Our crew heads to PA for a Storm Event!

7/6/2018 (Permalink)

4 man crew from Plymouth, MA successfully takes on another Storm Event in South Hills, PA. (from left to right: Ryan, Nick, Riley and Jay)

South Hills, PA Microburst

On Saturday June 21st, South Hills in PA got hit with a microburst that caused widespread water damage in several of the local homes. One of our crews had just returned from a storm event in Maryland when we heard the news, so the boys weren’t home for long before they packed up the SERVPRO vans again for yet another storm event road trip!

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a microburst as “a violent short-lived localized downdraft that creates extreme wind shears at low altitudes and is usually associated with thunderstorms”. Microbursts are probably of the least acknowledged weather phenomena; however, they can be quite destructive. Wind speeds associated with microbursts can reach up to 100 mpg or higher and are usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter. Unlike tornadoes, microburst winds travel down and outward (and do not rotate). They usually occur during thunderstorms and come with little to no warning.

Most of the damage our crew encountered in the South Hills area was a result of sewage water flooding caused by the microburst. Sewage water is also commonly referred to as Category 3 water or black water. Black water is highly unsanitary, and is known to contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful agents. Black water damage restoration should always be handled by professionals (like us!).

In some cases, homes affected by water damage can be dried out and the materials (such as the carpets and pads) can be salvaged. When it comes to Category 3 water damages, these materials cannot be salvaged and must be torn out, bagged up, and properly disposed of. The home is then treated with anti-microbial agents to ensure harmful microorganisms are killed.

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