A Ten-Year Review: Unforgettable Weather and Storm Damage Occurrences in the Local Area

2/14/2023 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO® of Northeast Fort Worth reviews extreme weather conditions in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2020.

SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth is available 24/7, 365 days a year, including on those days when the weather has caused a significant storm and flood damage requiring flood restoration services. North Texas experiences a wide range of weather during the year. The normally calm winds, sunny North Texas sky, moderate temperatures, and average precipitation are occasionally interrupted by roaring tornadoes, oppressive 100-degree heat, violent thunderstorms, long periods of drought, and a rare blast of frigid temperatures and snow. Neighborhoods like Scenic Bluff, Fort Worth, TX, are no strangers to periods of wild weather. Below is a survey of eight disruptive and destructive weather events between 2010 and 2020.

#1. February 11-12, 2010: A foot of snow in 24 hours

Abundant moisture from a low-pressure system over North Texas and temperatures that barely crawled above freezing resulted in over a foot of snow in less than a 24-hour period in North Dallas.

#2. February 3-4, 2011: Another major snowstorm hits North Texas

Nearly a year later to the day, another blizzard blanketed the metro area, this time with five inches of snow. School closures, flight cancellations, and a near miss of Super Bowl XLV. A sheet of sleet laid down just before the snow made for treacherous conditions, as whatever snow melted during the daytime refroze in the evening.

#3. Summer 2011: The longest heat streak

This heat streak was just 3 days shy of Ken Jennings’ 74-day winning streak on Jeopardy. North Texas did not receive any cash prizes for the streak, but the utility companies enjoyed a hefty payday. For 71 sweltering days, the temperature climbed above 100 degrees or higher, over three times higher than the usual average. During that time, fifty-five days saw nighttime temperatures stay above 80 degrees.

#4. 2015: The wettest year on record

In 2015, Dallas-Fort Worth flirted with becoming a tropical paradise with 62.61 inches of rain, nearly double the average annual rainfall. May alone recorded almost 17 inches of rain.

#5. December 26, 2015: Turbulent tornadoes tear through North Texas

A tornado is no respecter of seasons and can strike any day of the year if conditions are right. Five days into winter and just one day after Christmas, a dozen twisters ripped a path of destruction through North Texas. The strongest tornado, an EF-4 with 180mph winds, mowed through Garland, Rowlett, and Sunnyvale. Thirteen people lost their lives. Two thousand homes were destroyed.

#6. Fall 2018: The wettest fall on record

Between September and November, Dallas-Fort Worth recorded 29.21 inches of rain, just 7 inches shy of the annual average rainfall. On September 21 and September 22, 8.11 inches of rain fell on the area, the third-most ever in a 24-hour period.

#7. June 9, 2019: Windstorm blows through Dallas

On June 9, a line of thunderstorms generated damaging winds in excess of 70 mph. Hundreds of large trees were toppled, leaving more than 200,000 people without power.

#8. October 20, 2019: An EF-3 tornado blasts Dallas

Eleven tornadoes cut a deadly and destructive swathe through the region that October evening. An EF-3 twister bulldozed a 15-mile path of damage from northwest Dallas to Richardson. Though hundreds of homes were damaged, no lives were lost.

Severe weather events have continued into the 2020s, with the coldest day recorded in 72 years: February 16, 2021. On this day, the thermometer dropped to -2 degrees Fahrenheit and hovered at record-cold temperatures for several days. Thousands of homes suffered water damage from frozen pipes. The power grid collapsed, leaving hundreds of thousands of Texans without electricity. Tragically, many people lost their lives in the brutal cold snap.

What to do when weather-related property damage occurs

Preparation is the key to weathering bad weather. Prepare in advance by putting together an emergency response. A disaster-ready plan ensures that when the power grid collapses, shingles fly off, a tree makes an unexpected entrance through the roof, or flood waters snake their way into the home; everyone knows what to do and who to call for help.

The plan should include the following:

• Supplies: LED flashlights, batteries, weather radios (2), food, water, toiletries, hygiene products, first-aid kits, walkie-talkies, emergency mylar blankets, rain gear, hats, work gloves, zip ties, heavy-duty garbage bags, nitrile gloves, etc.
• Evacuation and meet-up instructions
• Contact information for family members, friends, and neighbors
• Contact information for service providers (HVAC, plumbing, tree service, roofing contractor, electrician, and property damage cleanup and restoration company)

The team at SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth urges homeowners and businesses to pre-qualify dedicated service providers so that when disaster strikes, the response involves only one call to a vetted, trusted plumber, contractor, or restoration company.

The pre-qualification process is vitally important when needing services for storm damage, flood damage, fire damage, smoke damage, or water damage disaster. Rapid response and quick cleanup process are crucial to prevent advanced secondary damage to the disaster scene. Mold can begin in as little as twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Carpeting is typically unsalvageable after one to two days. If carpets and rugs are not immediately dried, cleaned, and disinfected, replacement may be the only option. When vetting a property damage restoration company, look for the following features:

• Locally owned and operated with many years of experience
• Available 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays
• Rapid response (about an hour) and quick cleanup
• Latest equipment, cutting-edge moisture-detecting technology, advanced cleaning techniques, and EPA-approved cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing products
• Competency in fire, smoke, water, mold mitigation, biohazard, crime scene, and suicide cleanup and restoration
• IICRC-certified technicians
• Able to scale to meet the challenges of any size of disaster
• Handles insurance claim process from beginning to end

Being prepared cuts down on headaches, hassles, and recovery time. Life can return to normal.

For more information about storm and flood restoration services, contact SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth, TX, at (817) 741-5737 or email office@SERVPROnortheastftworth.com.