The Why Behind the Danger of Thunderstorms | SERVPRO® of Houston County

6/22/2021 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms can pop up at any moment. Contact SERVPRO of Houston County if you experience any damage.

While thunderstorms are incredibly common, especially this time of year, they can be very serious in terms of the damage they can cause. Though some storms can make their way through without much collateral damage, some don’t—and they can turn deadly within moments due to forceful winds, hail, lightning and flash flooding.

A thunderstorm is defined as a transient storm of lightning and thunder, usually with rain and gusty winds, sometimes with hail or snow, produced by cumulonimbus clouds.

For a thunderstorm to be classified as severe, it will contain one inch (or larger) hail and straight-line winds of at least 58 miles per hour. Let’s look at some ways this weather may present hazards so that you can plan for ways to stay safe the next time one comes through Houston County.

What Damages Are Associated With Thunderstorms?

Lighting strikes can cause serious damage and injury. One of the most dangerous components of a thunderstorm are lightning strikes, causing upward of 300 injuries every year. This does not even count the damage that lightning strikes may inflict on homes or businesses. The most common effects of lightning are house fires or trees that can fall on these structures. By definition, a thunderstorm produces lightning, so even if it’s not within your range of visibility, there is a possibility that it can appear quickly.

Hail damage to property. Even the thought of hail can be a dreadful experience because it can do serious damage to anything it touches. In a very intense thunderstorm, hail that is an inch or larger, there could be damage to uncovered cars, injuries to people who are not sufficiently sheltered and significant damage to sidings, roofs and other structures on private and commercial property. Hail can be a powerful and unpredictable force that falls at a tremendous speed, making it one of the most impactful elements of a thunderstorm.

Property loss or injury due to flash flooding. While flooding is a major concern, even for those who do not live or work in an obvious flood plain, it can cause many serious problems. Flash floods are known to happen without warning any time heavy rain saturates an area. It is oftentimes able to become a life-threatening scenario in the event of a storm drain backing up or nearby roadside ditches filling with water. Although it’s incredibly dangerous, many people still attempt to cross flooded roadways, causing damage to their cars and possibly having their car carried away by the tide.

Thunderstorm damage can happen at any time and is capable of causing significant damage to homes or commercial spaces. Our team is here to help should you have any damage due to a thunderstorm. Contact us ²⁴⁄₇ for more information on how we can serve your Houston County home or business.