Monsoon Season Preparedness

From June through September we get to experience some exciting but at times frightening storms. On Monday, July 22nd the first real storm of the year stirred up high winds, dust, humidity and flash flooding in some areas! Central Arizona doesn’t experience very many weather changes but a monsoon or as some call it, a Haboob, can come out of nowhere and cause damage to homes, property, and vehicles.

During monsoon season, water falls from the sky a lot faster than the ground can absorb it. That can cause water to start collecting in areas. One area to look out for is around your fence, especially your posts. On older fences, corrosion can start to happen just from sprinklers hitting them regularly so if a monsoon causes additional water to collect the integrity of your fence may start to suffer (see photos below). 

Recently a storm hit Apison Tennessee and lightning struck the chain link fence. That lightning traveled all the way around from one side of the fence to the other! 

Another problem with monsoon storms is the heavy winds. High winds can bring down tree limbs, cacti, and telephone poles. If you take a look at your property for any loose tree limbs or weak points you may be able to save your fence or vehicle by trimming them before a big storm hits. 

Another wind issue to look out for is that double gates (RV gates) need to have both cane bolts secure. If only one side is secure the other will be pulled and pushed by the force of the wind which will wear down the hinges and eventually cause your gate to sag.