Know What to Do No Matter Where a Storm Catches You | SERVPRO® of Cambridge/Belmont

7/14/2020 (Permalink)

protect yourself and your loved ones during a storm

When the sky is clear and the weather is warm, it seems silly to think about thunderstorms ruining the fun—but unfortunately, this happens quite often on hot, humid days, as that creates the ideal condition for a sudden storm to form.

When storms catch people off-guard, they are often extra dangerous because people are not sure of what to do. With these tips, you can make sure you are prepared for a storm anywhere.

Make Sure You Are Prepared for a Storm Anywhere

Know your options for shelter. When you hear that a storm is a possibility and you are somewhere you can wait out the threat, this would be the ideal thing to do. That being said, when storms come up suddenly, this will not always be an option. You can set up shelter in your vehicle with the proper guidelines in mind, enabling you to wait out the storm anywhere you are.

Practice electrical safety. Claps of thunder are caused by lightning strikes, so any thunderstorm has the potential to cause lightning damage. If you are sheltering in a building, unplugging your electronics can help prevent damage from a power surge in case lightning strikes the building. Surge protectors are also a smart thing to invest in, both for your home and your office, in case you are not around when a storm starts.

Avoid direct contact with concrete. While concrete structures do have sturdiness going for them, they also pose risks when it comes to lightning strikes due to their metal framework. When lightning strikes a concrete building, the electricity can transfer from the metal and through the concrete, so be careful to not sit or lean against any concrete surfaces during a storm.

Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes. If you are interrupted by a thunderstorm, you will likely want to get back to your summer fun as soon as you can, but it is important to give yourself ample time in your shelter spot. Lightning can travel nearly 30 miles from the center of a storm cell, so experts recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before heading back outside.

If your home sustains damage due to a storm, you can count on us to help. Contact us at any hour to learn more about our storm restoration process.