Many Ontario residents and business owners were caught off guard and impacted by sudden and intense windstorm events that have occurred over the past few years. Here is some information that could help protect your livelihood as we head into the windy months ahead.

There are several types of storms that can cause wind damage, including Tornado, Hurricane, Thunderstorm, Hailstorm, Microburst, Derecho, and Nor’easter.

Here in Southwestern Ontario, the most likely time for any of these events to occur is between May and September, with peak months in June and July. While business owners cannot predict violent wind activity, you can take steps to protect yourself and minimize damage to your business, which can help save money in repairs and lost productivity over time. 

What to do if you know a storm is coming:

• Understand your property’s vulnerabilities. It is incredibly important that you are educated and aware of your building’s vulnerabilities to the threat of severe wind. Ask your municipal government for advice on how to best protect your facility – towns and cities located in severe wind regions will have knowledge and expertise to share. Similarly, consider having a building inspector evaluate your location and offer insight about its capacity to resist or withstand extreme winds.
• Remove any dead trees and large tree branches/limbs from your property. When performing maintenance on trees, please make sure you are doing so safely or contact a professional tree-care service or arborist.
• Protect your roof. This can be done easily by simply walking a short distance away from your building with a pair of binoculars. Take a look at the roof and make note of any damage you see (loose shingles, loose tiles, etc.) and have them repaired as soon as possible. If your building has an attic, you can also inspect it for areas where wiring enters the roof and confirm that all openings are properly sealed. Finally, take a look at your gutters and downspouts to ensure that they are secured properly. 
• Inspect your siding. Fix any deterioration that you notice, such as loose and unsealed siding around windows, doors, and places where wires enter the building.
• Clean up projectiles. Any outside items that are not secured are at risk of becoming projectiles that could end up causing additional damage, lost revenue or even injury. Evaluate your outdoor space and make sure that nothing is at risk of being swept away by strong winds. 
• Re-locate your equipment. If you’re able, move your business vehicles, machinery, stock items and other equipment to a garage or covered location that will protect them from high winds, projectiles, and other falling debris. If you don’t have access to a covered location, make every effort to relocate as far away from large trees as possible so that falling branches and limbs do not cause damage.