Mudslides are forces of nature that can ruin your home or business. See the different ways to protect your property beforehand and prepare your family for the worst
With the weather patterns this summer ushering in hotter, drier and windier conditions and drying out vegetation, brush fires have been and continue to be a constant threat. With the recent fires, residents in several areas in Riverside County have been ordered to evacuate due to the closeness of fires to their homes.
And these fires have already affected thousands of acres of hillside, charring them and leaving them bare of vegetation.
While the fires are a threat themselves already, the resulting destruction of vegetation also brings forth another looming danger - mudslides. With trees and bushes destroyed across vast areas, there’s no plant life to contain flooding and mud. In such conditions, even a little bit of rainfall can trigger a mudslide.
If you live in an area where mudslides are likely to occur, what can you do to prevent or lessen the threat of mudslide damage? Keep in mind that these precautions are what you can do ahead of time.
If a mudslide threatens your home or property, you should listen to authorities and evacuate immediately.
This is the most basic but long term way you can prevent a mudslide on a slope. This works best on slopes that are not too steep and more importantly, if you have not observed any movement yet.
The roots of trees and plants have the ability to absorb excess water while keeping loose soil from running down slopes. However, it is important to keep these facts below in mind:
As an alternative to planting vegetation, sturdy retaining walls can help prevent mudslides from becoming worse. They can also help water flow away from your home or building protecting it from flood damage.
A word of caution though. Weak walls are no match for the powerful force of a mudslide. It is important to use materials rated to handle excessive forces. Weak retaining walls may increase damage should they be swept away.
The recommended materials to use are masonry, stone, brick or steel. To add stability, drainage materials behind the wall are likewise recommended.
Properly constructed channels or pathways that divert debris away from structures may also help prevent or lessen mudslide damage. However, it is important to carefully plan where the debris flow lands.
It is possible to get a geological survey of your property to determine flow direction around the home or building to ensure that the diverted mudslide does not end up on somebody else’s property. In worst case scenarios, home owners could be held liable for any damage or loss of life that carelessly routed channels cause.
These are temporary solutions and work best to stop smaller mudslides from getting into your property. Straw wattles allow water to pass through while stopping soil and are better alternatives for larger spaces.
Other temporary solutions to protect areas without vegetation due to recent fires are plastic sheeting, tarpaulin or burlap.
Here are other extra steps you can take to help prevent further mudslide damage in the event that your home is inundated, damaging your property.
The best solution to avoiding catastrophic mudslide damage is to ensure that you are not building on property located in an area susceptible to mudslides. Your best sources of information are local officials who can tell you if it has experienced debris flows in the past.
It is also advisable to have a ground assessment of your property by a reputable insurance company. This will tell you how vulnerable the land around the home is to mudslides.
Finally, if you live in an area that is prone to mudslides, make sure you have a homeowner’s insurance policy that at least includes flood protection to cover water damage in case of a mudslide.
It’s rare for insurance companies to offer stand-alone mudslide coverage, but if you can find homeowners insurance that covers mudslides, it’s an excellent idea to get one. It may be the one purchase you do not ever want to use, but one that will save you a lot of headache in the event of a mudslide.
We have been discussing what you can do to prevent mudslide damage in advance. We cannot emphasize this enough - if a mudslide is threatening your home or property, you should evacuate as soon as instructed to do so by authorities.
Keeping your property safe is important but your safety and that of your family should always be first priority.
Here, we offer safety tips to protect yourself from danger:
If you have experienced mudslide or water damage, FIVE STAR Restoration can help. A mudslide can cause major damage but this can be made worse with the moisture that mud brings. This can cause water damage and potentially the growth of mold in a short period of time.
Five Star Restoration is a top rated restoration company. We offer affordable, round the clock water damage help.
If your home or building experienced structural damage, we ensure that affected materials are safely removed from your property. We work quickly to remove mud and water from your home or building while minimizing the inconvenience as much as possible.
We use specialized equipment to completely dry and sanitize the affected areas and materials on your property so you can return to normal life as soon as possible.
Finally, we offer you invaluable assistance in filing an insurance claim if necessary. We work directly with your insurance adjuster so your claim can be processed with the least amount of hassle and stress.
Call FIVE STAR RESTORATION for a quick response and assistance on your mudslide and water damage emergency.
If you are not sure your location is in the areas we cover, or if you'd just like to chat or ask a question, give us a call.
We are committed to an excellent finished product and even better customer service. Rest assured that when we show up for your restoration needs, you'll be informed, confident and stress-free.
