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Safely Navigating Every Winter Storm | SERVPRO of West Forsyth County
11/17/2023 (Permalink)
The winter season is almost upon us! SERVPRO of West Forsyth County has your back with these helpful tips.
When winter blows in, things can get pretty challenging. While cold temps and flurries aren’t that unusual for our area, we can also see strong winds, heavy snow showers, freezing temperatures and ice.
The good news is that no matter what winter brings to our area, with preparation, we can safely navigate through all of it. When we take the time to prepare our homes and our families, we can rest assured that we will ride our all the storms well.
When the forecast starts including heavy winter storms, the best thing you can do is prepare ahead of time. You want to have your supplies and be able to safely hunker down at home. Snow, ice or heavy cold rain can create incredibly dangerous driving situations.
If you have a weather radio, get it out and make sure it is appropriately programmed. If you don’t have one, this is a great investment to make since it can help keep you safe year-round. It’s common to lose power during a winter storm, so you will need a way to consistently get updates without electricity.
Prepare an emergency kit with batteries, flashlights and some first-aid supplies. Stock up on water and snacks, as well as any fuel needed for alternate heating sources you may have. If an early season storm blows in, check your fireplace to make sure it is in good shape and grab plenty of blankets to bundle everyone up.
Think about potential backup locations for your family in case things get really cold for a while. Talk with your loved ones about their plans, and make the best decisions to keep everyone safe. Warming shelters often open around town, so keep an ear on local stations to find places you can go during the day or overnight as needed.
Once the storm is gone, head outside to take a look at any potential damage. Even if everything is looking pretty good, there are a few things you should do to make sure your home and your family continue to stay safe.
If you can safely do so, inspect your roof. You’ll want to use caution if snow or ice is sticking around, but you need to make sure your gutters are clear. If there is a good amount of snow, you may want to use a roof rake to pull snow off of your roof from the ground. That can help ease the weightload on your roof, as well as ensure anything that melts can flow quickly away.
Check for wind damage around your home, and make sure all of your gutters are still safely attached all the way around your property. Clear snow, ice or other debris away from your downspouts. You want to make sure when things melt, water isn’t able to puddle around the foundation of your house. Clear vents off as well in order to allow proper ventilation and prevent potential carbon monoxide build up.
If you do find damage when you are able to inspect your house, call us right away. We are available around the clock for you, and we can get a team put together and headed to your property quickly. Our team is local, which means we understand just what our North Carolina winters can do—and how to fix it fast.
Once our team arrives, we will assess your needs and walk you through what the restoration process will look like. It is our goal to get your home put back together so you can enjoy the winter wonderland while it lasts.
Our team is always ready for anything! Contact us at SERVPRO of West Forsyth County for a quick restoration after suffering damage from a winter storm.