A natural disaster can impact property values and disrupt homeowners’ insurance policies. Fortunately, many homeowners can take precautionary measures to prevent the risk of damage. What are the most common natural disasters that cause the most damage to homes? Continue reading to find out how much natural catastrophes cost homes and how you can assist your customers in preparing for them.
Wind & Hail
During a thunderstorm, strong winds can wreak havoc on homes and landscapes. These winds can destroy powerlines and knock over trees, causing serious damage to structures like sheds and fences. The wind can also blow debris off roofs and into siding or rip up windows, doors, and the hoods of cars. Smaller hail can devastate crops and rip off the sides of houses, while larger hail can smash through rooftops and car windshields. This type of damage can cause leaks and internal water damage. Homeowners can protect their homes from storm damage by removing dead or dying trees and cleaning out gutters. They can also double-check their insurance policies to ensure sufficient dwelling coverage and loss of use coverage if repairs are needed. These policies can cover hotel rooms or other housing costs while the home is being repaired.
Floods
Flash floods are among the most damaging natural disasters to homes. They can devastate communities by causing extensive property damage and loss of life. Flood waters can also wreak havoc on roads and bridges, making travel impractical or impossible. They can also carry away large debris, contaminate groundwater and even rip up power lines, making homes without power. It’s critical to restore commercial buildings immediately to reduce downtime and income loss. Denver restoration company specializes in flood damage restoration and can assist with cleaning and repairing flood-damaged properties. They will disinfect and clean the damaged places, fix any flooding-related harm, and get rid of any dangers that could be present. As a result, many homes require substantial repairs or even rebuilding after flood damage. Even a few inches of floodwater can destroy electrical components and corrode appliances like washers, dryers and refrigerators. They can also compromise the insulation in air conditioning units, requiring replacements. Each region of the country faces its unique combination of recurring hazards. However, the spring and summer seasons are at high risk for multiple, simultaneous billion-dollar weather and climate events. At the same time, hurricanes, wildfires and drought impacts tend to dominate the Fall.
Winter Storms
In the Northeast, winter storms can be just as devastating as hurricanes. Winter storms can wreak havoc by mixing cold, dry air with moisture that causes ice and snow. Those who live in areas that experience this type of weather often need to prepare for power outages and treacherous driving conditions. Blizzards like this occur when cold polar air mixes with warm subtropical air. This results in an atmospheric boundary that taps Atlantic and subtropical moisture leading to heavy wet snowfall. The snow can also cause extensive damage by weighing down trees and power lines. For these reasons, you might advise your seller to weatherproof their home by caulking and adding insulation before a storm hits.
Wildfires & Droughts
One of the most damaging natural calamities that may demolish houses is a wildfire. They can also be costly to fight and leave behind a trail of damage, including smoke, ash, and mud/landslides. Climate change contributes to the growing risk of wildfires by warming temperatures and reducing vegetation moisture. When you combine these factors with high winds and a spark, it creates ideal conditions for a fire. People often cause wildfires through accidents or negligence, such as discarded cigarette butts, sparks from faulty equipment and arson. However, changes to the landscape – such as converting forests into farmland or using fire to burn slash piles – can increase the danger of fires by introducing more flammable fuels into naturally fire-prone areas. The good news is that deaths from natural disasters in the United States are relatively low compared to other countries. However, disasters like earthquakes can have a wide-ranging impact on communities.
