How a Thunderstorm Can Put People in Harm’s Way | SERVPRO® of Anaheim Central/Garden Grove East

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

Learn how to stay out of harm's way during a thunderstorm.

When warmer weather moves in, it can often bring storm fronts with it. While thunderstorms are a fairly regular occurrence during the hotter months of the year, their frequency should never lead to complacency about the threat that they pose.

While many thunderstorms come through the area without consequence, because of the dangerous elements they contain, there is always a potential for injury or property damage present.

Any time a weather front contains thunder and lightning, it is called a thunderstorm—and all thunderstorms contain both of these elements, even if you do not see lightning or hear thunder. When there is large hail (over one inch) and straight-line winds of 58 miles per hour, a weather front will be classified as a severe thunderstorm, which creates even more potential for harm.

The Dangerous Elements a Thunderstorm Contains

Damage and injury from lightning strikes. Lightning strikes are extremely dangerous, and because they are an element of every single thunderstorm, it is highly likely that one will strike during every storm. Lightning is responsible for at least 300 bodily injuries every year, which does not include the property damage they can cause due to felled trees and fires. Even if it is not visible, any time you can hear thunder, there is lightning in the vicinity.

Property damage due to hail. Hail is not only a frightening thing to experience, but it can also be extremely dangerous. Large hail is extremely loud when it falls and can cause serious injury. If a person does not have adequate shelter, hail can cause major harm. It is also known to cause property damage, leading to dents in cars, damage to buildings’ roofs and impacts in a home’s siding—which can also increase the possibility of water damage.

Harm from flash flooding. Many people assume that flooding can only happen in known floodplain areas, but flash flooding can truly happen anywhere. Between storm drains being overwhelmed to ditches getting backed up, heavy rainfall can cause a flash flood nearly anywhere. Flash flooding is extremely dangerous, as a few inches of water can knock a person off their feet or carry a car away, so never go anywhere near floodwater.

Thunderstorms are dangerous and can cause significant damage to homes or commercial spaces. If you have damage due to a thunderstorm, you can count on us to help. Contact us ²⁴⁄₇ for more information about our storm restoration practices.