Summer Storms Spark Lightning Damage

7/28/2021 (Permalink)

Summers in Metairie, LA brings their fair share of storms, ranging from light rain showers to severe storms, risking damage to homes, commercial buildings, and other structures.

Types of Lightning Damage

It is important to emphasize the hazards of lightning in addition to flooding, fallen trees, and other forms of storm damage. 

• Fire damage: The biggest threat lightning poses to a structure is fire. Wood and other flammable construction materials can easily explode when exposed to the high temperature of a lightning strike. Lightning current traveling through wires and pipelines instantly burns them up causing complete damage to property.
• Power surge damage: If lightning chooses electrical wiring as its primary or secondary path, the explosive surge can damage all the appliances it is connected to.
• Shock wave damage: Lightning produces shock waves that can be destructive. These shock waves can fracture concrete and brick and stone chimneys severely.

Although the risk of experiencing a direct lightning strike is low, it is essential to know what to do in the event that it happens in order to minimize damage to your home or business. The first step is to check for fire. As soon as it is safe to go outside, look for damage to your roof and other areas around. Inside, you should also check electrical switches, breakers, and outlets for signs of damage, as well as checking for leaks, which can lead to flooding. In the event that you discover damage of any kind, call a professional immediately.

Here at SERVPRO of Metairie, we are a team of storm damage professionals who are ready to help your home or business recover after lightning damage or storm damage of any kind. By calling us right away at 504.496.0193, you can ensure that our team will be on-site quickly to help. To learn more about the specific storm damage remediation services that we offer, check out our pages dedicated to such topics as Commercial Storm Damage Restoration.