Nature puts things into perspective unlike anything else. It’s crazy how drastically climate events can affect a home and our lives. Americans are no strangers to this reality. From hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and storms, we’ve seen it all.
These climate events also have the power to inflict widespread damage to property, which is why preparation is key.
For instance, did you know that, as a result of storms, the U.S. has surpassed $50 billion in losses this year? The impact that the weather has on our homes is very real and serious.
In this article, we will be looking at one particular type of climate event that more people need to take seriously: the El Niño.
Let’s dive in.
What is El Niño?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the term refers to a condition that disrupts the upwelling of cold water. When the normal order of things is disrupted, it can create several unwanted consequences.
National Geographic describes it in very simple terms. According to them, El Niño is an “unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.”
It also has a “cool phase” counterpart by the name “La Niña,” which is often considered the sibling of El Niño. Interestingly, the phenomenon was first noticed not by scientific researchers but by humble Peruvian fishermen. Soon, climatologists started to study it as well and termed the process “El Niño-Southern Oscillation” (ENSO).
What makes El Niño particularly dangerous is that, unlike other climate events that hit powerfully but subside quickly, El Niño has staying power. This means that episodes of El Niño can last anywhere from nine months to several years.
Naturally, this has a number of implications for homeowners. Most buildings aren’t designed with the ability to withstand long-term weather events. Sure, El Niño isn’t bringing cataclysmic-level dangers, but even something as simple as longer wet seasons can have consequences. Let’s explore this further.
How Can El Niño Affect Your Home?
Depending on where you live, El Niño can have differing levels of impact. For those living in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southern parts, flooding becomes common. Most parts of California are also significantly affected. The extended Pacific jet stream often rages through the region, with areas like San Diego often hit extremely hard by rain.
If you are a homeowner, it’s probably a good idea to find good roofing contractors in San Diego. The last thing you want is a leaky roof and realizing most contractors have been booked up already. However, a leaky roof is not the only worry. If the roof hasn’t been maintained in a while and rains are particularly heavy, there might be fractures.
When faced with heavy rains and water accumulation, the risk of roof collapse increases substantially. As Peak Builders & Roofers of San Diego states, regular check-ups will help you spot problems early and avoid large repair bills in the future.
If you happen to live in states like Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, the rains aren’t too much of a concern. Instead, you will likely face warmer and drier conditions. Generally, El Niño tends to dry up the northern parts of the country and does the opposite for the south.
What Preventative Steps Can You Take?
As discussed above, if you live in a region that is expected to receive rainfall, your main priority should be weatherproofing your home. Find a contractor near you and have them do a thorough survey of your roof, windows, and other relevant areas.
This would also be a good time to check the status of your heating systems. Have the contractor look for any issues here because, when the mercury starts to drop, you want to stay nice and warm.
Of course, you don’t have to leave everything to the contractor. There are some actions that you can take yourself. For instance, get your ladder out and start on that gutter maintenance that you’ve been putting off. Leaves, twigs, and dirt can clog up your roof drains and cause water accumulation when it starts to pour.
Likewise, if you have a lot of trees around your home, it might also be wise to trim overhanging branches. During heavy rains, they can fall and severely damage your property.
It Never Hurts to be Extra-Prepared
El Niño has historically led to flooding of the kind that causes people to leave their homes. There are many who have had to wade out in knee-high and sometimes waist-high water to escape.
Taking precautionary steps for such eventualities might make you look like a doomsday prepper. However, you will be the only one who isn’t caught unaware.
In fact, everyone, regardless of El Niño, should always have some cache of emergency supplies stocked away.
Considering how big the doomsday-prepper community is, you should have no trouble finding legitimately helpful resources and guides. These often list out the most critical supplies and steps you will need in an emergency. Things like bug-out bags can be very helpful in critical situations.
On a lighter note, extra precaution doesn’t have to go in such an extreme direction. It can also involve reviewing your homeowner’s insurance policy to understand what coverage you have for potential El Niño-related damages.
If it turns out that your policy is lacking, consider applying for additional coverage options for flood insurance. This will be particularly important, as most standard policies don’t cover flood damage.
In conclusion, El Niño will require homeowners in different parts of the country to take preventive measures against property damage. Yes, it’s easier to simply let things be and hope for the best, but that sort of carelessness is dangerous.
You put away essential maintenance, and before you know it, you pay dearly for your negligence. Thus, take a few moments to do some research. Check if you happen to live in a region that is likely to be affected by El Niño. If so, brace yourself and prepare the best you can.
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