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What Makes a Thunderstorm in Ulster County So Dangerous |SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
Thunderstorms should always be taken very seriously and can cause injuries and significant property damage!
Gray clouds, rumbles from the sky, light rain starting. You can almost watch it roll in over the Hudson and across to Highland. We all know this is the beginning of a thunderstorm.
These common storms tend to peak during the spring and summer and can bring with them some serious damage if the conditions are right. Many times the combination of hail, strong winds, lightning and flooding can lead to serious damage to personal and commercial property, as well as impact the lives of the people exposed to the weather.
A thunderstorm is any storm that has thunder and lightning. For it to be identified as a severe thunderstorm, it must contain hail that is at least one inch in diameter and straight-line winds that are (at minimum) 58 miles per hour..
Take a look at some ways that this weather pattern can create hazards so that you can prepare and keep your family, property and pets safe the next time one comes through Ulster County.
Injury and damage due to lightning strikes. Lightning strikes rank at the top of the hazard list for thunderstorms because it is reported that they cause around 300 injuries every year. On top of this, the damage that it can do to property can include house fires or toppling trees that may fall on homes, vehicles or businesses. While you may not see lightning, by definition, it comes with every thunderstorm, so due use caution amidst this possibility.
Hail damage. Not only does hail sound frightening against roofs and windows, it generally does as much damage as it sounds like it could. In severe storms, when the hail is classified as being one inch or larger, there is a chance of serious damage to cars that are not under cover, people and pets who are not adequately protected and very significant damages to roofs and sidings of homes. Given the speed at which hail can fall, it makes this a force to be reckoned with.
Flash flooding. While flooding can be a serious issue for areas that aren’t generally thought of as probable for flooding, flash flooding is common and can happen very quickly. Flash floods can cause many problems any time there is heavy rainfall for a variety of reasons. If a storm drain is clogged and begins to back up or small ditches are filled with water, the rain can turn these things into life-threatening flooding scenarios in the blink of an eye. Roadways should be approached with great caution if there is standing water due to the flooding and drivers should be aware of the possibility of damage to their vehicle if they attempt to cross a flooded roadway.
Additionally, in extreme storm cases- as we saw in April of 2022, flooding can cause ground water to seep into your foundation when it has nowhere else to go. The higher the water in the basement area, the more dangerous it becomes as it gets closer to electrical lines and utilities. Sump pumps and reassessing water drainage paths outside your home can help thwart a very big headache.
While they are common, the severity of a thunderstorm can change depending on the circumstances and could be a cause of notable damage to person and property.
If you experience damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz is on standby and always ready to help.
Our staff is available for emergencies 24/7, faster to any size disaster!