Six Ways Storm Damage Impacts Local Communities

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth highlights the importance of hiring a locally owned and operated damage restoration company to restore flood and storm damage that has devastated a community.

When a natural disaster such as widespread flood and storm damage strikes Fort Worth, TX, people come together and rally around each other even though the area boasts a population of nearly one million residents. Everyone is affected to some degree, and neighbors help neighbors in the cleanup and recovery. SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth, a locally owned and operated property damage restoration company, is there to help.

How does flood and storm damage affect a community like Fort Worth?

Widespread flooding and storms can cause massive upheavals in a community. Here are six ways flood and storm damage affect a community.

1. Physical damage

Severe storms and flooding damage or destroy bridges, roads, homes, and businesses. Recovery may take years. Some homes and businesses will be at a total loss.

2. Psychological trauma

Flood and storm damage victims experience a range of psychological effects, including fear, worry, anxiety, stress, anger, depression, insomnia, and loss of appetite. Neighbors, family, and relief organizations such as the Red Cross offer counseling and support that help victims process and overcome mental trauma.

3. Economic loss

A natural disaster requires a massive response of manpower, machinery, and material, costing millions of dollars. Property damage can exceed billions of dollars. The 1995 Fort Worth Mayfest supercell storm pummeled the area with 4-inch hail, causing over $2 billion in property damages. The economic impact on the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area lasted for years.

Flooded fields and hail damage to crops exert upward pressure on food prices. Severe weather disrupts ethanol production, shuts down refineries, and interrupts the delivery of gasoline and diesel fuel, causing a rise in prices at the pump and economic hardship for consumers.

4. Environmental destruction

Heavy rains and flood waters erode nutrient-rich soil. Some of the forgotten victims of severe weather are wildlife and farm animals. Lakes and rivers are polluted with raw sewage, toxic chemicals, and foreign debris such as cars, household items, and vegetation.

5. Loss of life

Since 2015 in the United States, approximately 100 people are fatally injured annually from flooding. In addition, pets often suffer injury or loss of life during heavy flooding.

6. Damage to homes, businesses, and other buildings

Floodwaters and water intrusion from a damaged roof can impact insulation, drywall, baseboards, HVAC ductwork, and flooring.

Why use a local property damage cleanup and restoration company

When flooding and storm damage happen, secure the services of a reputable, bonded, licensed, and insured property damage company to begin the cleanup and restoration process. Below are six reasons why it is important that the damage restoration solution be provided by local community members.

1. Locally owned and operated

The staff and technicians of a locally owned and operated property damage restoration company not only know the community but are also a part of the community. They live, play, shop, work, and volunteer together as neighbors and friends.

2. Here today and still here for years to come

When a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tropical storm hits a community, fraudsters often descend on neighborhoods to take advantage of vulnerable victims. A down payment is received, but the service provider is never seen again. In some cases, shoddy work is provided, but problems are not discovered until long after the “company” has disappeared. Texas and Florida have some of the toughest regulations in the nation to prevent such scams. The safest and best course of action for a victim of property damage from a natural disaster is to hire a company that is locally owned and operated and plans to continue providing services on a permanent basis. If problems related to the disaster cleanup and restoration arise, the restoration company can still be reached by the homeowner or business. In fact, the company has a brick-and-mortar presence in the community.

3. Experienced

The owners of SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth are new to the SERVPRO family. They have over twenty years of experience in the mortgage banking industry and are no strangers to providing excellent customer service. Their team of IICRC-certified technicians boasts over 15 years of restoration experience, giving SERVPRO customers peace of mind.

4. Performance that can be tracked

Their track record of performance is public and positive. SERVPRO references are local, living and working in the area. An abundance of social media reviews is available for prospective customers to peruse.

5. Invested in the community

The owners and employees are involved in and give back to the communities they serve, including Fort Worth, Keller, and Park Glen.

6. Puts others first

When a large-scale disaster strikes Northeast Fort Worth, the families of the local SERVPRO team are impacted. Still, SERVPRO responds as a frontline property damage cleanup and restoration provider. Being local means team members are nearby. Being a member of a large, nationwide franchise means the local SERVPRO company can scale to meet the cleanup and restoration demands of a major water, fire, smoke, or storm damage disaster.

For more details about Fort Worth, TX, storm damage restoration, email the SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth office at office@SERVPROnortheastftworth.com or call (817) 741-5737.