Storms can cause a lot of damage to your home or business. Strong wind gusts can wreak havoc on your roof, while heavy rains can cause flooding. If a building you own has sustained storm damage, it’s important to act quickly to combat the damage. Here are three things you should do after the storm passes.
Shut Off Your Gas, Water, and Electricity
In a perfect world, you would be able to shut off your gas, water, and electricity prior to a storm hitting. However, you may not always be able to do so. As such, one of the first things you should do after a large storm has caused damage to your home or business is to shut off your gas, water, and electricity supply to the building if this was not done prior to the storm. This should only be done once it’s safe to do so. You should never enter a flooded home or building until these elements have been turned off.
Reach Out to Your Insurance Company
Another important step to take after a storm has left your home or business damaged is to reach out to your insurance company. This may be your home insurance company or your commercial insurance company, depending on the type of insurance you have. Your insurance company will likely send out an inspector or estimator to assess the damage. And don’t worry, you are not alone in filing a claim. According to Forbes, about one in 50 people make claims for water damage with their insurance company.
Get in Touch With a Restoration Company
The last thing you need to do after storm damage has occurred is to get in touch with a restoration company. According to our team, mold can start to grow in as little as 24 hours. A restoration company works to remove water from your home or building quickly, helping to minimize issues related to water damage, including mold growth.
Storms can damage your home or business in a number of ways. If your home or business sustains damage from a storm, you may be unsure of what to do, and this may cause delays in you getting the help that you need. But, time is of the essence and it’s important to act quickly. Knowing what to do and who to call can be invaluable. If your home or building has suffered storm damage, reach out to UCF Restoration as soon as possible and let us help guide you through the cleanup and restoration process.
