Potential Hazards After a Disaster | SERVPRO® of East Mecklenburg/Matthews

3/7/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to disaster relief, SERVPRO of East Mecklenburg/Matthews are your local restoration experts.

Taking the first look around your damaged home after a disaster such as a tornado or windstorm can be shocking. It may be wildly overwhelming to even know where to begin, on top of the emotional toll of experiencing something as devastating as these types of storms can be.

Tornadoes and other severe storms can rip through buildings, causing power outages, exposing electrical wiring and destroying structurally essential walls. It’s important to know what to do after a storm so that you do not expose yourself to dangerous hazards that can arise after the storm passes.

Let’s look at a few of these potential hazards:

Gas Leaks. As you may know, many buildings and homes have gas lines that power heat and/or electricity. When a storm hits, it can damage gas lines causing invisible leaks. If you smell gas or even suspect there could be a leak, call a professional to inspect the property before turning on any lights, smoking or anything at all that might cause a spark, leading to an explosion from the gas leak.

Carbon Dioxide Poisoning. Oftentimes, severe storms will cause power outages, leading to the use of alternative sources of fuel or electricity for heating or cooking like gasoline-powered generators. It’s vitally important that you do not use these inside your home or garage, but to keep them outdoors, as a deadly gas called carbon monoxide is released and can build up if used indoors and poison the people and animals.

Electrical Shock Hazards. If the storm has caused flooding in the home, it’s very important to call an electrician to asses the property for safety. Do not enter a home with standing water, especially if you are unsure if the electrical circuits in the home have been cut off. It’s very important not to turn on any appliances or touch any electrical items plugged into the walls if you are standing in water.

When it comes to disaster relief, SERVPRO of East Mecklenburg/Matthews is the expert. If you have any questions at all about the safety of the property, it is not worth the risk. Call our experts today and we will safely, properly and quickly get to work assessing the damage and restoring your property.