MOLINE, Illinois – The number of homes damaged by heavy rain and storms across the Quad Cities increases after heavy rainfall. Storms rolled through the QC overnight on Monday, August 29, 2016 leaving homeowners with flooded basements and costly roof repairs.
"There are more storm issues with roofs than a normal year," says Allen Nylin, Manager at Service Master by Blaze.
Nylin specializes in home restoration services and has been busy this summer with local homes impacted by storms. On average, ServiceMaster by Blaze sees five to 10 calls a week regarding storm damage issues. During a storm, they see anywhere from 20 to 50 calls.
"There have been several calls a week all summer long. We've had instances where someone's roof was affected and we've walked in and every ceiling in the house was dripping," added Nylin.
When water damage affects a roof, experts also make removing wet insulation in hard to reach areas like attics a top priority.
Basement issues are also a concern. The average water damage per home is around $2,000 to $4,000 thousand dollars. The total homes affected in the area bring in an even heftier price tag.
"I can't imagine the total damage for the Quad Cities, it has to be a big number," sasy Nlyin.
In some extreme cases, storm damage has forced people out of their homes for months at a time.
"Families are displaced and they are trying to find somewhere to go and they have children to take care of," says Nylin.
Experts also advise homeowner to dry out their home after a storm. If they don't, they could face even more damage in the future.
"Make sure you call a professional to help get it all dried out. The last thing you want to deal with is mold down the road," advises Nylin.