Inland Doesn't Mean Out of the Woods: What Rankin County Gets Wrong About Hurricanes

We're a long way from the Gulf, so it's easy to treat a hurricane as a coastal problem. But when a storm like Isaias moves inland, Rankin County can still see hours of strong wind, heavy rain, flash flooding and tornadoes. Most of the damage we see after these storms comes from a few common mistakes.

Mistake 1: Thinking it's over when the wind dies down. The heaviest wind and rain often ease off before the storm is done. Trailing rain bands can arrive hours later, and those bands are where many inland tornadoes form. Keep your weather alerts on until the warnings for your county are canceled or expire, and look at the radar before you head out.

Mistake 2: Assuming dry skies mean dry roads. Creeks, ditches and low roads can keep rising after the rain stops. Rivers rise more slowly and can keep climbing for a day or more. If water is over the road, turn around. You can't tell how deep it is or whether the road underneath has washed out.

Mistake 3: Going out to look. Driving around to see the damage puts people in the path of downed lines, falling limbs and flooded roads, and it slows down the crews trying to clear them. Unless you need to go somewhere, stay put until the roads are cleared.

Mistake 4: Cleaning up before taking pictures. It's natural to start pulling out wet carpet and hauling limbs right away. Take photos and video of everything first. Your insurance adjuster will want to see it.

Mistake 5: Waiting on a small leak. A ceiling stain or damp spot by a window seems minor. But water travels inside walls and under floors, and in our humidity mold can start growing within a day or two. If something is wet, dry it quickly or get it checked.

Mistake 6: Running a generator too close. Carbon monoxide from a generator in a garage, carport or near a window can kill. Keep it outside and at least 20 feet from doors and windows.

Mistake 7: Hiring the first truck that stops. After big storms, out-of-town crews go door to door. Check that a contractor is licensed and insured, get a written estimate, and don't hand over a large cash payment up front.

A little patience after the storm passes keeps a bad night from turning into a worse week.

Paul Davis Restoration of Central Mississippi, based in Flowood, provides 24/7 storm and water damage restoration across Rankin, Hinds and Madison counties. Call 601-398-0260.