We helped South Shore families rebuild after Superstorm Sandy, and the ones who recovered fastest had a few things in common. Most of this list takes an afternoon.
Know your flood zone. Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Many canal and bayfront streets in Freeport, Merrick, Baldwin, Bellmore, Oceanside and Long Beach sit in high-risk flood zones.
Review your insurance. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, and new NFIP flood policies usually take 30 days to start, so do not wait for a forecast. Ask about sewer backup coverage too.
Photograph your home and belongings room by room and store the photos in the cloud. It makes any claim faster and easier to prove.
Clean gutters and downspouts, and make sure water drains away from the foundation. Have loose shingles or flashing repaired before the wind finds them.
Test your sump pump if you have one, and consider a battery backup, since big storms often knock out power. Move documents, keepsakes and anything you cannot replace off the basement floor.
Bring in or tie down outdoor furniture, grills and anything that can blow into a window. Move cars to higher ground if your street floods. Charge phones and power banks, and know where your main water and electrical shutoffs are. Follow evacuation orders from Nassau County and your village, town or city.
Stay out of floodwater and away from downed wires. Photograph the damage before cleaning, report it to your insurer, and start drying within 24 to 48 hours, the window the EPA gives for preventing mold. Then call a contractor you trust.
Gotham Builders of New York has been family-owned since 1995, with our office at 108 W Merrick Rd in Freeport. Call (516) 377-0400 day or night for storm, flood, roof and water damage.
Our service: Roof repair and replacement
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