What Repairs to Expect After a Hurricane For Your…

In a year already fraught with disaster, 2020’s Atlantic hurricane season is poised to be the second most active season, just behind 2005. By the end of September 2020, the east coast has seen 24 tropical or subtropical cyclones, 23 named storms, 8 minor to moderate hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. And experts project that a number of additional storms and/or hurricanes might reach landfall before the end of the season on November 30th. This year’s destruction has already amassed tens of billions of dollars in damage, affecting numerous businesses, neighborhoods, municipalities, and individuals. As hurricane season continues, businesses like yours must be ready to face any and all possibilities. Even if you’re located on the outskirts of a storm, high winds, heavy rains, and hail bombardment can wreak havoc on your property and put your people in harm’s way. The more prepared you are, the better off you’ll be. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the key repairs you might expect to make after a major storm affects your area.

Stripped Siding and Shingles

The most severe hurricanes can deliver winds as high as 150 miles per hour. Even less intense storms with wind speeds between 50 and 100 MPH can do plenty of damage to your building. The force of the wind itself can rip shingles off your roof and tear the siding off your exterior. Additionally, these high winds carry various forms of debris with them, such as fine particles (dust, sediment, etc.), branches, and other hazardous objects, which can all contribute to the erosion and stripping of your building’s surfaces. After the winds have subsided, you’ll need to invest in storm debris removal to get rid of the detritus surrounding your property. Just as importantly, you may need to install new siding and roofing and/or make major repairs.

Broken Windows

All of that windblown debris can also puncture and shatter windows, which can lead to further problems -- if windows break and there are no protective measures in place (i.e. storm windows, barricades, etc.), debris and water can easily gain entry into your building. Your janitorial cleaning staff alone may not be able to handle the amount of stuff that gets inside. And even if they are able to do so, it might require significant time and effort. Plus, you’ll need to fix up your windows and ensure that all broken glass has been safely removed from the premises.

Flooded Floors and Rooms

Severe storms often lead to flash flooding, where even the best irrigation systems struggle to prevent the water levels from taking over streets and buildings. If said water enters your building, it can quickly flood the lower levels, causing electrical issues and irreversibly damaging equipment and assets. Janitorial services and other experienced contractors will need to pump this excess water out of the building once the rain has subsided and install high-powered dehumidifiers to dry the air in affected rooms. Broken equipment will have to be removed and replaced when the time comes.

Damaged Pipes

The flooding mentioned above can take a toll on plumbing systems, overloading pipes until they burst. These issues must be resolved quickly, as dysfunctional plumbing will render most places completely out of order until repaired.

Power Outages

Whether high winds knock down electrical lines or flooding short-circuits your generators, hurricanes often result in regional and individual power outages. In today’s high-tech world, a lack of electricity is a problem in its own right. On top of that, you might rely on electricity to keep cold-storage facilities running, back up important data, or accomplish and maintain other vital tasks. The more backup options you have to keep your important functions going, the better off you’ll be, but know that hurricanes can render all of your power options useless.

Recovering After a Ruinous Storm

Hurricane season comes every year, but no one ever gets used to its devastating effects. If you’re at risk of major property damage this season, make sure your building maintenance efforts are up to snuff -- the more protected your property and its assets are, the fewer repairs you’ll need to make in the future. More importantly, make sure your people are well-trained and equipped to safely navigate these emergency scenarios -- ensure that everyone knows how to respond, who to contact, where to go in a given event, and how to protect themselves when in danger. The Budd Group is here to help businesses of all kinds bolster their emergency preparedness protocols through thorough training, preparation, maintenance and repair services, and customized strategies. Whether you need a reliable partner for janitorial work, trash and debris removal, landscaping, general maintenance, etc., we will help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from any and all emergencies. To learn more about all that The Budd Group can do for your business this hurricane season and beyond, call us today at 800-221-8158, or send us an email at Solutions@BuddGroup.com!

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