Look Out!

August 19, 2016 8:22 pm Published by Jane Azzinaro

Uh oh, it’s hurricane season again and everyone knows what that means!

The Weather Channel will be gearing up its people to go stand in the wind, rain, beating sand and near death to raise their ratings and bring everyone all of the live action in the middle of the night while we sleep. At least that is how it seems to us anyway.

Living in the Mid Atlantic region means we have to deal with the threat of hurricanes every year from June 1st through November 30th. Some years they never develop or come on shore, some years we get pounded. It seems that every three to four years there is a significant storm that makes landfall in the eastern United States. The remnants move up the coast bringing heavy rain and flooding to the Mid Atlantic region.

The last time we were affected was in 2011 when TWO tropical systems moved through- Irene at the end of August and then, a couple weeks later, the remnants of Lee. This one, two punch caused major flooding and damage to homes and buildings throughout the area.

Hurricanes can produce very heavy rain, which will sometimes follow a dry period in August. In the mid atlantic region the soil is mostly clay, which has shrink and swell characteristics. When the ground dries, the soil will shrink. Have you ever noticed a clay river bed all cracked during a drought? This shrinking will open the capillaries and pull the soil away from home foundations. When the heavy rains come from the hurricane those larger capillaries allow water to move more quickly through the soil and fill the void created by the shrunken soil next to your foundation. This will re-hydrate the soil so quickly that the swelling effect can cause major structural damage to any house’s foundation.

The amount of water from a hurricane can turn a minor dampness problem into a major structural problem overnight. If you have experienced any sign of moisture in your basement or crawlspace, don’t wait until it is too late. Have it looked at by a professional now, before the next major storm rolls through our area. Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing offers a FREE inspection with no obligation to purchase anything. Click here to schedule yours today.

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This post was written by Jane Azzinaro