Heavy Snowfall, Extreme Cold Conspiring Against Homes
Feb. 9, 2010 – Much of the United States has experienced record low temperatures and unusually high precipitation amounts this winter, including record-setting snowstorms in the Mid-Atlantic region that have knocked out power to nearly a million homes in several states, collapsed scores of rooftops and killed at least two people.
More than two feet of snow covered the Washington D.C. area over the weekend with more storms predicted for the region. Local officials reported several buildings whose roofs collapsed due to the excessive weight of snow and ice buildup, and downed trees have cut power to about 300,000 Washington D.C.-area residents. Another 300,000 homes in Maryland and Virginia were without power due to the storm, and some 250,000 residents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania also had their power disrupted by the winter weather.
The storm was blamed for at least two deaths in addition to inflicting a great deal of property damage. But the two deaths are not the first claimed by harsh winter weather this year. Officials in Oklahoma last month reported three people killed after winter storms pummeled the Sooner State and its neighbors.
Winters storms are the third most common cause of property damage and inflict about $1 billion in costs each year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Nearly a fourth of all homeowners insurance losses in the United States in 2007 were caused by freezing and water damages.
Most homeowners insurance plans protect against damages commonly caused by winter weather, such as wind damage to homes, burst water pipes, power outages and damages caused by fallen trees. But with record cold temperatures being recorded across the nation, officials at the Insurance Information Institute say homeowners need more than a good insurance plan.
“Everyone should also know how to shut off their home’s water system,” said Michael Barry of the Insurance Information Institute. “If water freezes and pipes burst, time is of the essence to keep damage to a minimum.”
When homes lose their power, the air inside the walls where pipes typically are located is much colder than inside a home’s living areas, making pipes vulnerable to extremely cold weather. To help homeowners prevent costly repairs and potentially serious disruptions to their daily lives, officials at the Insurance Information Institute advise cracking open hot and cold water faucets just enough to allow them to drip slowly. The slight movement of the water helps prevent pipes from freezing and bursting in the event of a power outage.
Homeowners also should clean their gutters and remove any leaves or other debris that might prevent melting snow and ice from flowing away from the home, according to the Insurance Information Institute. When gutters are clogged, melting snow and ice back up and freeze, creating an “ice dam” that eventually grows larger and forces water to seep between shingles and force its way into homes.
Homeowners also should keep all walkways free of ice and snow and keep a sharp eye out for tree limbs that might fall under the weight of ice and snow or from the force of the wind and damage homes, vehicles or other property.