Storm Events

1/30/2020 (Permalink)

Much like its residents, structures in the Coachella Valley and high desert have seen their fair share of crazy weather events. Whether it be rapid flash floods, intense wind events that kick up dust and debris, or California’s infamous wildfires, the desert communities never have a dull moment in regards to their climate.

Storms are, by nature (pun fully intended), a little bit unpredictable. They have a tendency to change severity, for better or for worse, seemingly in spite of forecasted behavior. Homeowners in high-risk areas like ravines and valleys learn very quickly to practice preventative measures, like sandbagging and tarping leak-prone roofs. They always hope for the best and often time, things work in their favor and everything turns out just fine. Other times, storm systems that were billed as being minor become more intense and dump rain on communities that were not prepared. This is where bigger issues arise.

In September of 2015, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood and severe thunderstorm warning for residents of Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville. The warning was issued at 6:52 PM and by 7:00 PM, the NWS reported that over an inch of rain had fallen in the hour prior. The storm was capable of producing hail the size of a quarter and a potential wind speed of 60 MPH.  By 7:30 PM, residents were reporting hail the size of nickels. This is not uncommon for a severe thunderstorm. What was uncommon was that this storm occurred mere hours after the temperature had peaked at over 100 degrees. A heat advisory was issued simultaneously alongside the severe weather warning.

Sometimes, the weather will throw you curve balls.

The good news is that as more of these types of severe weather events take place, people become more accustomed to preparing their homes to avoid costly loss expenses.

Business owners and tenants are also heavily affected. Many of the structures in the Coachella Valley have remained unchanged for decades, and building compliance codes of yesteryear were nowhere near as stringent as they are today. That, coupled with the passage of time and normal wear and tear, can lead to some big problems. When a residence floods, people are at risk of losing precious keepsakes and expensive personal belongings to water damage. When a business floods, owners are in a race against the clock. Depending on how much time passes, hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars in equipment and records are at an increasing risk of being destroyed. Productivity and profitability comes to a screeching halt until the issue is resolved.

Storms can be spontaneous and unstable, and they sometimes cause a lot of damage. Fortunately, SERVPRO of Hesperia / Apple Valley / Barstow / Twentynine Palms is made up of experienced and trained technicians who are here 24/7, 365 days a year. We are here when you need us, and we will make it "Like it never even happened."