What to be Wary of in the Home Following a Natural Disaster
Natural disasters are unfortunately a very relevant part of many people’s lives. In 1980, there was an average of about 100 natural disasters per year. That number has increased massively, however. Since the year 2000, natural disasters have occurred on average 300 times a year.
If you’ve been unfortunate enough to have your life impacted by a natural disaster, there are some things you may need to consider. If you have been evacuated from your home due to a natural disaster, you must enter the household with some caution. Due to the unpredictable nature of natural disasters, there’s no telling the damage that has been done to your house prior to entering. This makes it extremely necessary to take safety precautions when entering the home. Consider these aspects when re-entering the home:
Glass
No matter what natural disaster has hit your house, chances are the glass in your windows and doors will be the first thing to go. This means there is a very high chance your home will have large areas of it covered in broken glass. The windows and doors that are seemingly intact may also still be fragile, so be extremely cautious when nearing any glass in the home. It is best to get professionals, such as Cover Glass, to fully replace and inspect the home before getting comfortable again.
Fire Danger
When you first return to your home, you can’t tell the extent of the damage. One element of damage that may have occurred is a gas leak. This is why your area should be properly aired out following any natural disaster. But upon entering the home, keep in mind there may be flammable gas nearby. This means you should use a flashlight as opposed to a candle or any other naked flames in the home.
Structural Damage
Although an area of your home may seem relatively safe to pass through, that’s not always the case. Especially when water damage has occurred, there’s no way to tell how strong the floorboards or walls may be. It might take a strong breeze for a primary wall of the house to crack or break.
Wet surfaces also possess another form of danger that is worth consideration. Electrical currents can travel through water. This means that standing water could be very dangerous after the power is turned back on. You should always report downed power lines to your utility company.
Animals
Natural disasters also affect animals as many of them may lose their homes during the disaster. These animals will then have to take refuge somewhere else which could end up being your home. Chances are, your house is now dark, sheltered, and damp. This makes it a perfect place for wild animals to take residence and they are likely to be territorial of their emergency home. Keep this in mind when picking up items that animals could live under. If you do suspect there may be creatures currently in the home, call a pest inspector immediately.
Call A Professional for Disaster Restoration
You must be cautious when re-entering your home after a disaster because the damage may still be spreading. Make sure you keep an eye out for the potential issues discussed above and call a disaster restoration expert immediately. A disaster restoration specialist will help limit the damage and begin restoring your home.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
