Rain, rain, go away, come again another day! I think most residents in Florida would have echoed that sentiment a few days ago. According to the Palm Beach Post, on December 9th, Palm Beach County was at least 3.65 inches over the historic norm as far as rainfall totals with 5.08 inches falling at the airport. Miami-Dade County broke a record when it hit 9.24 inches of rain for the month, making December the second wettest since 1895. And Broward County had seen 5.2 inches of rain from the 1st through the 9th, more than 5 inches higher than the historic norm for this month, according to the Florida Water Management District.

http://weatherplus.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/12/09/epic-december-rain-totals-for-south-florida/

In other words, while most of the country is dreaming of a white Christmas, Florida is just trying not to drown. All that rain brought a lot of potential for flooding and other water damage due to heavy rain. When people think of water damage due to heavy rain, they usually assume that the water enters through the roof, which is of course a common occurrence. But keeping a properly maintained roof is only part of protecting a property from water damage, particularly in regard to commercial properties.

The following are some common situations for commercial buildings that, if not properly addressed, can lead to severe water damage due to heavy rain:

• Parking Lots: A great deal of rain runoff water is collected in parking lots, which are equipped with drainage systems. However, leaf litter, debris, and garbage can clog or obstruct these drains and cause the water to collect or travel toward a building. Take steps to ensure safe parking lot runoff.

• Ground Pitch: If certain areas around your facility consistently have standing water or if there are a few spots in your basement where water regularly collects, there might be a problem with the pitch or angle of the grounds outside. Make sure the ground pitch is angled away from the building to avoid water damage due to heavy rain.

• Gutters: Gutters are designed to collect water runoff from the roof and carry it to the down spout. But if a down spout becomes clogged it will not effectively carry water and this will cause an overflow. Gutters should be routinely inspected and cleaned.

• Down Spouts: During rain storms, it is advisable to check to make sure the water is running easily out of the down spout. Also, make sure that once the water leaves the down spout it is channeled away from the building. If water is collecting at the end of a downspout it is a good idea to add an extender or dig a trench to ensure the water runs away from the building.

• Sump Pumps: These devices are a great way to remove excess water that collects beneath a building. They act as a last line of defense against water seeping into the basement of a facility, and can help you avoid water damage due to heavy rain. Be sure to keep the sump pump in good working order so that it is ready for heavy rainfall.

http://www.cultureofsafety.com/maintenance/property-damage-rain-water/

As Christmas day quickly approaches, we hope that your Florida home or business is not experiencing water damage due to heavy rain. However, if rain water does become a problem for you, do not delay, contact Joe Taylor Restoration immediately. Our compassionate, certified staff is ready to utilize the latest technology and training to provide great customer service and the best possible emergency water mitigation services in both the commercial and residential arenas.