What kind of damage can blizzards cause

This can cause water to leak into brickwork, siding and ceiling joists. In serious cases, heavy snow can weigh more than your roof can structurally hold and cause it to collapse. This can saturate the soil around your foundation, leading to flooding. When rooftops collect several inches of snow, it adds considerable weight.

Too much weight on your roof can cause it to collapse, resulting in costly repairs and severe structural damage. Blizzards and high winds can also put your gutters at risk for severe destruction. Plummeting temperatures can turn the debris and water in your gutters into slush and ice, slowing the flow and creating a backup.

Frozen water in your gutters will expand and can cause your gutters and drains to split and break the system. Flooding and water damage from blizzard conditions are also common. The accumulated snow will eventually melt as temperatures rise. Often, the thawing of ice and snow happens too quickly and can create substantial flooding. Ice builds up on ledges and drains, which can prevent melting snow from draining properly.

After a blizzard has passed through, you should take a few steps to ensure your home is safe and structurally sound. Blowing snow and high winds can quickly snap tree branches, impacting power lines. If your area has suffered power outages, look out the window for any downed power lines. If you see any power lines in your yard, call your power company immediately.

Next, ensure your carbon monoxide detector is working. Check your pipes, ceilings and walls for any leaks. If stranded in a vehicle during a blizzard, it is important to stay in the vehicle and make the vehicle visible to rescuers. World View. What Damage Do Blizzards Cause? More From Reference. What Is the National Animal of Spain? That kind of force turns ordinary objects like lawn chairs and trash cans into airborne projectiles that smash windows, damage roofs and dent cars.

That same wind velocity tears up loose shingles and peels back flashing. Its force leaves your home vulnerable to water damage ranging from small leaks in the attic to breeches in roofing underlayment. Blizzard conditions also wear down the protective granulation on roof shingles. When things finally begin to thaw out, heavy snow and ice runoff quickly soaks yards and fills up street gutters. The soil around your foundation becomes saturated with moisture that seeps into the basement through small cracks.

In a matter of hours, you have water flooding downstairs. A house without heat sets the scene for frozen burst pipes. Both situations result in extensive water damage. When pipes rupture and sump pumps fail, you need professional water damage cleanup as soon as possible.

We know that you can handle some of these problems on your own, but always be careful. The dangers of cleanup after a blizzard include electrical hazards, backed-up sewage and unstable infrastructure. If you feel like the project is too big or you have any doubts at all about your personal safety, bring in a professional restoration company right away.