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What Type of Damages Can a Hurricane Cause? Top Impacts to Your Commercial Property

Hurricanes are among the most destructive and costliest natural disasters that can affect commercial properties. U.S. hurricanes alone have been responsible for over $1.5 trillion in total damages since 1980.

So exactly what types of damage can a hurricane cause? And why are these impacts so expensive? Understanding the most impactful physical threats, from intruding water to hurricane roof damage, can help commercial property owners prepare for and respond to tropical cyclones this storm season.

In this blog, you will learn:

  • The types of hazards a hurricane can bring.

  • The specific ways those hazards can directly affect your commercial building.

WHAT HAZARDS DO HURRICANES BRING?

Hurricanes, known more broadly as tropical cyclones, can attack your property with devastating impacts and bring a multitude of hazards, including:

  • Storm surge

  • High winds

  • Inland flooding

  • Tornadoes

  • Rip currents

Understanding these hazards can help you begin to answer the question of “what type of damages can a hurricane cause to my commercial property?” and allow you to prepare your buildings better for the season ahead.

STORM SURGE

Storm surge is one of a hurricane’s deadliest hazards.

When a tropical cyclone moves toward land, seawater can swell to abnormally high levels above the predicted tide. This is because storm-force winds push seawater toward the shore, increasing the water level. This phenomenon is called storm surge.

Ocean water can rise more than 20 feet above mean sea level and flood coastal regions. Buildings and infrastructure can be destroyed, creating a dire need for commercial water damage restoration. Even rivers and streams originating from the ocean can flood and affect inland properties away from the coast.

HIGH WINDS

High winds from hurricanes can produce devastating damage to buildings and vegetation, particularly when they send debris flying.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale categorizes tropical cyclones based on their maximum sustained wind speed, with categories including:

  • Category 1 - 74-95 mph

  • Category 2 - 96-110 mph

  • Category 3 - 111-129 mph

  • Category 4 - 130-156 mph

  • Category 5 - 157+ mph

Category 5 hurricane damage means catastrophic damage and significant property impacts, but even a Category 1 storm or lower can produce life-threatening hazards that ruin communities.

HEAVY RAIN & FLOODING

Downpours from tropical cyclones, alongside the deadly storm surge from rising seawater, can create inland flooding that threatens life and property.

Extreme rainfall can last for days, leading to flash floods and drenching precipitation of 10 to 15 inches or more. Flooding can leave a major impact, as demonstrated in these commercial water damage examples.

Weakened hurricanes and tropical storms can cause devastating flooding as well, such as the prolonged downpours that came from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.

TORNADOES

In addition to the other hazards, tropical cyclones can also spawn tornadoes during and after landfall. A single hurricane can generate dozens of tornadoes, with Hurricane Ivan spawning over 100 in 2004.

Tornadoes are comparatively short-lived and occur on a much smaller scale than hurricanes, but still pose a major threat to life and property. This hazard is most common in the part of a hurricane where vertical wind shear, or the changes in wind speed at different altitude levels, is largest.

RIP CURRENTS

Even hurricanes that do not make direct landfall can cause powerful rip currents. These are strong currents of water that move people and objects away from the shore.

Though not a concern for most commercial properties, rip currents caused by hurricanes can pose a dangerous threat to those in the ocean.

MOST IMPACTFUL TYPES OF HURRICANE DAMAGES TO YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Hurricane hazards have the power to damage your commercial properties, requiring professional commercial storm damage repair. Here, we’ll look at some of the biggest types of hurricane damage, based on their potential physical impact on your facilities.

Equipment and Inventory Destruction

A hurricane can ravage exposed outdoor equipment, machinery and inventory. Winds can topple assets or make them airborne projectiles, while rain and storm surge can soak unprotected inventory.

To help prevent this damage, secure or remove outdoor furniture, signage, loose debris and equipment. For more tips on how to begin preparing your property for storms, download our free hurricane preparedness checklist today.

Utilities Interruption

Hurricane-force winds can knock over powerlines, limit available clean water and destroy unprotected HVAC units. With utilities offline, business as usual can be quickly disrupted or halted altogether.

After severe hurricanes, utilities could be out from just a few hours to several weeks following impact. Depending on the length of time, this hurricane-caused effect could lead to secondary effects like inventory loss, fire hazards and equipment failure.

Mold Growth

If a hurricane’s rain or storm surge makes it into your property, mold can begin to grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours and may require commercial mold remediation and cleaning.

Left untreated, mold can spread and impact furniture, equipment, occupants’ health and even structural integrity. The more mold spreads, the more costly and impactful it can become. It can seep into walls, roofs, carpets, HVAC systems and plumbing, causing an extensive problem on top of other hurricane-related damages commercial property owners may be faced with.

Broken Windows and Doors

The high winds of a hurricane can lift debris and send it soaring into your property, breaking windows and piercing doors.

Broken windows and doors during a tropical cyclone can allow water into your property, causing even more issues such as mold and flooding. You can board up windows following breakage to prevent further water intrusion, vandalism and wildlife entering your property.

Contrary to popular belief, taping windows before a hurricane does not reduce the risk of shattering during a storm (and you can learn more myths about storm prep here).

Fire Damage

It may come as a surprise, but fire damage can indirectly result from a hurricane’s impacts. Water-damaged electrical components and equipment malfunctions can lead to fires sparking. During a power outage, generator misuse or open flames from candles could also start property fires that can cause additional losses.

Additionally, a fire could result in water damage due to water-based fire suppression systems, further leading to mold growth if left untreated. This means you could still require water damage mitigation and mold remediation even if a drop of a hurricane’s rain never enters your property.

Interior Flooding Damage

Wind-driven rain, inland flooding and storm surge can devastate properties by introducing water where it shouldn’t be. A hurricane can also impact plumbing, causing more ways to create interior flooding, such as from sewage backups due to excessive rain. The longer water penetrates into commercial properties, the more damage it can cause.

If your property becomes inundated, turn off power to affected areas if safe to do so. The water can impact electrical equipment, posing a life-threatening risk.

Roof Damage

Some hurricanes have the strength to rip entire roofs off of facilities or at least damage parts of roofs by lifting shingles. Hurricane roof damage can let water pour into your property during the storm, wreaking havoc on your assets and the building structure through substantial interior flooding damage.

An unmaintained roof may not be ready to handle the force of the rain and winds, leading to a collapsed roof. Without the right roofing partner, roof repairs and replacements can be difficult and time-consuming. Set your property up for the best chance of success by completing a free roof inspection with Cotton Roofing.

Interior Structural Damage

As a hurricane makes landfall, your property could suffer significant structural damage.

Flooded grounds can lead to soil erosion and expansion that can cause cracks in a commercial property’s foundation. Walls and floors can also be impacted, leading to uneven surfaces and cracks.

Floodwaters and torrential rain can further weaken the integrity of a building’s materials, leading to structural impacts. A hurricane’s high winds also contribute to pressure on the facility. These impacts could mean critical construction or structural repairs are needed.

Total Building Collapse

With winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, torrential rains and massive storm surge, older or weaker buildings can be wiped away entirely by the strength of a tropical cyclone.

An entire building collapse eliminates an entire facility, meaning this type of damage could be the most impactful to your commercial property.

BOUNCE BACK FASTER AFTER DISASTER

Whether you’re facing seemingly minor water damage or massive structural damage, a fast response helps you put your commercial property on the path to recovery.

Cotton Global Disaster Solutions (Cotton GDS) has decades of experience helping properties recover after impactful tropical cyclones. Our experienced teams can help you at every step of this hurricane season, from a pre-event planning meeting to turnkey solutions after a storm.

We offer 24/7 disaster response, full-service water damage restoration, comprehensive construction and more all-in-one solutions designed for your success.

Call Cotton today for expert solutions this hurricane season and year-round!