Hurricane Ida Is In The Rear-View Mirror. What’s Next?

Last year, Hurricane Ida left devastating damage throughout New Jersey. The rainfall per hour (two to ten inches as recorded by various towns) caused massive flooding in the streets and residential and commercial structures. There were also casualties as the hurricane ripped through the state.

Months after Hurricane Ida hit New Jersey, people are recovering with the help of government agencies and private organizations. This storm is among the deadliest to impact the Garden State, and it left several lessons for its citizens; one of which is the importance of having a structurally sound house or commercial building.

Some might suffer tremendous damage, while others experience minimal impact based on several factors, such as proximity to the hurricane’s route, structure’s age, and materials used. No construction is completely disaster-proof. But assessing its physical condition and making repairs or replacements might help reduce the extent of damage from future calamities.

Therefore, hiring a structural engineer New Jersey to inspect the property before a storm is crucial in keeping it sturdy against environmental factors.

On the other hand, once the hurricane passes, it is equally important to have a professional engineer assess the building to see if it is still safe to use. The evaluation will cover checking possible defects on the foundation walls, structural frame, roof, façade, and other significant systems in the structure.

A NJ structural engineer will also inspect whether the damage was caused by wind, water, or flying debris, providing recommendations on reinforcing the building to be less vulnerable when the next storm arrives.

Upon completing the structural assessment and receiving the engineer’s report, the property owners must schedule the repair work as soon as they can. Prolonging the construction project might worsen the building’s condition, which might turn into a more severe and expensive safety hazard.

A structural inspection before and after a hurricane is essential for property owners. See this infographic from Lockatong Engineering to learn more.