Our homes are meant to be fortresses that keep us safe from the elements. Unfortunately in some cases, even the most well-built fortifications cannot protect inhabitants from everything. We live in a hostile world complete with natural disasters, break-ins, and unseen threats that all threaten our way of life. Ensuring that your home is covered with an insurance plan in the case of sustained damages is the best way to keep you and your loved ones safe — here are three of the most common issues that threaten homes.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are random, chaotic events that can change lives in the blink of an eye. In many cases, natural disasters are geographically bound to certain areas — for this reason many states, regions, or municipalities are at higher risk for certain types of disasters and can be informed so that they may prepare according with insurance companies. In total, insured losses due to natural disasters in the United States from 2015 totaled in at $16.1 billion — this represents a rise from 2014’s %15.3 billion total. Of these losses, a staggering $1.9 billion was issued due to wildfires; this still represents a decrease from the 10-year average of $2.8 billion per year. In just the past decade, wildfires along the west coast have burned over 80 million acres of land and countless structures along with them. Tornadoes and hurricanes are equally destructive forces with the Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio tornadoes that struck in February of 2016 destroying or damaging over 225 homes and businesses to say nothing of catastrophic disasters such as Hurricane Katrina back in 2005.
Home Water Damage
Floods represent the most widespread natural disaster with the exception of wildfires; in fact 90% of all natural disasters declared by the president of the U.S. involve some kind of flooding. Flash floods are able to bring in walls of water towering from 10 to 20 feet high; most flooding is the result of a poorly waterproofed basement or a damaged foundation. It does not take long for flood damage to set in, as a sheet of drywall sitting in just a half of an inch of water can wick water up to six inches in just a three hour duration. The main component of water damage is the onset of harmful mold which flourishes in moist environments, meaning that drying a flooded area is the number one priority to prevent further damages. Mold removal can be a costly process but ultimately necessary if one still wishes to keep their home — mold cleanup is included among the 20% of all insurance claims that are related to water damage in some way or form.
Health Risks Posed by Asbestos
Asbestos is one six naturally occurring silicate minerals and was used widely for construction purposes as the fibers provided strength without adding much weight. Unfortunately, the harmful effects of asbestos have been known since the 1920s and yet the mineral has been used freely since 1989 in America. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricted the use of asbestos in 1989, although to this day the United States remains one of the few developed countries to not completely ban asbestos. The fibers of the asbestos are the primary health risk for humans who may inhale them without knowing. By having asbestos testing done in your home, you can detect the presence of asbestos in your home and take steps to remove it. With asbestos however, removing it is more harmful than simply covering it up due to the particles that become airborne once the asbestos is disturbed. The best solution is to have asbestos encapsulation done by a certified professional. Asbestos encapsulation chambers are specially designed to remove the asbestos without disturbing it and allowing the particles to go airborne. From there, the asbestos encapsulation process allows the material to be safely disposed of. In order to keep your home a safe, protected place, contact asbestos encapsulation services to have a test done to measure your home’s air quality.