Prioritizing Safety From Summer Storms | SERVPRO® of Buffalo/Tonawanda

7/14/2020 (Permalink)

Have you been affected by a storm event? SERVPRO of Buffalo Tonawanda is available 24/7 and ready to assist you with any storm damage.

Tips for Safety During Summer Storms

Know your options for shelter. When storms are on the way and you are at home, the best thing you can do is move to an interior room of the home to seek shelter. However, if a storm catches you while you are on the go, seeking shelter in your car with the windows up is a good secondary solution. Make sure the engine is off and that you refrain from touching any metals in the vehicle.

Practice electrical safety. When lightning hits a building, it is searching for the quickest way to get through to the ground—which often involves traveling through electrical wires. The wires in buildings are not equipped to handle the high charges that lightning presents, so they will transfer some of this energy through the outlets and into whatever is plugged into them, referred to as a power surge. If you are able, unplugging everything before a thunderstorm starts is wise—as is installing surge protectors in case you are caught off-guard.

Avoid direct contact with concrete. Concrete structures are extremely sturdy, but that does not necessarily make them the safest place to be. Many times concrete is poured around steel beams for reinforcement, which means when lightning strikes, a charge can be carried through the concrete itself. Avoid touching any concrete structures if lightning is nearby just in case.

Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes. Summer thunderstorms often pop up and disperse quickly, leaving people eager to resume their activities that have been interrupted. However, experts warn that lightning is able to strike at least 25 miles from the origin of the storm and recommend that you wait at least 30 minutes to go outside after the last clap of thunder.

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.