Possible Health Risks to Be Aware of When Returning Home After a Storm

As a homeowner, dealing with a natural catastrophe may be scary. But once the winds have dropped down and the weather has returned to normal, you’ll face another challenge: having your home restored and back to normal.

Storm cleanup activities, on the other hand, require dealing with serious health concerns such as water pollution, waterborne infections, and microbial development, all of which may expose you and your loved ones to storm damage threats.

Once you’ve received the all-clear to return home, be wary of the following health and storm damage risks. Make sure that you identify the risks before you actually start any water damage restoration procedure.

Flooding Caused by a Storm

Flood damage from a storm might potentially endanger your home’s safety. Even the most sturdy structures may be overwhelmed by flash floods, and storm waves can erode roadways and damage buildings in their path.

It is also critical to be aware of the consequences of debris flows. This fast-moving landslide transports large amounts of mud, stones, and plant material and frequently strikes without notice. It is capable of destroying homes, sweeping away vehicles, and uprooting trees.

Water contamination

Your home may be swamped in floodwaters following a hurricane or severe storm. However, before attempting to extract standing water or clean up the damaged area, keep in mind that floodwater is often tainted with sewage and hazardous chemicals. It may also contain illnesses such as cholera and E. Bacteria, as well as sharp items such as glass and metal fragments.

Aside from that, it is critical to be cautious of your drinking water. Heavy rainstorms can topple trees and break water lines, causing sewage spills to quickly pollute them.

Lightning strikes

When lightning strikes a residence during a storm, power normally flows through the building’s wiring. As a result, every electrical equipment hooked into an outlet, whether a phone, computer, or kitchen appliance, gets damaged. Even if lightning rods are correctly built and operational, electrical wiring, cable or telephone lines, antennas, and steel frames may be impacted.

Microbial and mould growth

Mould is one of the most significant health risks that any homeowner should be aware of. This is due to the fact that it may begin growing within 72 hours of water entering your house and will continue to develop unless properly confined and eradicated.

Furthermore, mould exposure can have a variety of negative health repercussions, particularly in those who already have respiratory diseases, compromised immune systems, or other health issues. Individuals who are vulnerable may develop allergic responses, breathing difficulties, headaches, and exhaustion, among other symptoms.

Delaying mould removal might endanger your health and the health of your loved ones, therefore it’s better to hire experienced mould inspection and remediation services as soon as feasible. Experts know that the best way to treat the moisture problem and eradicate mould from your house is to employ a tried-and-true drying and dehumidification technique.

Gas leak

Flood floods may uproot trees while also exposing subterranean utility connections, raising the danger of damaged natural gas lines and leaks. There’s also the chance that water can cause your natural gas metre to leak or malfunction. Finally, flood water in your home might damage both your natural gas and electrical equipment.

If you suspect a gas leak or detect a weird odour in your storm-damaged home, turn off the main gas valve, open your windows, and leave immediately. It is advisable to leave the detection and repair of gas leaks to the specialists.

Electrical safety risks

Strong thunderstorms can also bring power lines down and create other electrical safety risks in your house. But, more importantly, many of these threats persist even after the storm has receded.

To ensure yourself and your loved one’s safety, stay cautious around downed power lines and notify your utility provider as soon as possible. Avoiding any body of water, including puddles and pools, is another practical strategy to prevent the hazards of electric shock. Finally, if you notice frayed or broken insulation on wires or smell something burning, immediately turn off your home’s electricity.

Water Damage Restoration in Melbourne – recover your home safely and painlessly after a storm with Wet Carpet Cleaners

When a calamity strikes your property, your first job should be to assess the damage and deal with the mental stress. Repairing all of the storm damage to your house and making it liveable again might expose you to potentially life-threatening storm damage dangers, especially if you lack the necessary skills and tools.

That being said, you are not required to bring your home back in order on your own. Wet Carpet Cleaners’ restoration experts can help you recover from a storm in the safest and most effective way possible.

If you are struggling with the aftermath of a storm or hurricane and are unsure what to do, please call our staff. We have storm recovery specialists on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to restore your property to its pre-storm condition. Allow us to handle the heavy work for you – contact us immediately for experienced assistance!

Suggested Read: Why Is It Risky to Have A Lingering Odour After Water Damage?