From the 2023 tornado to the 2019 river flooding and the 2021 snow, central Arkansas knows about severe weather. Here is how to prepare your home, what comes first afterward, and when ordinary cleaning can help.
A storm does not leave most houses in ruins. More often, it leaves a home with a patched roof, a replaced window, fallen trees outside and a thin layer of dust and grit inside. Knowing what to do, and in what order, saves a lot of trouble.
This guide covers what local storms have done, how to prepare your home, and how cleaning fits in once repairs are finished. TotalCare Cleaning does not provide restoration or debris services, so those parts remain with specialists.
On March 31, 2023, an EF3 tornado tracked about 34 miles from west Little Rock through North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville, impacting at least 2,700 structures. It caused heavy damage in Sherwood after crossing North Little Rock, and it cost Burns Park at least 10,000 trees, according to the National Weather Service.
Water is another threat. The National Weather Service office in Little Rock lists the 2019 Arkansas River flooding among the region's historic weather events. Rain falls year round, at about 50.4 inches a year, and April is the wettest month at 5.59 inches.
Winter can also surprise people. In February 2021, Little Rock recorded 20.3 inches of snow, its snowiest month on record, from two storms just days apart. The city averages only about 3.8 inches a year, so most households are not set up for that.
Preparation is mostly a matter of organization, and a tidy house helps in an emergency.
Safety first. Follow official guidance. Stay away from downed lines, and do not enter a structure you are unsure of.
Then document. Photograph damage before you touch anything, and call your insurer. Do not throw out damaged items until you know that it is safe to do so, and be careful with door to door offers. Arkansas's Home Solicitation Sales Act lets buyers cancel certain sales made in the home until midnight of the third business day after the sale.
Then repair. Roof, window, tree and water damage work comes before any ordinary cleaning. Wet walls, floors and insulation call for a restoration specialist. In a climate where July and August dew points run near 70 degrees, a wet house does not dry by itself, and delay can make things worse.
Then clean. Once crews have finished, dust and grit remain on sills, tracks, blinds, vents and floors. That is ordinary work, and a One-Time Deep Clean covers those details.
A storm that takes down trees leaves a lot of mess. Tree debris, construction waste and damaged furniture are outside any home cleaning service, so hire a contractor or use city services. The City of Little Rock collects yard waste weekly and offers special bulky item pickup for items too large for the cart, but after a major event, follow any special instructions from the city.
Losing trees also changes a home's surroundings. Homes that once sat in shade may get more sun and dust, particularly while nearby lots are being worked on. Wooded parts of town such as Chenal Valley can see that change after a storm. A regular Recurring House Clean keeps up with that added dust while the neighborhood recovers.
The questions Little Rock homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Little Rock and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
