A slow moving nor'easter flooded coastal communities from the Mid Atlantic to New England over the weekend of September 26 and 27, knocked out power to more than 130,000 customers at one point, and sent wind gusts to 81 mph on the eastern tip of Long Island. For anyone responsible for homes in the storm's path, a post storm property inspection has to start as soon as access is safe, because the damage that shows up first is rarely the whole story.
Some spots in New Jersey picked up about four inches of rain from Friday onward, repeated high tides kept pushing water into low lying areas, and coastal flooding remained possible into Monday. Toppled trees damaged homes and cars, blocked streets and pulled down utility lines on Long Island. With El Niño disrupting weather patterns this year, this may be the first of several coastal storms on the East Coast this fall, so the lessons apply well beyond one weekend.
Start with safety and water
Before anyone enters a property that has taken on rain or floodwater, confirm whether the power is on, look for downed lines outside, and check for standing water near the electrical panel. If floodwater has reached outlets or wiring, treat the electrical system as unsafe until a licensed electrician has looked at it. Vacant homes need extra care here, since nobody has been inside to notice a problem developing.
Once the building is safe to enter, document everything before cleanup begins. Take dated photos of every room, the roofline, the yard and any fallen debris, and note the location of any water marks on walls. That record shows what the storm caused and what was already there, and it gives every vendor the same starting picture. Wet drywall, insulation and carpet should be dealt with quickly, because materials that stay damp lead to mold and larger repairs.
Check the outside, the roof and the trees
Walk the exterior in a full circle. Look for missing or lifted shingles, bent flashing, clogged gutters and downspouts that have separated from the wall. Saturated soil loosens tree roots, so a tree that looked sound before the storm may be leaning now, and limbs resting on a roof or against siding can do more harm if they are left in place. Check fences, sheds and decks as well, along with the grade around the foundation to see whether water pooled against the house.
Windows, doors and garage entries deserve their own look. Broken glass, damaged seals and warped frames let in rain, and a second round of weather can undo a lot of drying work. If a repair cannot happen right away, a temporary cover over the opening is far better than waiting.
The other challenge is coordination. After a storm, roofers, tree services, restoration crews and electricians are all in demand at once, and the properties that get attention first are the ones with a clear scope of work, a photo record and a vendor who is already lined up.
A storm is over in a day or two, but its effects on a property can last much longer, and a fast, organized inspection is what keeps the repair list short.
