Extraction, drying and cleanup for water damage from heavy rain, wind, hail and tornadoes, with board-up and tarping when the building envelope is compromised.
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Storm damage is rapid and widespread: water enters through roof damage, broken windows, or a collapsed wall. The technician pumps standing water, stabilizes the building with board-up and tarping if needed, maps moisture through the structure and dries everything under daily readings.
The Brandywine area has seen documented severe weather: Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 brought intense rain and spawned tornadoes in nearby counties, and the La Plata tornado in April 2002 crossed southern Maryland on a 64-mile path. Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the most frequent water hazard, but wind, hail and tornadoes do strike.
When a storm tears a roof, blows a window out, or collapses a wall, water enters fast and everywhere at once. The first priority is to stop the water from entering further by tarping the roof or boarding the windows. The second is to extract standing water and document what is damaged. Drying starts immediately while other damage is being assessed.
Storm damage is often a multi-trade job. The roofer repairs the roof, a carpenter repairs structural damage, and the technician handles the water extraction, drying and moisture management. All three coordinate so that drying can proceed while repairs are being scheduled.
Do not attempt to climb on a damaged roof to assess damage or to place a tarp; wait for a professional. Do not enter a building with structural damage (a leaning wall, a sagging ceiling, or visible separation at roof and wall) without a structural engineer's approval. Do not touch downed power lines or water that may be in contact with them. Do not wade into standing water if you do not know its source or if it is from an external flood; it may be contaminated. Call (833) 490-5225 from a safe location.
A leak from a storm develops immediately if the roof or windows are compromised. Water enters the attic and the spaces behind walls. The damage spreads quickly because the rain continues as long as the opening is there. Tarping the roof is the first priority.
Shingles are torn or blown off, flashing is separated, or siding is punctured or dented. Hail opens the roof membrane. These damage events happen fast and the water damage follows. The roof has to be tarped immediately to stop further water entry.
Windows are blown in, walls are partially collapsed, or the roof is torn completely off. Water enters through multiple openings. Immediate board-up and tarping are needed to create a safe, weather-protected space for the drying work to proceed.
Water rises rapidly and enters the building through every opening: windows, doors, any low points. The water carries silt and sediment. This is a different problem from a roof or window leak because the water is contaminated and the volume is large.
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Storm damage usually involves damage to the building itself as well as water damage. A roof is open, a window is broken, or a wall is compromised. The building envelope has to be repaired before the structure can dry. Regular water damage from a burst pipe or a sump failure does not usually involve structural damage.
In a storm event, the technician focuses on stopping the water from entering further (tarping, board-up) and drying what is already wet. Meanwhile, the roofer and carpenter are called to repair the building. These work in parallel.
The drying work can proceed while repairs are being scheduled, so the water damage is mitigated while the permanent repairs are arranged.
As soon as the weather permits. While it is still storming, tarping is dangerous and not safe. Once the wind and rain slow, a tarp should be placed within hours to prevent more water from entering. Every hour the opening exists is another chance for rain to soak the building.
A temporary tarp is a short-term solution; the roof still needs to be repaired by a roofer. The technician arranges the tarp as an emergency stabilization step. The roofer then schedules the permanent repair.
Most sudden, violent weather damage is covered by homeowners insurance: wind, hail, and damage from severe storms. Flood damage is excluded unless you have flood insurance. Check with your insurer immediately after the storm.
Report the loss early, photograph the damage from the outside and inside before anything moves, and keep documentation of the water level and the extent of the wet area. Your insurer will send an adjuster and will coordinate with the contractors.
The damage restoration technician, the roofer and other contractors may work for a network that works with your insurer, or they may be contractors of your choice. Know your policy before a storm happens.
Board-up is temporary plywood or metal panels placed over broken windows, missing doors or wall openings to protect the interior from weather and intruders. It is needed when windows are broken and it will take days or weeks to get replacement windows. It protects the building while repairs are being arranged.
Board-up is a temporary measure only. The permanent repair is new windows, doors or siding. The board-up protects the building, keeps the security intact, and allows drying work to proceed inside the sealed space.
It depends on the extent of the damage and how much insulation and framing got wet. A light wind-and-rain damage might dry in a few days once the roof or window is closed. A severe event that opened a whole section of the building and saturated insulation can take weeks.
Daily moisture readings show the progress. Once the building envelope is closed, drying proceeds much faster. The technician monitors readings until the structure reaches the baseline dry target for the unaffected part of the building.
Do not assume the building is dry just because it feels normal. The readings are the proof; nothing is sealed, rebuilt or painted until those readings reach the target.
The technician photographs the damage from the outside and inside. If the roof is open, a temporary tarp is placed to stop rain from entering further. If windows are broken, board-up may be needed. Electrical hazards are identified and the power to the affected area is turned off if necessary.
Standing water is extracted immediately. The depth is measured at multiple points and photographs are taken of the water line on the walls, the debris, and the extent of the damage. This documentation is the loss record for your insurer.
Any damage to the walls, roof or structural framing is documented. If insulation is exposed or if the structure is unstable, a structural engineer may be needed. The technician notes all damage for the insurance adjuster.
Air movers and dehumidifiers are distributed to all affected areas, including any closed cavities. Moisture readings are taken throughout the building to establish baseline drying targets. The humidity is measured to guide dehumidification strategy.
The roofer schedules roof repair, the carpenter schedules structural repairs, and the technician continues drying and monitoring. Once the building envelope is closed (roof repaired, windows replaced), drying can proceed more efficiently. The drying timeline and the repair timeline may overlap.
The Brandywine area has seen regional storms with documented impacts. Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 brought intense rain and spawned tornadoes in nearby St. Mary's and Calvert counties. The La Plata tornado in April 2002 crossed southern Maryland on a severe path and caused significant roof and structural damage.
Summer thunderstorms are the most frequent severe weather in the Brandywine area. These can bring heavy rain that overwhelms drainage, hail that opens roofs and damages siding, and wind that tears shingles and flashing. A technician stationed in the area can respond quickly when storms hit.
After any severe weather event, inspect your roof and the exterior for damage even if no water entered. A missing shingle or a loose flashing will let water in on the next rain. Early repair prevents larger water damage later.
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Pumping and extraction of standing water in Brandywine basements and commercial spaces, with the wet area documented as the water empties.
Monitored drying equipment, daily moisture readings and humidity control to dry framing, insulation and contents after water damage.
Mold removal, containment and treatment for visible mold on framing, insulation and contents, with humidity control to prevent regrowth.
Two storms in Southern Maryland left a record that matters for water damage: an F4 tornado, first rated F5, that passed through La Plata on April 28, 2002, and Tropical Storm Isaias on August 4, 2020, which brought heavy rain, closed roads in La Plata and spawned tornadoes in nearby counties..
Only if you can do so safely. Take photographs of the damage from the outside before anything else. If water is entering, place a bucket under the leak to collect water and prevent it from spreading. Do not climb on a roof or go into a damaged attic. Call (833) 490-5225 immediately for professional help.
Call your insurer immediately to report the loss. They will advise you on how to proceed and may recommend contractors. The insurer will send an adjuster. Document everything with photos and keep a list of what is damaged. The technician and the adjuster can then work together.
It varies with the extent of the openings. A temporary tarp on a roof opening might be a few hundred dollars; full board-up of multiple windows might be more. The cost is part of the storm damage claim. Discuss it with your insurer; they may have contractors they work with.
Short-term yes, if there is no structural danger and the mold risk is managed with dehumidification. Long-term no; you should wait for the drying to be complete. Humidity above 50% over an extended time creates mold risk. A dehumidifier helps manage the space while repairs are ongoing.
Be cautious. Most reputable contractors will wait for the insurance adjuster to visit and document the loss, then bill the insurer directly. Get estimates in writing and confirm the payment terms before work begins. Your insurer can advise on proper contractor selection.
Board-up and tarping are the first steps. Dehumidifiers should run to manage humidity. Remove wet contents if possible and move valuable items to safe locations. Do not assume the building is ready for habitation until the drying is complete and no mold is visible.
Yes, and you should. Drying can start immediately after extraction even if the roof is only temporarily tarped and permanent repairs have not been scheduled. The faster the structure dries, the lower the mold risk and the less additional damage occurs.