How does a storm reach a house in Marion?
The 2018 storm that took power out in Marion also brought down trees across the roads. A house that loses a tree limb to its roof or a wall can take water through the opening in the next rain, and the crew's first task is to cover that opening before drying begins. The cover is checked after each storm until the roof is repaired.
Wind pushes rain under edges that normally shed it. A soffit, a ridge or a window frame that moves in a storm lets rain into the wall or attic, and the wet material can carry the water a long way from the point of entry. The crew follows the wet readings to find where it began.
Why is the drive from Meridian not the main question for a Marion call?
Marion is close enough to the city that the crew's response is not the main concern for most calls. What matters is how many calls are waiting after a storm, which the phone line can tell you. Crews are sent from wherever one is available, so the distance from Meridian does not decide the order of the calls.
The phone line is answered 24/7. When you call, describe where the water is, whether the power is on and whether the panel is wet. Those answers decide the advice before the crew arrives, which is often just closing the main and keeping out of the water.
What is worth checking in a Marion house after a storm?
Check the ceilings and the top of each exterior wall, and look at the windows that face the storm. A ceiling that stains a day or two after a rain, or a window frame that no longer closes, is a sign that water has found a way in. Do this from inside, and do not climb onto the roof.
Look at the gutters and the ground beside the house. Water that runs toward the foundation after a heavy rain can enter a crawl space or slab edge, and the crew checks that path as part of its look at the building.
Does a house near the highway take different water?
A house set close to a road can take water from the road side in a heavy rain, so the crew looks at the road side as well as the house. The crew looks at where the water came from, including the ground and the road side, before it decides how to dry the house.
Storm water that comes from the road and the ground is treated as a flood-type entry for cleaning purposes, and the steps are explained on the phone and on arrival. The repair of any drainage on the property is done by a contractor you choose.
