Storm Season Prep: Not To Be A Debbie Downer, But Here’s What Homeowners Should Do Every Year
Updated: 1 day ago
By Susan Heckman
Did you wake up last Saturday to water in the street, a dead car, or some belongings floating by in the basement? You're not alone.
This nor'easter dumped between 3-7” of rain across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, with Monmouth County taking the bigger hit. It also sent the tide onto the roads in Highlands, Sea Bright, Stafford, Barnegat, and Point Pleasant Beach, among other areas. Tens of thousands of homes lost power.
I'm a Realtor, not an engineer or an insurance agent, but I'm in Monmouth and Ocean County homes every week, and I can tell you which homeowners bounce back fast and which ones scramble. It usually comes down to a short list of things done before the storm.
I'm not a Debbie Downer, and I realize talking about storm prep isn't fun, but I am a girl who likes lists, so here's my annual to-do before storm season hits.
1. Gutters and Downspouts: The Cheapest Insurance You'll Ever Buy
Most "flooded basement" stories I hear about start with water that never had a chance to leave. It’s about giving water a chance to flow away from the home before the ground around your foundation becomes over-saturated.
Clean gutters twice a year. Do it after the leaves drop and again in spring.
Extend your downspouts at least 4 to 6 feet from the foundation. A 10-dollar extension beats a 10,000-dollar waterproofing job.
Check the grade. Soil should slope away from the house, not toward it.
2. Sump Pump and Sewer Backflow
If you have a sump pump, test it now. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it kicks on and discharges away from the house.
Add a battery backup. Storms that flood also knock out power, and that's exactly when the pump quits.
Ask a plumber about a sewer backflow valve, especially in low-lying neighborhoods.
Move water heaters and furnaces up off the floor when you're renovating or replacing. Be sure to adhere to your town’s building codes.
3. Know Your Flood Zone
Two homes on the same street can be in different zones. Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and on NJ FloodMapper (the state's tool). You can search for your address easily by visiting suehex.com/resources to access FEMA’s flood map. You should then ask your town's construction office what it has on file for your property.
Here's the part that surprises people: about a quarter of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones. Being "X zone" doesn't mean you're dry. It means you're not required to carry flood insurance. Ask about it anyway.
4. Flood Insurance: Read Yours Before You Need It
Standard homeowners policies don't cover flood. Not rising water from a tidal surge, not the back bay coming up the street.
Most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period. You can't buy one when a storm is in the forecast.
Ask about water backup coverage for sump and sewer overflows. It's a separate add-on.
Ask whether you have a separate wind or named-storm deductible.
Ask about contents coverage for the basement. It's often limited.
An independent insurance agent can quote both federal NFIP and private flood policies. If you need some recommendations, just ask!
5. Elevation Certificates: The Document Every Shore Homeowner Should Know
An elevation certificate is prepared by a licensed New Jersey land surveyor. It documents your home's lowest floor and utilities compared to the flood elevation for your area.
It's used to rate your flood insurance, and sometimes it lowers your premium.
Ask your town first. Many municipalities already have one on file from past construction.
If you live in a flood zone, you probably already have one. If you don't have one, it's typically a few hundred dollars. Compare that to a year of overpaying on premiums.
If you're ever buying or selling, having one ready saves time and avoids surprises.
6. Generators: Safety First, Then Convenience
Generators can help you keep your sanity in a prolonged power outage, but let’s be clear:
Never run a portable generator in a garage, basement or near a window. Keep it outdoors and well away from the house. Carbon monoxide is silent and deadly.
Have a licensed electrician install a transfer switch or interlock so you never backfeed the grid. We had this installed in our home, it’s a game changer.
Consider a permanent standby generator if outages are a regular thing where you live. It needs a permit and a proper gas line, and isn’t a cheap project, but it does add value to your home and the peace of mind it brings is priceless.
Whichever type you own, run it before the storm season starts, and store fuel safely.
And a note from the real estate side: a professionally installed whole-house generator is one of the features buyers in Monmouth and Ocean County ask about. After a weekend like this we just had, they ask more.
7. The Boring Stuff That Saves You Later
Video-walk your home room by room and inventory the big items. Save it to the cloud, not your phone.
Photograph before you clean up. Insurance adjusters need proof of the damage.
Know where to park. Saltwater is brutal on cars. If your street floods at high tide, have a plan and a high spot.
Sign up for alerts from your town and know how to report an outage to JCP&L.
Trim trees near the roof and power lines, and have any questionable ones looked at by a pro.
Keep a go-bag and supplies for at least three days. Include medications, chargers and pet supplies.
8. If You're Thinking of Selling or Buying at the Shore
New Jersey now requires sellers to give buyers a flood risk disclosure. It covers whether you're in a FEMA flood hazard area and whether the home has had flooding or insurance claims.
The sellers who do best are the ones who walk in prepared:
Elevation certificate in hand
A current flood insurance quote or policy to share (some which are transferable)
Records of improvements: sump, backflow valve, elevated utilities, generator
A clear story of how the house handled the last big storm
A buyer who sees documentation feels confident. A buyer who sees nothing starts imagining the worst.
Let's Talk About Your Home
If you're wondering how flood risk, storm prep or recent weather affects what your home is worth or how it will sell, I'm happy to help. I offer a complimentary, no-pressure Comparative Market Analysis for New Jersey homeowners.
Visit my sellers info page or reach out anytime.
Susan Heckman Broker-Associate
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The Gallery Residential Brokerage
Serving New Jersey home buyers and sellers from Spring Lake, NJ
This article is for general information and isn't insurance, legal or engineering advice. Confirm details with your insurance agent, town construction office and a licensed professional.
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