Dealing With Home Storm Damage

There are a variety of ways storms damage homes — blown off or damaged shingles, dented or torn siding, broken windows or fallen tree limbs — but the potential long-lasting damage is the same: water getting inside your home.

While cosmetic damage can easily be repaired, structural storm damage that allows water into a home causes longer lasting and lingering problems, including rot, mold and structural decay.

That is why it’s crucial that any storm damage is dealt with immediately, including steps to keep any new water from entering a home and ensuing any existing water damage is minimized.

Here are some steps suggested by Home911, a home emergency water and fire damage response service in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area:

  • If your basement is flooded ensure there are no energized power cords before wading in to assess the water damage.
  • Understand that sewage may have backed up into water pooled in a basement. Take precautions to limit your exposure.
  • Be quick in removing standing water and starting the drying process. It takes only a day or two for mold and mildew contamination to begin.


Turn off any source of water that may have led to the flooding, such as a damaged water line in the house.

If the water entered as a result of a storm — such as a tree limb into the home or roof damage — promptly cover the exposed part of the house with a tarp to ensure no more water enters the house.

Once water leaks are stopped drying the water damage areas of the home is the next step. Use large, industrial strength fans to remove moisture. They can be rented or installed by services such as Home911, which use them as part of a comprehensive remediation effort.

The advantage of using a service such as Home911 is knowing they have received Restoration Industry Association’s highest designations as both a Certified Restorer™ and Water Loss Specialist and provide comprehensive storm damage repair from stopping water leaks to fixing damaged areas of a home.