Preparing for a storm is only half the job. What your team does while the rain is falling and in the first days after it stops can determine whether a weather event becomes a minor cleanup or a major repair bill. Here’s a practical guide for Southern California commercial property owners and managers, organized by phase.

During the Storm: Limit the Damage in Real Time

Troubleshoot ceiling leaks from the rooftop. A drip through the ceiling usually starts on the roof. It could be a clogged drain, failed flashing, or a punctured membrane. Contain the water below, then trace it to the source above. CAM’s commercial handyman and facility maintenance teams handle emergency leak response, and our drone inspection and thermal imaging service can pinpoint where water is getting in without guesswork.

Place sandbags at vulnerable entry points. Door thresholds, loading docks, garage entries, and low-lying storefronts are where water finds its way in. Sandbagging those openings before water pools is one of the fastest ways to prevent interior flooding. It’s a core part of CAM’s stormwater management approach, controlling where water goes before it controls your property.

Move loose items and equipment. Patio furniture, signage, planters, dumpsters, and unsecured equipment become hazards in high wind and rising water. Move what you can indoors or secure it in place. CAM’s on-site day porter crews can help get properties secured quickly when a storm is bearing down.

Turn off irrigation clocks. Running irrigation during a storm wastes water, oversaturates soil, and can trigger runoff and erosion problems. Shut controllers off (or switch them to rain mode) for the duration of the event. If a controller or line is damaged, CAM’s irrigation system repair specialists can get it sorted out.

After the Storm: Assess, Dry Out, and Repair

Replace damaged ceiling tiles. Water-stained or sagging tiles are more than an eyesore, when left in place, they’re a mold risk and a sign the leak above needs attention. Once the source is fixed, our commercial handyman teams replace damaged tiles and get ceilings back to clean and presentable.

Dry out floors and carpet. Standing water and soaked carpet need extraction and drying within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth and floor damage. CAM’s janitorial and building maintenance crews handle post-storm cleanup and drying, and our pressure washing and steam cleaning teams tackle hard surfaces, sidewalks, and parking areas once the water recedes.

Assess and replace drywall. Drywall that has wicked-up water often looks fine on the surface while deteriorating behind the wall. Any section that stayed wet should be inspected, cut out if compromised, and replaced before it becomes a bigger problem. CAM’s facility maintenance teams handle the assessment and the repair.

Patch rooftops where evidence of leaks exists. Every stain on a ceiling tile is a map to a roof problem. Temporary patches stop the next storm from doing more damage while permanent repairs are scheduled. Our drone inspection and thermal imaging service documents exactly where the failures are, so patches go in the right places.

Reprogram irrigation timers. Once the storm passes, reset controllers to match post-storm soil conditions. Your landscape won’t need its normal schedule right away. CAM’s landscape maintenance and irrigation teams reprogram timers, check for washed-out lines and broken heads, and adjust schedules so you don’t overwater saturated ground.

Repair potholes in parking lots. Water undermines asphalt, and storms accelerate cracking and pothole formation, which can be a safety issue and a liability exposure for anyone driving or walking your lot. CAM’s asphalt maintenance and repair crews patch and repair damaged areas before small holes become expensive resurfacing projects.

One Call Does It All

Storms don’t wait for business hours, and neither does the damage they leave behind. CAM Property Services is available 24/7 for emergency response and post-storm recovery across Southern California. Call (800) 576-3050 or visit camservices.com.

One call, and we’ll take it from there!