The Dangers of a Storm Surge

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricanes can cause damage in a number of different ways. Perhaps the most damaging and dangerous of which is the storm surge, but what is a storm surge?  These events are when there is a large rise of water due to a storm that is above what was predicted for high tide. These surges push water inland where it normally wouldn’t be flooding homes and businesses and causing a vast amount of damage. Often these surges of water linger and take days to subside after the storm, leaving behind mud, sewage, and other harmful contaminants wherever they touched. In addition to the extensive water damage caused by days of exposure. Millions of homes are at risk of damage from storm surges each hurricane season in almost 20 states. One of the most notable storm surge events was in hurricane Katrina. Some affected areas were left under more than 25 feet of water, which is enough to completely submerge an average sized two-story home. It’s important to recognize the dangers that these storm events pose and to make sure that you follow your local government’s instructions during them in order to keep you and your family safe.

If your home sustains water damage from a storm surge or any other storm related event, SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico is here to help. As leaders in the industry and as part of the SERVPRO Disaster Response Team we know first hand the destructive forces of large storms and work diligently to help get your lives back to normal.