Danger from a Thunderstorm

8/1/2024 (Permalink)

There are multiple variables that make thunderstorms dangerous. During a thunderstorm you should seek shelter indoors. Lightning, wind, and hail are things that cause damage due to thunderstorms. If you are outdoors during a storm you should avoid trees, they could fall on you and they attract lightening, so you have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning. Wind can get up to extremely fast gusts. These gusts of wind have the ability to blow telephone lines, cars, and even mobile homes over. Avoid being near trees, telephone lines, and larger trucks and semis during storms. If it is possible you should try to get to the nearest shelter, even if it is just a gas station it is preferred over a car. Cars are safer than being outdoors. If you are in a car try to park away from trees and telephone poles. For more information on thunderstorm safety

Storm Damage Safety

8/1/2024 (Permalink)

If there is a high wind storm and a tree gets blown over on to your home, what do you do?

First, and most importantly, make sure  that you and your family are safe. Do not try and get on the roof to assess the damage, just give SERVPRO a call to come and check everything out. Leave it for the professionals. 

Next, call your insurance company. For yourself, it is important to know what kind of coverage you will receive from your insurance company. But it is also important for SERVPRO to know because otherwise we cannot give you a proper estimate and let you know how much you will have to pay. 

The most important thing about this situation is knowing this information before something like this happens to your home! 

What makes hail?

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather. In Iowa in 2017 there was 14.31 million dollars’ worth of property damage and a whopping 37.20 dollars’ worth of crop damage. If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.

Lightning!

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

Lightning is a very cool thing to watch. When you watch it, it should be indoors though. National Geographic says that the average American has a 1 in 5,000 chance of being hit by lightning, but 9/10 people survive a lightning strike. Cars and homes/buildings are the safest spots to be when lightning storms are in the area. They have conductors, such as tires and/or metal rods, that can safely transfer the lightning to the ground.  The most common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning. This lightning  strikes the ground around 100 times a second. Each bolt contains up to one billion bolts of electricity. Remember, when lightning is in the area you need to stay inside a building or a car to stay safe.

Hail Damage

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

Do you know how hail happens? When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather.  If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.  If you are unfortunate enough to of had hail damage call SERVPRO of Cedar Rapids to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Tornado Season

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.  To reduce your chance of being injured, here are some helpful tips. The first thing you need to do is be alert and aware of the weather. If its thunder storming and very windy out, you should take shelter indoors and turn on the news for weather alerts. The news is a good source to find out if there is a tornado watch or warning. When there is a tornado watch, you should be looking out for tornadoes in your area. When there is a tornado warning, you should immediately go to your safe room, a basement, or room with no windows. If you are unable to take shelter, go to a low point outside like a ditch. For more information on tornadoes click here

Storm Damage Safety

8/3/2023 (Permalink)

If there is a high wind storm and a tree gets blown over on to your home, what do you do?

First, and most importantly, make sure  that you and your family are safe. Do not try and get on the roof to assess the damage, just give SERVPRO a call to come and check everything out. Leave it for the professionals. 

Next, call your insurance company. For yourself, it is important to know what kind of coverage you will receive from your insurance company. But it is also important for SERVPRO to know because otherwise we cannot give you a proper estimate and let you know how much you will have to pay. 

The most important thing about this situation is knowing this information before something like this happens to your home! 

Danger from a thunderstorm

8/2/2023 (Permalink)

There are multiple variables that make thunderstorms dangerous. During a thunderstorm you should seek shelter indoors. Lightning, wind, and hail are things that cause damage due to thunderstorms. If you are outdoors during a storm you should avoid trees, they could fall on you and they attract lightening, so you have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning. Wind can get up to extremely fast gusts. These gusts of wind have the ability to blow telephone lines, cars, and even mobile homes over. Avoid being near trees, telephone lines, and larger trucks and semis during storms. If it is possible you should try to get to the nearest shelter, even if it is just a gas station it is preferred over a car. Cars are safer than being outdoors. If you are in a car try to park away from trees and telephone poles. For more information on thunderstorm safety 

What makes hail?

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather. In Iowa in 2017 there was 14.31 million dollars’ worth of property damage and a whopping 37.20 dollars’ worth of crop damage. If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.

Lightning!

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

Lightning is a very cool thing to watch. When you watch it, it should be indoors though. National Geographic says that the average American has a 1 in 5,000 chance of being hit by lightning, but 9/10 people survive a lightning strike. Cars and homes/buildings are the safest spots to be when lightning storms are in the area. They have conductors, such as tires and/or metal rods, that can safely transfer the lightning to the ground.  The most common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning. This lightning  strikes the ground around 100 times a second. Each bolt contains up to one billion bolts of electricity. Remember, when lightning is in the area you need to stay inside a building or a car to stay safe.

Hail Damage

7/3/2023 (Permalink)

Do you know how hail happens? When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather.  If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.  If you are unfortunate enough to of had hail damage call SERVPRO of Cedar Rapids to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Tornado Season

7/3/2023 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.  To reduce your chance of being injured, here are some helpful tips. The first thing you need to do is be alert and aware of the weather. If its thunder storming and very windy out, you should take shelter indoors and turn on the news for weather alerts. The news is a good source to find out if there is a tornado watch or warning. When there is a tornado watch, you should be looking out for tornadoes in your area. When there is a tornado warning, you should immediately go to your safe room, a basement, or room with no windows. If you are unable to take shelter, go to a low point outside like a ditch. For more information on tornadoes click here

Danger from a Thunderstorm

8/9/2021 (Permalink)

There are multiple variables that make thunderstorms dangerous. During a thunderstorm you should seek shelter indoors. Lightning, wind, and hail are things that cause damage due to thunderstorms. If you are outdoors during a storm you should avoid trees, they could fall on you and they attract lightening, so you have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning. Wind can get up to extremely fast gusts. These gusts of wind have the ability to blow telephone lines, cars, and even mobile homes over. Avoid being near trees, telephone lines, and larger trucks and semis during storms. If it is possible you should try to get to the nearest shelter, even if it is just a gas station it is preferred over a car. Cars are safer than being outdoors. If you are in a car try to park away from trees and telephone poles. For more information on thunderstorm safety 

Storm Damage Safety

8/9/2021 (Permalink)

If there is a high wind storm and a tree gets blown over on to your home, what do you do?

First, and most importantly, make sure  that you and your family are safe. Do not try and get on the roof to assess the damage, just give SERVPRO a call to come and check everything out. Leave it for the professionals. 

Next, call your insurance company. For yourself, it is important to know what kind of coverage you will receive from your insurance company. But it is also important for SERVPRO to know because otherwise we cannot give you a proper estimate and let you know how much you will have to pay. 

The most important thing about this situation is knowing this information before something like this happens to your home! 

Hail Damage

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

Do you know how hail happens? When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather.  If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.  If you are unfortunate enough to of had hail damage call SERVPRO of Cedar Rapids to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Tornado Season

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.  To reduce your chance of being injured, here are some helpful tips. The first thing you need to do is be alert and aware of the weather. If its thunder storming and very windy out, you should take shelter indoors and turn on the news for weather alerts. The news is a good source to find out if there is a tornado watch or warning. When there is a tornado watch, you should be looking out for tornadoes in your area. When there is a tornado warning, you should immediately go to your safe room, a basement, or room with no windows. If you are unable to take shelter, go to a low point outside like a ditch. For more information on tornadoes click here

What makes hail?

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather. In Iowa in 2017 there was 14.31 million dollars’ worth of property damage and a whopping 37.20 dollars’ worth of crop damage. If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.

Lightning!

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

Lightning is a very cool thing to watch. When you watch it, it should be indoors though. National Geographic says that the average American has a 1 in 5,000 chance of being hit by lightning, but 9/10 people survive a lightning strike. Cars and homes/buildings are the safest spots to be when lightning storms are in the area. They have conductors, such as tires and/or metal rods, that can safely transfer the lightning to the ground.  The most common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning. This lightning  strikes the ground around 100 times a second. Each bolt contains up to one billion bolts of electricity. Remember, when lightning is in the area you need to stay inside a building or a car to stay safe.

Storm Damage Safety

8/4/2020 (Permalink)

If there is a high wind storm and a tree gets blown over on to your home, what do you do?

First, and most importantly, make sure  that you and your family are safe. Do not try and get on the roof to assess the damage, just give SERVPRO a call to come and check everything out. Leave it for the professionals. 

Next, call your insurance company. For yourself, it is important to know what kind of coverage you will receive from your insurance company. But it is also important for SERVPRO to know because otherwise we cannot give you a proper estimate and let you know how much you will have to pay. 

The most important thing about this situation is knowing this information before something like this happens to your home! 

Danger from a Thunderstorm

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

There are multiple variables that make thunderstorms dangerous. During a thunderstorm you should seek shelter indoors. Lightning, wind, and hail are things that cause damage due to thunderstorms. If you are outdoors during a storm you should avoid trees, they could fall on you and they attract lightening, so you have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning. Wind can get up to extremely fast gusts. These gusts of wind have the ability to blow telephone lines, cars, and even mobile homes over. Avoid being near trees, telephone lines, and larger trucks and semis during storms. If it is possible you should try to get to the nearest shelter, even if it is just a gas station it is preferred over a car. Cars are safer than being outdoors. If you are in a car try to park away from trees and telephone poles. For more information on thunderstorm safety 

Hail Damage

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Do you know how hail happens? When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather.  If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.  If you are unfortunate enough to of had hail damage call SERVPRO of Cedar Rapids to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Tornado Season

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.  To reduce your chance of being injured, here are some helpful tips. The first thing you need to do is be alert and aware of the weather. If its thunder storming and very windy out, you should take shelter indoors and turn on the news for weather alerts. The news is a good source to find out if there is a tornado watch or warning. When there is a tornado watch, you should be looking out for tornadoes in your area. When there is a tornado warning, you should immediately go to your safe room, a basement, or room with no windows. If you are unable to take shelter, go to a low point outside like a ditch. For more information on tornadoes click here

What makes hail?

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather. In Iowa in 2017 there was 14.31 million dollars’ worth of property damage and a whopping 37.20 dollars’ worth of crop damage. If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.

Lightning!

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Lightning is a very cool thing to watch. When you watch it, it should be indoors though. National Geographic says that the average American has a 1 in 5,000 chance of being hit by lightning, but 9/10 people survive a lightning strike. Cars and homes/buildings are the safest spots to be when lightning storms are in the area. They have conductors, such as tires and/or metal rods, that can safely transfer the lightning to the ground.  The most common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning. This lightning  strikes the ground around 100 times a second. Each bolt contains up to one billion bolts of electricity. Remember, when lightning is in the area you need to stay inside a building or a car to stay safe.

What makes hail and how to stay safe

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather. In Iowa in 2017 there was 14.31 million dollars’ worth of property damage and a whopping 37.20 dollars’ worth of crop damage. If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.

Lightning Storms

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

Lightning is a very cool thing to watch. When you watch it, it should be indoors though. National Geographic says that the average American has a 1 in 5,000 chance of being hit by lightning, but 9/10 people survive a lightning strike. Cars and homes/buildings are the safest spots to be when lightning storms are in the area. They have conductors, such as tires and/or metal rods, that can safely transfer the lightning to the ground.  The most common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning. This lightning  strikes the ground around 100 times a second. Each bolt contains up to one billion bolts of electricity. Remember, when lightning is in the area you need to stay inside a building or a car to stay safe.

Tornado Season!

7/3/2019 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.  To reduce your chance of being injured, here are some helpful tips. The first thing you need to do is be alert and aware of the weather. If its thunder storming and very windy out, you should take shelter indoors and turn on the news for weather alerts. The news is a good source to find out if there is a tornado watch or warning. When there is a tornado watch, you should be looking out for tornadoes in your area. When there is a tornado warning, you should immediately go to your safe room, a basement, or room with no windows. If you are unable to take shelter, go to a low point outside like a ditch. For more information on tornadoes click here

When a Tree Falls on Your House

7/24/2018 (Permalink)

If there is a high wind storm and a tree gets blown over on to your home, what do you do?

First, and most importantly, make sure  that you and your family are safe. Do not try and get on the roof to assess the damage, just give SERVPRO a call to come and check everything out. Leave it for the professionals. 

Next, call your insurance company. For yourself, it is important to know what kind of coverage you will receive from your insurance company. But it is also important for SERVPRO to know because otherwise we cannot give you a proper estimate and let you know how much you will have to pay. 

The most important thing about this situation is knowing this information before something like this happens to your home! 

Tornadoes Terrorize Marshalltown, Pella, and Bondurant

7/20/2018 (Permalink)

Last night (July 19, 2018) three towns in particular had a bad run in with a few tornadoes. There have been images online of homes and commercial buildings torn apart because of them. This is such a devastating time and the pictures and videos are very saddening. A historical clock tower in Marshalltown that stood for around 100 years was torn down as well, there is a video floating around online of it being ripped off of the main structure. Although this is a terrible event, we have heard of all of the communities coming together to help rebuild their city. We send our thoughts and prayers to the people in these towns, tornadoes can truly break down a city but we know that the people of these towns will come back better than ever.

How does hail happen?

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

When rain drops get carried high into the atmosphere where it is very cold they freeze and then come hurling down as hail. According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage whether it is crops, buildings, or cars. NOAA also has state by state information on damages due to hazardous weather. In Iowa in 2017 there was 14.31 million dollars’ worth of property damage and a whopping 37.20 dollars’ worth of crop damage. If you get caught in a hail storm seek shelter immediately. If you are in a car pull over to the side of the road, try to find a safe place under a bridge to protect yourself and your car. If you are inside stay away from windows.

Facts about lightning

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Lightning is a very cool thing to watch. When you watch it, it should be indoors though. National Geographic says that the average American has a 1 in 5,000 chance of being hit by lightning, but 9/10 people survive a lightning strike. Cars and homes/buildings are the safest spots to be when lightning storms are in the area. They have conductors, such as tires and/or metal rods, that can safely transfer the lightning to the ground.  The most common type of lightning is cloud-to-ground lightning. This lightning  strikes the ground around 100 times a second. Each bolt contains up to one billion bolts of electricity. Remember, when lightning is in the area you need to stay inside a building or a car to stay safe.

Tornado Awareness

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, and should not be taken lightly. In 2017, Iowa had 55 Tornadoes resulting in 6 injuries. To reduce your chance of being one of those 6 people in 2018, here are some helpful tips. The first thing you need to do is be alert and aware of the weather. If its thunder storming and very windy out, you should take shelter indoors and turn on the news for weather alerts. The news is a good source to find out if there is a tornado watch or warning. When there is a tornado watch, you should be looking out for tornadoes in your area. When there is a tornado warning, you should immediately go to your safe room, a basement, or room with no windows. If you are unable to take shelter, go to a low point outside like a ditch. For more information on tornadoes click here

Thunderstorm Knowledge

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

There are multiple variables that make thunderstorms dangerous. During a thunderstorm you should seek shelter indoors. Lightning, wind, and hail are things that cause damage due to thunderstorms. If you are outdoors during a storm you should avoid trees, they could fall on you and they attract lightening, so you have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning. Wind can get up to extremely fast gusts. These gusts of wind have the ability to blow telephone lines, cars, and even mobile homes over. Avoid being near trees, telephone lines, and larger trucks and semis during storms. If it is possible you should try to get to the nearest shelter, even if it is just a gas station it is preferred over a car. Cars are safer than being outdoors. If you are in a car try to park away from trees and telephone poles. For more information on thunderstorm safety click here.