Damage Caused by Hurricanes

6/22/2021 (Permalink)

The potential damage left in the aftermath of a hurricane can be devastating in more ways than one.

Storms such as hurricanes are some of the strongest on the planet. They can cause a lot of damage and destruction depending on where they make landfall with strong winds, heavy rains, high waves, and storm surges.

This article will talk about what types of property damage hurricanes can cause and how you can prepare for them so your home and family will be safe.

Property Damage Due to Hurricanes

One of the most common types of damage is when a hurricane increases water levels in rivers and lakes to cause flooding. This phenomenon can also be caused by heavy rains preceding or following landfall and storm surges from hurricanes that make landfall near waterways like the Gulf Coast.

Damage to property that typically occurs during floods includes things such as bridges getting washed out, dams bursting (resulting in dangerous floodwaters), and homes being filled with water until they're either swept away downstream or destroyed entirely.

Another type of property damage that often happens due to high winds is uprooting trees, knocking them over on buildings and cars below while also causing power lines to come down across streets, making it impossible for people to get around without serious risk!

Extreme flooding due to storm surge from the hurricane can cause major property damage. Hurricane winds may blow down power lines, causing a loss of utilities for days or weeks in some cases. Huge trees and branches will be uprooted with these strong wind gusts and may knock out windows or even fall on homes nearby.

Different types of property damage can be caused by hurricanes:

Structural Damage

This is when a hurricane wreaks havoc on the physical structure of your home. It might blow off roofs, shatter windows and break down walls. But with having storm protection like plywood or shutters, you could reduce this risk.

Hardship Damages

These are costs incurred after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico because people don't have access to food, water potable water filters for their homes, or fuel for their cars.

Financial Damages

If a hurricane damaged your home, you might have to pay costly repairs and renovations on top of the price of living in temporary housing while yours is being repaired. The long-term effects could include decreased property values with no insurance policy available because it's not covered under an older one or if there are other issues like foreclosure after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

Losses Due To Flooding And High Winds

A hurricane can also cause flooding, which will increase water damage costs and structural damages to homes from high winds that tear off metal roof panels and blow out windows.

Damage to the Roof of a Property

Hurricanes can cause major damage to the roof of a property, which is not only expensive for repairs but also inconvenient as it will make living in your home more difficult.

Water Damage

Suppose you have water running into or under your house from rain and seeping through windows because high winds blew them out during a hurricane. In that case, there's an increased likelihood that mold may form, which could lead to a variety of health effects.

Some other risks associated with this type of damage, include structural issues caused when pipes freeze and burst due to cold weather coming inside your home after winter storm conditions return. The risk continues even longer than the duration of one season, though, since many people don't dry their houses completely before turning on their central heating system.

If you have no power, your refrigerator and freezer will stop working properly, which could lead to food spoiling as well as an increased risk of bacteria growth in the fridge or freezer if it's not cold enough.

Other risks with this type of water damage include household goods getting wet, including books and photos that may be irreplaceable. There are also some safety concerns because there could be hidden electrical hazards such as exposed wiring inside walls where insulation is pulled away from them during the storm.

Water damage can also cause mold spores to grow after flooding sewage backups into living spaces due to a broken sewer line under the house, caused by debris being washed down residential streets into drainage culverts when the storm drains are overwhelmed.

In Conclusion

Hurricanes can cause a tremendous amount of damage. It is essential to protect yourself, your family, and your property from natural disasters.