On August 13th Ontario’s uncharacteristically dry summer was interrupted by a torrential downpour and extremely high wind. Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of southern Ontario, while Guelph, Erin, Southern Wellington County, Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge were on alert for the possibility of a tornado.
In south Oshawa, a tornado did in fact touch down, shocking residents and leaving destruction in its wake. There were also similar reports in Brampton. The wild weather resulted in a lot of damage to homes and businesses. Basements flooded and shingles were torn from roofs, while windows and even masonry were damaged by falling trees and high winds.
A Homeowner’s Next Steps Following Storm Damage
The first step, after any type of disaster at home should always be to contact your insurance company. They are going to be your best resource, and let you know what to do next. Additionally, not contacting them before taking any further steps could actually have a negative impact on your policy.
Once your insurance company has been contacted, you may then be advised to contact a professional disaster restoration company. Disaster restoration companies are called to deal with numerous different types of calamities in the home. Most often, they deal with water extraction and damage from floods or households incidents, fire damage and wind damage. Some companies can also be called to deal with vandalism or for mold remediation.
Contacting a disaster restoration company should be done as soon after the problem in your home occurs. This is not just for your household’s peace of mind, but also to prevent any future issues with things like mold.
Please Note: While it may be tempting to try and clean up on your own, this really is a place where you don’t want to DIY. Simply leave it to the professionals. When it comes to water damage, there is often more to the problem than the wetness you can see. Even after the water has been extracted, mold and dangerous bacteria can still remain.
How to Select a Disaster Restoration Professional
The key to hiring a reliable restoration professional is the same as with any other home improvement or repair contractor. Do your research! This simply cannot be said enough. To avoid receiving shoddy work or unfair billing practices, you need to visit the websites of at least three companies. Read their service reviews and learn as much as possible about their accreditation, insurance coverage, response time and experience in the field. Most insurance companies will also provide recommendations.
If your home has been impacted by the recent storms, fire, or any other type of disaster, don’t be disheartened. Lean on family and friends to get you through the emotional upheaval and count on the skills and experience of a professional disaster restoration company to put your home back together again.
Browse our listings of disaster recovery professionals to learn more or to request a quote.
