Allstate Offers Consumers Helpful Tips Following Tornado in Wilkes-Barre

WILKES-BARRE, Penn., June 14, 2018 – A tornado touched down in Wilkes-Barre overnight, causing significant damage to the township. Allstate recommends that consumers with damage from the storm be very careful when returning home. Once it is safe to do so, homeowners should carefully inspect their property for signs of damage, paying attention to the following areas:

• Look for wall cracks in spots where there weren’t cracks before. Cracks of a quarter-inch or more are signs walls may have shifted or settled. Look carefully around windows and doors because these are typically the weakest spots in a home’s construction. Look outside for visible, new cracks in the home’s foundation.
• Look inside for changes in the levelness of floors. Changes in the level of the floor could be signs of a lift in the home’s foundation.
• Make sure to closely check rooms not regularly used.
• Inspect plumbing. Look closely around the water heater and/or water softener for signs of leaks that did not exist before. Flush all toilets, turn on all of the water faucets and check connecting pipes for any leaking water.
• In the days or weeks after a tornado, check walls and ceilings for water stains or yellowing that did not exist before. It could indicate damage on the roof.
• Carefully inspect the outside gutters. Damaged gutters could cause water damage inside the home long after the actual gutter damage occurs.

Allstate customers whose homes or automobiles have been damaged can start the claim process by contacting any local Allstate agent or visiting the report a claim site on Allstate.com.

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