Spring Storm Resources

6/7/2018 (Permalink)

Spring has arrived and so are the storms associated with the season. In fact, several areas throughout the country have already experienced costly floods and damaging tornadoes.

High winds and hail cause the majority of roof damage each year, reminding us of the importance of strong, well maintained roofs that are properly anchored and impact-resistant.

Another important storm-related risk is lightning, which also can be a deadly and costly part of severe weather causing millions of dollars in insurance losses annually, as strikes damage electronics and cause fires.

Because spring storms can form and move quickly, residents should pay close attention to weather reports and make sure they are set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) on their cell phones, or have a NOAA Weather Radio available.

Tornadoes are among the most destructive forces of nature with about 1,000 of these powerful storms occurring annually in the U.S., causing an average of more than $1 billion in property damage and 80 deaths. Stronger tornadoes such as those rated EF-2 and above pack extremely high winds and can destroy a house or business within seconds. Weaker tornadoes also can be damaging, but a well-built house or business has a greater chance of surviving these storms with limited damage. 

Not all severe weather is alike, which is why your reactions to different storms also shouldn’t be alike. Both hailstorms and tornadoes are damaging in their own way. In order to reduce your risks during each kind of storm, you should react to whether hail or a tornado is present. 

• Learn the difference – know what to do during a tornado or hailstorm disastersafety.org/hail/know-the-difference-how-to-react-during-a-hailstorm-and-tornado.
• Is it time to replace your roof? Have a roofing professional look for the common signs of roof wear.
• Lightning does not need to directly strike a business to cause a power surge, which can result in extensive damage ranging from loss of expensive electronic equipment to fires. 
• HVAC equipment on your business’ roof can be vulnerable to damaging hailstones during a storm. Don’t let costly hail interrupt your business, learn what hail guards can do to protect your HVAC equipment at http://disastersafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HVAC-Hail-Guards_IBHS-member-download.pdf.

Roof Inspection Check List:

If you have a shingle roof look for:

• Loose shingle tabs
• Cracks in shingles
• Broken or missing tabs
• Buckling or curling shingles
• Blistering of tabs
• Majority of granules worn off tabs

Check for the following:

• Are penetrations are well sealed and tight?
• Are there gaps and/or signs of missing sealant?
• Are there badly deteriorated holes and gaps?
• Do vents wiggle back and forth?
• Are they well attached?
• Are there screws attaching turbines or caps off-ridge vent?
• Are vents tightly screwed down?
• If nails are used, are they are properly attached?

Evaluate for the following signs of damage outside the home:

• Leaks inside the attic
• Water stains on roof decking – look around the chimney, around vents and pipes and valleys
• Discolored roofing deck, rafters or trusses

Evaluate for signs of leaks from inside the house:

• Water stains on ceiling
• Cracked wall or ceiling paint
• Peeling wall paper