaged, worthless, or missing. Make it as detailed as possible and try to remember as many things as you can that were in the room before it was damaged.

Regular upkeep of your property is vital for staving off storm-related damage, including inspecting and mending roofs, gutters, and drainage systems. Storm shutters and bolstered doors can deflect many strong winds that would otherwise penetrate a building. If wind is a substantial part of a storm's threat, the landscape can be used to reduce that danger. Trees that are wind-resistant and trimmed to remove any deadwood can serve as a formidable windbreak. If storm winds threaten, an adequately covered insurance policy can provide considerable financial peace of mind.

Storm restoration demands top safety. That means teams must gear up in personal protective equipment before entering any damaged property. "If you've got a house where the roof is gone, is it really safe to go inside?" asks Stokes, who has been in public safety for 20 years. Work teams handle any structural dangers and, she says, "make the area as safe as possible under the circumstances" before any untrained workers or volunteers enter. Stokes insists on some safety basics, especially when it comes to keeping environments safe from mold and contaminated water.

Yes, numerous companies restore storm damage and help with the insurance claims that accompany their services. They provide a professional assessment of the damage, and storm restoration claims require a level of detail well beyond what most homeowners can provide. Insurance companies often demand a level of documentation that is only attained through the efforts of a restoration company that knows how to "speak insurance." That helps ensure a much smoother claim process, and of course, a restoration company always working in the best interest of the homeowner is a wonderful ally.