24/7 Emergency Service
Whoa, That Was a Strong Wind! | SERVPRO® of East Brownsville & South Padre Island
6/5/2023 (Permalink)
If you've suffered from storm-related damage to your home or business, make SERVPRO of East Brownsville & South Padre Island your first call.
Is there anything better than a cool breeze on a hot day? The wind is one of those things that we can’t touch, but we know it is always there. Most of the time, wind whipping through your hair feels like a sweet gift—but sometimes, it can create a complete nightmare.
When wind gets strong, it can quickly tear apart homes and lives in one fell swoop. We might only fear the possibility of these damaging winds when the weather turns severe, but sometimes strong gusts can blow through even while the skies are blue.
The more you get to know about the different kinds of winds that can leave your home damaged, the more proactive about prevention you can be.
We are no strangers to strong winds in Texas, especially on the Island. While we can see hurricane force winds off of the coast, most reported wind damage comes after strong thunderstorms. No matter where the wind comes from, it is something we should always be prepared for.
Thunderstorms carry a lot of different threats, but any storm with lightning and thunder can also have winds that reach more than 60 miles per hour. When the wind gets that strong, it can easily pick up small sticks and other debris and toss them around like kids playing catch.
Straight-line winds are one of the most common kinds of winds that leave behind damages. These winds can be widespread and proceed or even precede storms, often reaching to nearly 100 miles per hour in single gusts. Straight-line winds include any kind of wind that is not associated with rotation, although these winds also exist in storms that carry tornadoes.
Tornadoes also come with a variety pack of threats, but they are considered so incredibly dangerous because of the different winds commonly found within them.
Straight-line winds, downdrafts that can take down a forest of trees, and bursts called micro- and macro-bursts all combine to create a trail of destruction that will likely take anything in its path out.
Wind often takes out trees, pulls down power lines and tosses around debris, but when it exceeds 80 miles per hour, it can also take out mobile homes, even when they are anchored down.
In order to protect your home and your family, get to know the different kinds of weather alerts that may be issued when winds are projected to get high. You should also secure loose objects to avoid creating projectiles around your home. Anything that lives outside permanently should be tied down, and for everything else, you should create a quick action plan in order to act accordingly as weather moves in.
Trees on your property should be trimmed regularly, with professional maintenance on those trees too tall to take care of on your own. Keep your yard cleared of loose limbs, too, which means you will need to be intentional about storm cleanup with all the winds our area sees throughout the year.
It’s likely you already have some emergency supplies gathered as we get closer and closer to hurricane season, but make sure you also have a safe space in your home you can quickly get to when high winds are in the area. An interior room without windows is ideal. Storm shutters are a solid investment as well for protecting your home.
After a storm has moved through, take a walk around your home to look for damages. Make sure you take special notice of your roof and gutter systems, as any issues in these areas can very quickly result in water damages.
If you spot problems, call SERVPRO. We are ready to respond day or night so that you can get your life put back together fast.
Has your home been damaged by wind? Call us and get things cleaned up fast.