Hurricanes and other similar storms have caused severe damage to many homes in the United States, but have you ever wondered exactly how much destruction they leave in their wake? The answer is a lot. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 28 weather disasters in the U.S. in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in losses exceeding $1 billion. Given that hurricanes are especially common on the East Coast, it’s important to know how to protect your home when disasters such as these happen to strike. Here is a look at the different types of devastation hurricanes cause and how and where to seek storm damage restoration services.

Hurricanes are typically categorized in terms of severity on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing the most destructive storms. Per the NOAA, Category 5 hurricanes are ones that feature winds of 157 miles per hour or higher, destroy homes (including roofs and walls), and cause power outages. For comparison, a Category 1 storm is characterized by winds between 74 and 95 mph, and they only cause minor damage to a home’s roof and siding.

There are two main kinds of destruction that a hurricane causes: wind damage and flood damage. Let’s examine each of these two forms of devastation more closely.

When a hurricane gains a certain degree of force, winds can wreak havoc on homes and other buildings, knock down power lines, and cause trees to fall almost anywhere. Certain objects such as road signs, building materials, and personal possessions (e.g. trampolines, hammocks) left outside can also crash into your home and thus create even more damage.

This is just one reason why you may have been recommended to verify that no trees or landscaping projects on your property constitute a wind hazard. Doors and windows are among the parts of a home that are the most susceptible to damage. However, walls and roofs can also be struck by winds, so don’t hesitate to purchase homeowners’ insurance. Although Hurricane Irma (which affected many states on the East Coast) left Virginia largely unscathed when it made landfall in September 2017, certain parts of the Old Dominion state were hit by the storm. Hurricane Irma was at one point a Category 5 storm and made history with winds of 185 mph.

Hurricanes aren’t simply devastating because of the winds they come with. They can also leave entire regions flooded for days and weeks at a time. According to a 2019 report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), “expected annual economic losses” from damage due to hurricane winds and storm-related flooding amount to $54 billion. Households are forecast to shoulder more than half of these losses ($34 billion).

Flooding due to a hurricane can lead to strong waves. Thus, water can easily enter your home’s basement by knocking down windows. In more extreme cases, your home’s foundations can become damaged. According to Hurricanescience.org, water weighs roughly 1,700 pounds per cubic yard, which means it can severely hurt structures that are not designed to withstand this type of force. Thanks to today’s technology, simulations can be created to show estimates of the extent of the damage to an area that a hurricane can potentially cause.

Speak to the professionals at Monumental Contractors in Chantilly, Virginia to learn more about the benefits of storm damage restoration. We are a family-owned-and-operated contracting company that serves the DC Metro Area. Our business has been built nearly exclusively on client referrals.

Monumental Contractors provides both storm damage and water damage restoration services designed to ensure your home looks good as new after disaster strikes. We offer window board-ups, roof tarping, debris hauling, structural repairs, and siding renovation. Our water damage restoration services are intended to prevent mold from developing due to moisture, which can constitute a health risk for many people.

Monumental’s team boasts experience handling nearly all sources of water damage, including home flooding, basement leaks, frozen pipes, and foundation leaks. We also place huge importance on home inspections and other safety precautions that can ultimately save you a significant amount of time and money. Monumental Contractors is licensed and insured in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Call Monumental Contractors today at (703) 552-9626 or contact us online for more information about our services or to schedule a consultation. Our four core values are quality, accountability, integrity, and respect, and we strive to embody these principles in everything we do.