Wrestling a Hurricane in New Jersey

March 4, 2012 - PRLog -- When hearing names like Katrina, Ike, and Irene, a person can’t help but remember the devastation and loss that came in their wake.  From destructive winds to heavy downpours, these hurricanes had their way with the east coast, and there was no way to prevent their targeting.  The damage costs incurred by these natural disasters totaled over $100 billion, while the amount of lives lost rose to over 2,000 after the initial hit and aftermath.  In many situations, and when it comes to a force such as a hurricane, there is little (if anything) that can be done in order to completely prevent the damage.  The initial winds and rain of a categorized storm cannot be helped, and if possible, should not be braved, as the danger levels produced by them are extremely high.  However, no matter how hard a person tries, they cannot take their house with them if they need to get out of nature’s path.

There will be little that can be done if the winds are strong enough, depending on how strong the foundation and construction of a house is.  Some houses will be able to withstand the force, while others will be swept away on a whim.  If a house is deemed sturdy enough, personally or by an expert, there are a number of things that are viable to do in order to prepare.  Removing surrounding [natural] items, such as small trees or belongings in a shed, will prevent potential damage.  Pre-fitting plywood or metal shutters on windows and doors that will prevent them from breaking plays a huge factor in the survivability of a home, as prevention of wind entering the house is a must.  Once the wind gets in, there is little hope for the house to be kept in-tact.  Depending on how much time you have, you could also store valuables in a basement or area with lower risk of being damaged by high-speed winds.  However, these things may seem more obvious than the next suggestion, despite being connected; contact a New Jersey Waterproofing Contractor.

The headlines and news portrayed enough floods during Katrina than anyone would want to believe actually occurred.  Floods of that magnitude can hardly be helped, if at all.  Ike and Irene, however, produced everything from house-high floods to basement flooding.  It is in these situations in which a basement waterproofing contractor in NJ comes in handy.  The idea of flood insurance is sound, but how about the idea of self-proofing a basement or relying on a previous NJ basement waterproofing job that was done years before you lived in your current home?  New Jersey has seen a good amount of flooding, with the ocean to the immediate east and rivers running rampant through.  When a hurricane comes to play, the tools are already in place for it to easily win the game.  The question here would be whether or not a house has the tools and preparation necessary to beat the hurricane at the game it makes you play.

New Jersey waterproofing has come a long way as time has progressed.  Long gone are the days of primitive draining systems involving nothing more than a couple of draining trenches.  They’re still there, but now with much more precision and care.  There are things such as polymer-based materials that use their adhesiveness for protection, or epoxy injections for cracks.  Companies will be able to prepare your basement for the imminent flooding a hurricane produces with intricate systems depending on how a basement is laid out and what it is predominantly made of.  Water will affect wood, concrete, brick, and other materials differently, so knowing your options and picking the right prevention system is a large part of helping your house to survive an attack by nature.  External and internal systems can be set in place, an internal one being very important to the survival of a house.  All of these factors are essential in choosing, and choosing needs to be done sooner than too late.

A hurricane is not something that can be dealt with lightly.  Although it may carry a non-threatening name like Katrina, it’s what is behind the name that needs to be taken into consideration.  With the right preparation, the right mindset, and a little bit of money, anyone can be ready to wrestle with nature and come out of it with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises.  Not to be cliché, but in this situation, it is definitely better to be safe than sorry.

Need Help Preparing for a Hurricane?  
Visit http://www.dndwaterproofing.com

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D & D Basement Waterproofing is a family owned and operated company located in Central NJ. We have over 10 years experience dealing with all kinds of basement and crawl space water problems.