3 Nightmare Situations Due To Winter Storm Damage

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Contact the winter storm damage professionals at SERVPRO for emergency services!

A winter storm can come at any time in the winter months, bringing winter weather and winter storm damage to cities like Atlanta.

We are currently in the middle of the winter season here in Atlanta, and so far, we still have not had a single winter storm pass through. But, as we always say here at SERVPRO of Downtown Atlanta, it is best to be prepared for when disasters strike. Therefore, we have put together the following blog post to outline the winter storm damage that winter storms in Atlanta can bring.

The number one cause of winter storm damage

As professionals in the winter storm damage clean-up and restoration business, we have seen it all after a winter storm passes through Atlanta and the surrounding areas. One of the biggest winter weather damages that occur to a property is after a winter storm causes heavy snow accumulation.

Other times winter storms will bring winter ice, winter sleet, and other winter weather conditions that can cause winter storm damage like ice damage and roof leaks.

Three past situations

The following three situations happened during the snowmageddon in 2014. Snowmageddon was a memorable winter weather event that took place in Atlanta. The winter storm brought massive amounts of snow and winter storm damage to the city.

1) The home with a collapsed roof 

As mentioned earlier, snow accumulation is a huge winter storm damage problem, and in 2014 we saw plenty of snow accumulation. The weight of the heavy snow on one home was so much that it caused part of the roof to collapse.

In this particular winter storm damage scenario, the property owner decided not to live in their home until after the repairs. Therefore, we did our best to repair the winter storm damage as quickly as possible.

To prevent a roof collapse from heavy snow accumulation, a property owner should remove the accumulated snow before it becomes too heavy.

2) The home with a flooded basement 

As winter weather conditions set in, winter storms can bring winter snow, winter sleet, winter ice, and other winter weather that can cause winter storm damage to properties. One of the worst winter storm damages is after the freezing temperatures cause pipes to burst.

We received this particular pipe burst call from an elderly couple who called panicking after finding over six inches of standing water in their basement. Unfortunately, the property owners did not know a burst pipe caused the flooded basement at the time.

We arrived on the scene within an hour of receiving the initial call and made sure to cut off the water supply and clean up the standing water. In the end, the property owners were happy with our quality service and our prompt response times.

To prevent your property from becoming water damaged from frozen pipes, you should have your pipes professionally checked to ensure they are sufficiently insulated.

3) Water damage caused by a skylight leak 

The last winter storm damage story from winter 2014 resulted in a leaky skylight that caused water damage. Fortunately for the homeowner, they quickly located the cause of winter storm damage.

In the afternoon, the property owner called us, stating that water had leaked inside their bedroom caused by a leaky skylight. We acted fast to tarp the roof because the best thing to do when there is a roof leak or skylight leak is to place a tarp over the area causing the leak.

We understand how essential it is to make sure that winter storm damage is fixed as quickly as possible because water damage can lead to mold damage, which will be more expensive to clean up than winter storm damage itself.

Wrapping up

We hope this blog post helped bring some winter storm damage knowledge to all property owners in Atlanta. Unfortunately, there is no single property in Atlanta safe from winter storm damage. The best thing you can do as a property owner will be to prepare your property before winter storms hit.

Please contact us today if you have property damage caused by a winter storm. Our professionals are available 24/7, 365 days a year.