Recent Storm Damage Posts

The Rising Financial Costs of Storms

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

a large yellow warning sign stating that there is stormy weather ahead When storms do damage, we go to work to make things right. Contact SERVPRO of Tri-County to start the restoration process.

To say 2020 was “action packed” is an understatement, it was a record-setting year for weather and climate disasters. Of all the years in history for which we have data, 2020 was the most financially destructive.

There were 22 official weather disasters for the year 2020. Disasters are defined as events that cause at least a billion dollars in damages.

This was one of the most active seasons for hurricanes and tropical storms. In fact, the NWS had to refer to the Greek alphabet just to name all of the storms that came our way.

Severe Storms Have a Large Impact

Hurricanes have always been known as one of nature’s most powerful storms, but we are starting to see that severe storms are bringing the same type of damages. In fact, the most expensive disasters of 2020 in the contiguous United States were thunderstorms and tornadoes.

While 2020 brought 22 official weather disasters, 14 of these were severe thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms are so common that people tend to forget the real damage they can do. In a matter of minutes, without warning, they can produce hail, strong winds or even tornadoes.

Just how quickly can thunderstorms turn into dangerous weather events? In eastern Nebraska in August 2020, there seemed to be a typical line of thunderstorms that quickly exploded into something called a derecho (think of something like a tornado, but with straight-line winds instead of swirling ones, combined with a heavy thunderstorm). This potent storm destroyed more than 10 million acres of corn fields, almost half the state’s corn crop—that’s over 11% of the entire country’s corn fields.

Here in Georgia, we see more than our fair share of thunderstorms, most of which bring really strong winds and hail! In 2020, we saw severe weather, including the remnants of Hurricane Sally, Hurricane Delta and Tropical Storm Zeta.

Costs Are Rising

Severe weather is showing to be normal, and the cost of the damages it brings is becoming quite high! 2020 was the 10th consecutive year with at least eight billion-dollar disasters.

During 2018 and 2019, there was a combined total of $136 billion in damages. And the year 2017 set the highest total on record with a total of over $300 billion.

Thunderstorms can quickly turn into more, so as a home or business owner, it’s essential to take whatever precautions are possible to minimize damage to your property.

As we all know, nothing is ever certain, and even with precautions things happen! If you still manage to get a stroke of bad luck, it’s important to know you’ve got a friend in the restoration industry whose goal it is to recover your valued items and restore your property "Like it never even happened."

When storms do damage, we go to work to make things right. Contact SERVPRO today to see how we can help.

Delta Flood Cleanup

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

Flood water in and around homes SERVPRO of Tri County was called out early that morning to assist with flood recovery at over 50 government agencies, churches and local homes.   

The remnants of Hurricane Delta swept through Northeast Georgia during the night of Oct 10 and 11th. It caused extensive local flooding and damage.

Since the Delta deluge that dumped over 8 inches of rain on Habersham Oct. 10-11, people have been trying to dig their way out from under the mud and debris.

Your hometown SERVPRO of Tri County has been right in the thick of recovery efforts since the first hours of the storm.

Habersham was among the hardest-hit counties in the region, sustaining over $5.25 million in damage, according to the latest estimates released by the county.

Demorest was the hardest-hit city, reporting an estimated $1.2 million in damages. Cornelia sustained approximately $635,000 in storm damage and Clarkesville estimated its cost of repairs at around $80,000. Baldwin sustained approximately $45,000 in damage. [Damage assessments were not immediately available for Alto, Mt. Airy, and Tallulah Falls.]

Habersham County Public Information Officer Carolyn McDuffie said, “This is the largest recovery on record.”

Substantial and Mobilized Resources

10/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's large loss semi trucks and trailers hauling equipment interstate SERVPRO of Tri-County is locally owned albeit part of a national franchise with substantial resources that can be called in at any time.

We live and make our living right here in Northeast Georgia. Our rural communities allow us the time to enjoy life and our neighbors.

SERVPRO of Tri-County is located in Hart County and is just a few minutes drive from Elbert, Franklin and Stephens Counties. Being right here in the neighborhood means that we can get to emergency jobs quickly and consistently.

But, sometimes the scale and challenge of jobs require more than any hometown team can provide.     Storms can quickly overload any single team with numerous customers needing emergency services immediately.

Large industrial or commercial facilities can suffer smoke, fire or water damage that may require hundreds of skilled workers and thousands of pieces of specialized equipment.

To answer that need, SERVPRO has a network of over 1,700 locations thru out the United States.    There are 24 locations in Georgia alone.

SERVPRO has constructed a system of mutual support from the local franchise all the way the national level.   This allows trained technicians, service teams and literally tractor trailer loads of equipment to respond locally, statewide even across the United States to support communities that are in need.

Whether your home or business suffers a small fire damage, or our community is attacked storm flooding, hurricane or tornado, you rest knowing that SERVPRO is ready for any sized disaster.

Take a Proactive Approach to Protect Your Household From Storm Damage | SERVPRO® of Tri-County

9/28/2020 (Permalink)

large yellow storm warning sign in front of dark forming clouds SERVPRO of Tri-County is here to provide you with a rapid response. Contact us right away if your home has any storm damage.

It is common for thunderstorms to pop up and disperse without much incident, but we want to remind people that any storm has the potential to cause damages—and all it takes is one.

We recommend a proactive approach to severe weather preparedness so you can always have the peace of mind that you have done everything possible to keep your household safer in the face of severe weather.

Keep Your Household Safe in the Face of Severe Weather

Prepare your home as much as possible. Many of the storm damages we get called in for have to do with things impacting the home, whether that be a tree branch, loose patio chair or other projectiles. Trimming trees and securing objects can go a long way in advance of a storm to keeping your household safe—and if you are concerned with comfort in the aftermath, a storm generator is a popular choice to maintain electricity.

Create a family communications plan. When your family is out and about a lot, it may be rare that you are all in the same place—making a communications plan vital for severe weather preparedness. Be sure everyone in the household knows when they should head home or when to stay put if severe weather is called for, and how to check in to let everyone else know that they are safe.

Make sure your emergency kit is stocked. An emergency kit is a great place to start your planning as they are so important to make sure you are never without an essential item during severe weather. Nonperishable foods, water, first aid supplies and light sources should all have a place in your kit, as well as anything your family may need for up to 72 hours. Do not forget food and water for pets, too!

Consider getting a weather radio. Though we are used to relying on our cell phones for all weather alerts, having a more analog system such as a weather radio in your emergency kit is always a good idea. Missing emergency alerts can be extremely dangerous, and if severe weather knocks out cell reception, having a backup method for receiving alerts is so important.

If your home is damaged by a storm, you can depend on us to take care of any damages. Contact us at any hour to report damage and receive a rapid response.

Historic Microburst Storm is small but dangerous

8/25/2020 (Permalink)

News Paper Header for the Hartwell Sun Hartwell Sun circle logo

Storm ravages Hart County during the night of April 6, 2017.  By Michael Isom Staff writer

“The worst storm damage was out there by Cateechee (Golf Club) or out there on Bowman Highway next to the Ag Center,” said Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland The sheriff’s department started getting phone calls from Hart County residents when the storm began.

James Fulghum lives on Bowman Highway near the Agriscience Center and was awoken by the storm. “I don’t get scared that often, but I have to admit that really scared me,” said Fulghum.

 Lynne Adams had a similar experience at her Ross Road home. “I have lived in this house nearly 30 years, and haven’t, until now, heard a hailstorm like this here,” she said. “I seriously thought the windows might break.”

According to Ed Hoy, supervisor of system operations with Hart EMC, over 1,500 members were without power at the height of the storm.

The biggest concentration of incidents were reported in the Liberty Hill and Sardis areas. “Enough praise cannot be given to the (Hart County) Fire Department and the volunteers and the (Hart County) Road Department. They were actually the hands-on chain saws, tractors, and whatever was needed to get the job done,” Cleveland said. “It was just amazing the amount of huge trees in the road. We aren’t talking about one tree. We are talking about multiple trees.”

Excerpts from the Hartwell Sun Newspaper, April 13th, 2017

Thankfully, there were no storm related injuries reported.

Literally, hundreds of trees were knocked down in a straight-line wind shear that damaged over 100 home and businesses. 

Storms like this are becoming more frequent this decade and their damage can be severe.

Emergency crews from SERVPRO of Tri-County & SERVPRO of the Mountains were on the scene early that morning assisting people with water removal, debris cleanup and property restoration. 

What is a Microburst Storm?

8/25/2020 (Permalink)

lightning in a dark sky over a city Micro burst storms come and go at random, SERVPRO is Here to Help

The National Weather Service defines a microburst as a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter.

Microbursts can cause extensive damage at the surface, and in some instances, can be life-threatening. There are two primary types of microbursts: 1) wet microbursts and 2) dry microbursts. Wet microbursts are accompanied by significant precipitation and are common in the Southeast during the summer months.

During the past few years, Northeast Georgia has experienced an increase of annual rainfall.  This has contributed to the more frequent occurrence of late day or nighttime thunder cells and storms.

Because these storms are so small and manifest so quickly, they can often be overlooked by local or national news reports.  Yet the damage to homes and businesses while localized can be very severe.

Wind speeds in microbursts can reach up to 100 mph, or even higher, which is equivalent to an EF-1 tornado! Winds this high can cause major damage to homes and other structures and level hundreds of trees. It is very important that you take Severe Thunderstorm Warnings just as seriously as Tornado Warnings!

Be sure to take shelter to protect your family and loved ones.   But, after the storm has passed, you can call SERVPRO to help repair whatever might have been damaged.

Because each SERVPRO is individually owned and locally operated, we are typically just a few minutes away from where these events occur.

Whatever is needed to clean, dry, repair or restore a damaged structure can be coordinated thru your local SERVPRO team.  

We remain “Here to Help.”

You Should Prepare for Safety Before the Weather Is Forecast | SERVPRO® of Tri-County

6/11/2020 (Permalink)

person on a tablet using weather alert app When storm activity caused damage to your home, SERVPRO of Tri-County will respond quickly to assist in any repairs.

Thunderstorms, flooding and other types of severe weather can be very frightening and can inflict serious trauma to anything in its path. While many fly over without notice during warmer seasons, every event has the potential to sharply increase and cause severe damage so, everyone should plan ahead and make preparations then stay alert when the weather is forecast.

Measures you can take but are not limited to; dedicated flashlights in staged areas, having a  panic room or shelter ready(i.e. the more comfortable the shelter is the more likely you are to go before danger arrives), if you do not have a shelter..knowing the safest place to take cover in your home is essential, noting areas without windows or exterior walls, subscribing to weather monitoring providers. 

Following weather notifications will give you access to clear and direct information from local weather professionals. Weather changes quickly so staying connected and knowing the alerts are very important. If an alert says, “SEVERE WEATHER WATCH” you should know that means conditions could develop into a severe event and it is recommended to stay tuned into weather alerts for updates, any lingering preparations should be made. If the alert says, “SEVERE WEATHER WARNING” means the storm has been confirmed and you should immediately seek shelter.  

There are innumerable reasons to have an emergency kit however, severe weather is usually what drives people to own one. If you are purchasing a pre made kit or assembling one of your own be sure to include everything to treat traumas and stay comfortably if it takes a while for help to arrive. Flashlights, water, food, and Obtaining a weather radio are recommended. Store this kit in your shelter or safe area and protect it from damage or intrusion.

If your home has been impacted by storm damage, we are here for you. You can contact us 247 to get a quick response to your home’s damages.

Storm season

4/17/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO logo, here to help SERVPRO of Tri-County is Here to Help after the storm.

As early storm season falls upon us, many as myself prepare for the untimely and not so friendly visit of dangerous weather. While home owners sweep out webs and dust from storm shelters, replace batteries in flashlights and smoke detectors. SERVPRO techs will be strategically positioning response vehicles, equipment and PPE. Trained and ready, when bad weather hits and while the community emerges from safety to assess damage and check on loved ones. SERVPRO techs will be lacing up boots and getting ready respond to homes and businesses in need. 

If your home or business experiences a loss/damage caused by a recent storm, or you need any of our core cleaning and sanitization services, give us a call at 706-245-7109. We are here and ready to serve. 

When Storms or Floods hit Northeast Georgia, SERVPRO is ready!

7/5/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Tri-County specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Northeast Georgia, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster.

We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 706-245-7109