How Does Flood Damage Generally Impact Rockaway Residents?

4/21/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know that floodwater contains contaminants? SERVPRO can safely remove the water.

Storms and the Flood Damage They Cause Affect Local Homeowners in Various Ways

On average, New Jersey tends to be a rainy state that experiences more than its share of flooding events. Our state is divided into two climatic zones and based its position on the East Coast. Rockaway itself sits nearly on the imaginary line where a hotter, more humid climate meets colder, drier northern weather. This meteorological clash, of course, produces volatility in the atmosphere and powerful rainstorms during the spring-summer and fall-winter seasonal changes. Then, throughout the year, the Garden State’s coastal position makes it susceptible to the unforgiving onslaught of tropical storms, hurricanes, and Nor’easters.

The Nature of Rainstorms in the Rockaway Area

As noted before, powerful rainstorms are a common occurrence in the Rockaway area and can occur at any time of the year. Moreover, they arise from cyclonic storms and result from the meeting of hot, humid air and cooler, drier air in this climate transition area. This situation generally happens when the seasons change, but sometimes can occur during periods of hot weather, and it produces strong thunderstorms and torrential downpours. As inches of rain rapidly accumulate, the Rockaway River that bisects the township often overflows its banks and sometimes inundates nearby homes and businesses.

Cyclonic Storms that Have Impacted This Part of New Jersey

More well-known are the numerous tropical storms, hurricanes, and Nor’easters that have devastated North Jersey. These violent natural disasters have blown roofs off local houses, inundated cars and homes in feet of floodwater, caused long-term water damage and mold-related issues, and cost this part of New Jersey billions of dollars over time. Some of the more notable of these destructive weather phenomena include:

• The Great Atlantic Hurricane of September 1944, which dumped between six and ten inches of rain on the Rockaway area over four days
• “The Storm of the Century,” a Nor’easter in November 1950 that brought strong winds and substantial flooding to North Jersey
• Hurricane Irene, an August 2011 storm that dropped around ten inches of rain on Rockaway and was particularly damaging to the township’s environs
• Superstorm Sandy, an October 2012 superstorm that caused billions of dollars of damages all across New Jersey

So, with all this in mind, always be prepared for flooding events and call SERVPRO of North Morris County at (973) 983-5657 whenever you need flood damage clean up.

What Kinds of Flood Damage Do Rockaway Residents Usually Suffer?

Unlike clean water, floodwaters do more substantial and immediate damage to the homes in which they come into contact. These waters are often polluted with everything from human and animal wastes to petroleum products and toxic chemicals. Some of the flood-related damages Rockaway homeowners most often experience are:

• Toxic floodwater deposits that require professional biohazard remediation
• Wastewater system backups that necessitate sewage cleanup services
• Basement flooding involving inches to feet of standing water
• Various kinds of microbial damage that requires expert water damage repairs
• Persistent and omnipresent flood-related odors that are neutralized by industrial-grade deodorization efforts

Regardless of what type of flood damage you experience, your neighborhood SERVPRO of North Morris County can help. Call us anytime at (973) 983-5657 for assistance.