Protecting Your Home from Severe Thunderstorms: Mitigating the Risk of Wind, Hail, and Lightning Damage

While we can’t control the weather, we can take significant steps to protect our homes and loved ones from the impacts of severe thunderstorms. 

Extreme weather is becoming more common across the United States, and the Chicagoland region is particularly vulnerable to impacts from climate hazards due to poor stormwater infrastructure, concrete density, and the increasing volatility of Lake Michigan.

As an Illinois homeowner, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect your property and minimize potential losses. Let’s take a closer look at how implementing some forward-thinking measures around your home, regular preventative maintenance, and staying vigilant can help you keep your family and treasured belongings safe.

Understanding the Threats from Severe Storms

Ominous weather systems can pose a variety of hazards for residents of the Chicago and Upper Midwest regions, which are subject to extremely cold air masses from the far north, and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a wide range of both temperature and precipitation extremes. 

Before diving into protective strategies, it’s essential to understand the specific risks of violent storms:

• Wind: High winds from thunderstorms, often accompanied by gusts over 50 mph, can tear off shingles, topple trees, and send debris flying into windows and walls.
• Hail: Hailstones can range in size from peas to golf balls or larger. They can dent vehicles, shatter windows, and cause significant damage to siding and roofing materials.
• Lightning: A single lightning strike can spark fires, damage electrical systems, and even cause injury to occupants if the proper precautions aren’t taken.
• Heavy/ extreme precipitation: Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches or more can fall quickly during a major weather event, overloading storm drains and causing localized urban flooding.
• Tornados: In July of 2024, Chicagoland and northwest Indiana saw widespread damage after a strong storm unleashed at least 11 twisters in the region.

Each of these dangers requires different strategies for mitigation. Let’s break down the best ways to safeguard your property against wind, hail, and lightning.

Fortifying Your Home’s Exterior

Taking steps to protect your home before a storm hits can significantly reduce the risk of damage and keep your household safe. 

Roofing and Siding

Start by reinforcing your roof, which is your home’s first line of defense against the elements. Shingles or tiles can easily be lifted by strong winds, creating openings for water to enter your home. 

Regularly inspect for loose or damaged shingles, reinforce roof sheathing with additional nails or extra-strength construction adhesive, and consider utilizing impact-resistant roofing materials rated for high winds and hail.

Installing hurricane straps or clips can also help secure your roof to the house frame, reducing the risk of wind damage. Inspect your home’s siding for any loose or damaged sections. Repair or replace as necessary to maintain a strong barrier against wind and water infiltration. Fiber cement siding or engineered wood products offer excellent protection and longevity.

Landscaping

Trees and flying yard debris are common causes of wind damage. A fallen branch or tree can crash into your home, causing structural damage and breaking windows. 

Trim back branches that are too close to your house, and consider removing any trees that are dead, diseased, or at risk of falling during a storm. Prune trees and remove dead branches, and don’t forget to check your outdoor lighting and move patio furniture and potted plants to a protected area.

If you have young/ vulnerable trees with weaker root systems, you may want to consider staking them when a storm approaches to provide additional support. Fresh mulch around trees and shrubs improves drainage and moves water away from buildings.

Focus on securing exterior features to minimize potential projectiles and fortify weak points. 

Drainage

Preventing water accumulation during heavy rains is essential to avoiding flooding in your home. Regularly clean gutters and downspouts, grade your landscape to direct water away from your foundation, and you may want to invest in a French drain or dry well for problem areas.

Guarding Against Lightning Strikes

Lightning strikes are relatively rare but can have devastating consequences. They can cause house fires, fry electrical wiring, and destroy electronics and major appliances.

A lightning protection system is designed to direct lightning strikes safely into the ground, preventing the bolt from damaging your home. This system includes air terminals, conductors, grounds, and surge suppressors that work together to channel the electrical current away from your home. 

Only experienced and reputable lightning protection contractors listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and certified by the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) should install these systems. 

If you know a thunderstorm is imminent, unplugging appliances and electronics can be a simple but effective way to avoid damage from lightning surges. This includes items such as televisions, computers, chargers, and anything else that is plugged into the electrical system.

Prepare for Impact

Hailstones can vary in size from small pebbles to golf balls or even larger. These dense, icy pellets can dent siding, wreck automobiles, and severely damage roofs, leading to moisture intrusion and other long-term issues if left unaddressed.

Windows are another weak point when hail strikes. Traditional glass can easily shatter under the pressure of hefty hailstones, but storm shutters or impact-resistant windows provide an extra layer of protection. These solutions not only help defend against hail but can also mitigate wind and debris damage during severe storms.

If possible, park your vehicles in a garage or under a carport during severe weather. For those without covered parking, you may want to use hail protection blankets designed for vehicles.

Plan Ahead

Protecting your home from increasingly extreme weather requires a multifaceted approach combining structural reinforcements, regular maintenance, and smart preparation. 

Review your homeowner’s insurance policy annually to ensure you have adequate coverage for storm-related damages. Talk to your agent about additional riders for specific risks like water damage or sewer backup if needed. Remember, standard homeowners’ insurance policies DO NOT cover flooding.

Be sure to thoroughly document your home’s contents and condition with photos or videos, storing this information in a safe, off-site location or cloud storage. Take advantage of modern technology to stay ahead of severe weather, and develop and practice an emergency plan with your family.

In the unfortunate event that your home does sustain damage from a severe thunderstorm, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professional disaster recovery specialists at PuroClean of Evanston!