Over the past few months, extreme weather has been in the headlines every day. While many of these patterns have not affected us in New York and New Jersey, there is a greater chance that those who live along the East Coast will feel the effects.
From CBS News to the Washington Post to NASA, there has been a flood of alerts for those along the eastern coastline of the United States. The flood waters have been rising since 1950 and creating a storm of issues with tying the effects of hurricanes to new building codes. The tides and currents reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have shown us the drastic changes in our sea levels. They have noted that, since 1950, New Jersey has risen 12 inches and New York has risen nine inches. At first look, this may not seem like an alarming amount. However, these amounts are projected to increase faster in the years to come. NASA is projecting that, over the next 30 years, sea levels can potentially rise 10-14 inches, depending on the region. These new and future levels are costing the residents homeowners money every year with new building and renovation codes for businesses and homes. The states are also implementing new standards for drainage, roadways, and waterfront protection that can impact taxes and government spending elsewhere.
So what does this all mean for you? The flood maps are constantly changing and moving further inland. Your house may not be in a flood zone today, but that could quickly change as these levels continue to accelerate every year. But it is not time to panic and move to the mountains just yet. There are ways to ensure that you are in the best position to endure extreme weather events such as higher tides and more frequent flooding.
Understanding flood zones and what your house or business is zoned for at this time is very important. The map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is constantly updated based on new data, and you can visit their website at https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home for more information. Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and regulatory floodways designated on the FEMA maps hold the most potential for the risk of flooding. When assessing these risks and remedies, contact your adjuster and insurance company for further information as these properties should take all precautions for flooding prevention.
The easiest solution to secure a property is to raise the foundation on stilts or piers, but this is a costly construction option and not possible for many owners. There are other options available to help mitigate the damage from a flood. Installing sub pumps, applying extra sealants to the exterior, changing the heights of electrical boxes and outlets, adding gate valves to plumbing, and changing property grading and your downspout’s pattern can increase your chances of surviving a flood or heavy rains with fewer costly damages.
If you are worried about your property and the acceleration of rising sea levels along the coastline of New York and New Jersey, contact the adjusters at Rubin and Rosen to help ensure that you and your property are taken care of when the waters knock on your door. Call us at 718-376-6800 or visit our contact page for more information.