What to do if spring storms damage your home

April is typically the month when winter turns to spring in Minnesota, and sometimes the April showers that bring May flowers can turn into thunderstorms. As the season wears on and the temperatures and humidity rise, oftentimes those thunderstorms can turn severe, with frequent lightening strikes, torrential downpours, hail and excessive winds.

As a homeowner, there are some things you can do to prepare your home for the stormy season, as well as some things to keep in mind if your home sustains damage from a storm.

What to do before the storm strikes

To prepare your home for the spring and summer storms, consider doing the following:

1. In a previous blog post, we talked about how springtime was a great time to prune your trees. Trim large tree branches and remove any dead ones from the trees in your yard, as these could cause damage. If a thunderstorm produces strong winds or even a tornado, a branch could fall on your property, car or even power line. Also trim branches of trees that are especially close to your home or garage, and remove branches that look like they could easily snap or fall off. Please keep in mind that trimming tree branches is a difficult and potentially dangerous task, so please consider contacting a professional to help. If you need the name of a professional tree trimmer, please contact me.

2. Before the rains come, it’s a good idea to make sure your roof, siding and windows are in good shape. If you have any loose shingles, cracks in the flashing or soffit, or any issues with your gutters (like they need cleaning), heavy rains can leak into your home. Likewise, if your windows are not properly sealed, they may leak from rain or even shatter from strong winds.

3. Many homeowners experience water in the basement after heavy rains, which is not only a huge inconvenience, but also it can produce mold growth. Protect your home from flooding by insuring there are no cracks in the foundation that can cause water to come in, and if there are cracks, seal them with caulk. In addition, make sure the downspouts from your gutters are directed away from your home, and you might want to consider installing a sump pump. Finally, talk with a landscaper if you have grading in your yard that causes water to pool close to your house.

4. Powerful spring and summer storms can cause power outages which is no fun. If you experience an outage, a back up power source like a home generator can help save the food in your refrigerator and freezer, and will keep the sump pump working should water get into your home.

5. If you have time before a storm approaches, try to secure items in your yard that could potentially get tossed around in heavy winds or damaged by hail. Items like deck furniture, toys and lawn ornaments should be either tied down or placed someplace secure like a garage or backyard shed. And, if you have a trampoline in your backyard, that should be tied down year-round.

What to do after the storm

Once the storm passes, it’s time to assess your property for any damage. Does your roof have any damaged or missing shingles? What about downed trees or hail damage to your home’s siding or car?

If you experience any damage, contact your insurance agent right away. You can call me anytime, even if it’s after hours, and I will get the claims process started.

Depending on the damage, you also will want to work with a reputable contractor for estimates and repair. If there was widespread damage in your neighborhood, chances are contractors will show up at your door; try to avoid working with any of them, particularly if you don’t know them. Rather, work with your own contractor or if you don’t have one and need a referral, please contact me for some names.

If you have any questions on any of this, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you.