Staying Safe During Summer Storms

8/17/2021 (Permalink)

If storms cause damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of NW & SW Dutchess is on the line, ready to make things right.

Summertime is most people’s favorite time, filled with not as much rushing to events and more family time outdoors. We also tend to think of hot, sunny summer days at the beach or pool.

But amidst all that sun, it might feel like summer also has more thunderstorms. It feels that way because it’s totally true. In most parts of the country, there are atmospheric conditions during the summer months that create moisture and warm air, which helps create thunderstorms.

While it’s obvious that summer months produce hotter days in our area, between May and August, rain chances increase by between 10 and 18%.

Stay Aware

While thunderstorms are common, it doesn’t mean that the threats should be treated lightly. Make sure you’re paying attention to alerts that come across, and if you have an outdoor event scheduled, it’s smarter to move it indoors or postpone it.

You can use an NOAA Weather radio to receive weather alerts even if power is lost.

Flooding is hard to predict, but can happen. If flooding does happen, it’s best to stay off the roads.

Storms can also cause tree limbs to break or winds to pick up and carry items from your yard. Make sure you do yard maintenance daily to prevent disasters happening to your home.

Dozens of people die every year in storm-related incidents, so it’s smart to always stay aware and prepared.

Staying Safe

When thunder roars, go indoors. It’s not safe to go back outside until you haven’t heard thunder for a full half hour, because lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the nearest rain.

As crazy as it may sound, you should always stay away from windows and avoid bathing or showering during a storm.

While we don’t have to necessarily worry about hurricanes or tornadoes, flooding can happen, so it’s important to keep an emergency kit prepared and to know the evacuation route for your area.

If flooding does occur, stay on high ground and avoid any and all flood waters. Don’t try to drive or walk through moving water, because it can knock you down or carry your car away.

There are any number of dangers that can come into play in a thunderstorm, and it’s always best to be cautious and put things on hold until storms safely pass. If storms cause damage to your home or business, SERVPRO is on the line, ready to make things right again.