This makes the house storm-proof
Created: 05/19/2022, 02:18 p.m
One risk factor is old storm damage that has not yet been repaired.
Just on the roof.
© Marijan Murat/dpa/dpa-tmn
The German Weather Service expects "extreme storms" with thunderstorms, hail and storms for Friday.
There are also “ideal conditions” for tornadoes.
This is how you prepare yourself and your house for it.
Berlin - A lot of damage caused by thunderstorms and storms on the house can be prevented - or at least reduced.
A few simple steps often help to avoid unnecessary wind damage.
Close windows, roller blinds and shutters
It makes sense to close the shutters during a storm.
However, they have to be completely closed - or it is better to leave the shutters completely open, advises Prof. Norbert Gebbeken, structural engineer and president of the Bavarian Chamber of Engineers.
Half position is not an option.
"Because otherwise the wind would penetrate between the half-closed shutters and the window and push the roller shutters out of the guide." The expert also advises closing all windows and doors - even in the basement.
Put away what's loose
It's often not the deep-rooted trees that fall in the storm and cause damage.
They are loose objects - lying around and can become projectiles in a storm.
Even the empty flower pot on the balcony parapet or a small garden shovel lying around can take off and hit houses with great force and smash windows.
Therefore, before a storm, the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center recommends cleaning up even small items in a seemingly banal manner.
The German Weather Service warns of "extreme storms" with thunderstorms, hail and storms for Friday.
© Armin Weigel/dpa/dpa-tmn
And: Secure your rubbish bin and, under certain circumstances, park your car.
It should not be under tall trees or near houses.
Falling branches or roof tiles could damage the car.
Fasten whatever is loose to the house
For example, gusts of wind can tear off canopies, gutters, window shutters, balcony railings and awnings if they are not sufficiently fastened or have become loose over the years.
Of course, these parts cannot be dismantled before every storm, according to the NRW consumer advice center.
But you can save them.
For example, the window shutters thanks to stable anchoring of the hinges.
Now there is still time to check this and, if necessary, to drive to the hardware store.
Eliminate old vulnerabilities
One risk factor is old storm damage that has not yet been repaired.
Strong winds can cause loose roof tiles, shingles or paneling on dormers and gables to fall.
Not all of it can perhaps be secured in a hurry.
But what you can do: clear a rain gutter clogged with leaves and debris from the last storm.
It overflows in heavy rain and damages the facade.
Check backflow flaps
During a thunderstorm, large amounts of rain can fall in a short time - this is referred to as heavy rain.
Soil and sewerage have trouble absorbing this amount of water, so water can seep into the home through the drains.
During a thunderstorm, large amounts of rain can fall in a short time - this is referred to as heavy rain.
© Silas Stein/dpa/dpa-tmn
A backwater flap, which is even mandatory in some places, closes the pipes from below.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) advises that their functionality should be checked again in the event of a corresponding weather warning.
Remove problematic substances from the basement
Even if you understandably want to concentrate on what is close to your heart - such as saving your beloved photo albums - you should first take care of potential dangers in the house when there is a possible heavy rain warning.
So you should clear out everything that is possible in the particularly endangered areas.
According to the BBK, this applies in particular to hazardous substances and chemicals such as petrol and oil, pesticides, but also paints.
These should not get into the water, if that happens, the fire brigade has to come to the disposal.
This also means that the fuel oil tank must be secured against buoyancy.
If necessary, it should be anchored to the wall or weighed down with ballast.
A simple tip is also the basic rearrangement of the basement: Many objects can survive a few centimeters of water, so they should not be on the floor but on higher shelves.
This also applies to electrical devices that can stand on pedestals, for example.
turn off power
In the rooms that are most likely to be flooded in heavy rain, electrical devices and the heating should be disconnected from the power supply.
When the worst comes to the worst, flip the circuit breaker for the entire house.
Because if there is a short circuit in the water, it is a deadly danger later when cleaning up.
And prevents you from being able to react quickly.
Because before the flooded rooms can be entered and at least a few things can be saved, the fire brigade or energy supplier must first be called.
That costs valuable time.
more on the subject
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Above all, you should know that even fuses that normally protect against electric shocks are usually no longer effective after they have come into contact with water.
That explains the initiative Elektro+, an association of the electrical industry.
You can read the current warning situation report from the German Weather Service here.
(http://dpaq.de/553O4) dpa
