Tag Archive: Hurricane Sandy

If your home has suffered property damage from Hurricane Sandy or other declared disaster, you can apply to FEMA for housing assistance. You can apply by phone, online, via a mobile device or by visiting a disaster recovery center.

Once FEMA receives your application, they may contact you to schedule a housing inspection. The purpose of the housing inspection is to assess and verify damages. Inspections take about 30-40 minutes, and you’ll need to show identification and proof of home ownership. The inspector will submit a report to FEMA, and FEMA will provide you with a written response to your application.

There’s no fee for the inspection. Beware of scam artists who take advantage of disaster-struck homeowners by posing as inspectors and collecting fees or banking information. FEMA inspectors will never ask for this type of information or collect fees. They also carry an official identification badge, which you can ask to see.

One thing FEMA inspectors look for during an inspection is structural damage. Structural damage can be devastating, with high repair costs (when repairs are possible). Flood vents can help to minimize structural damage. They allow flood waters to flow through, which helps equalize pressure inside and outside your exterior walls. You may sustain some water damage, but the structural integrity of your home is more likely to remain sound.

Flood Solutions manufactures and sells only FEMA compliant flood vents, manufactured in the U.S.A. For more information about our flood vents, give us a call at 800-325-9775 or email info@floodsolutions.com.

Now that recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy are well underway, some observers are discussing how to minimize damage from future storms. After all, recovery is expensive, with property damage estimated to be $20 billion in New York and other parts of the Northeast.

Most of the disaster mitigation discussions cover tactics such as installing flood gates at subway entrances, moving transformers and switching stations above ground and erecting sea barriers. Although good ideas, these are big-ticket items that would require significant commitments from federal, state and local governments and agencies.

But how about individual homeowners? Is there anything you can do to help minimize flood damage to your home? Absolutely. Steps such as elevating furnaces, hot water heaters and electrical panels, using mold-resistant building materials, and not placing expensive furnishings in your basement can all help reduce damage.

However, the most expensive type of damage isn’t a wet carpet or broken electrical panel. Homes with structural damage require expensive repairs, when they can be repaired at all. Structural damage can occur when flood waters surround your house, creating a pressure imbalance between the interior and exterior of your home. This pressure imbalance can permanently damage your home’s structural foundation.

One way to mitigate structural damage from flooding is to install FEMA compliant flood vents. Flood vents allow water to enter your home, so water pressure is more equal between the interior and exterior. You may sustain some damage to the contents of your basement, but the structural integrity of your home is more likely to remain sound.

Are flood vents a good option for your home? Find out more by contacting Flood Solutions. We have FEMA compliant flood vents for both new construction and existing homes.